Would Another Studio Be Allowed to Make a Thor Movie?

As of my last update in August 2023, the rights to produce Thor movies are exclusively held by Marvel Studios, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. Marvel Studios has the exclusive right to produce films based on characters from its expansive comic book universe, including Thor.

Legal and Financial Arrangements

If another studio were to express interest in making a Thor movie, they would struggle to negotiate the necessary rights from Marvel and Disney. While theoretically possible, this would require significant legal and financial agreements. For comparison, other studios have made movies based on characters from different comic universes, such as the DC films produced by Warner Bros. However, the process is highly complex and fraught with challenges.

Disney's Dominance in Hollywood

Since Disney's acquisition of Fox, it now controls a vast majority—approximately 40%—of the film content coming out of Hollywood. This consolidation of power means that any other studio would have to tread carefully to avoid legal entanglements. The risk of having their project shut down through litigation simply isn't worth the potential losses.

Risk of Financial Loss

Another factor is the close association of Chris Hemsworth with the role of Thor. Most large-budget projects featuring Chris Hemsworth in a different role would likely perform poorly, leading to financial losses. This is precisely why it is unlikely for another studio to attempt a Thor movie at this juncture. Changing the character would alienate the fanbase and could drive away the viewers who unequivocally support the character as portrayed by Chris Hemsworth.

Public Domain Marvel

On the other hand, it is true that mythological characters like Thor predominate the public domain. However, the specific mythological rights tied to Marvel’s Thor character are not in the public domain. Since Marvel has exclusive rights through its licensing and ownership agreements, any attempt to make a Thor movie without these rights would be illegal.

Therefore, while the theoretical possibility exists for another studio to make a Thor movie, the practical and legal realities currently prevent this from happening. For now, fans can only look forward to new Thor adventures produced by Marvel Studios.