Featured Image Credit: Marvel Studios
Topics: Film and TV, Marvel, Taika Waititi, News, Twitter
Shola Lee
Topics: Film and TV, Marvel, Taika Waititi, News, Twitter
Fair warning, this article includes spoilers for Thor: Love and Thunder, so if you've not seen it yet, click away now.
Thor: Love and Thunder audiences are urging Marvel to put a trigger warning before the film.
The film we've all been waiting for finally dropped this week, and while we showed up at midnight, Thor-sized bucket of popcorn in hand, some viewers weren't quite so thrilled.
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It wasn't so much an issue with the production itself, as Marvel's latest addition has had some pretty rave reviews, but part of the Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) story that felt trigger worthy.
The latest Marvel film sees Thor (Chris Hemsworth) team up with his ex-girlfriend Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) to defeat Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale) who, as his name suggests, wants to destroy all gods.
Part of that plot also includes scenes where Jane is revealed to have stage four cancer and undergoes chemotherapy treatment; the 'graphic depiction' of which fans felt needed a trigger warning.
One Twitter user said: "No spoilers, but Thor: Love and Thunder SHOULD have had a trigger warning for graphic depiction of cancer and the fact that we didn't know going in is atrocious."
Another added: "Thor spoilers. If you have medical or cancer triggers, I’d do some light googling on the plot before deciding to see it or not."
While a third put out a trigger warning themselves: "If you plan on seeing Thor: Love and Thunder please know there is a TW: cancer. I wish someone had let me know so passing this TW on. Please take care of yourself mentally and emotionally."
To be fair, for anyone that's been personally impacted by cancer the storyline could well be triggering.
Still, some praised how the topic was covered, with one user saying: "Jane Foster’s storyline had insane emotional resonance for me.
"Both my mother & a close friend battled cancer a couple years ago. Thor’s desire to protect Jane & Jane’s struggle to keep fighting really hit home. I think we all needed to hear a story like this."
Another viewer had mixed feelings, writing: "When Taika lets Jane's cancer arc breathe and be emotional and serious, it works.
"When he lets Thor and Jane’s relationship be genuine and heartfelt, it works. But the humour drags it down."
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week