Morgan Freeman Could've Joined The MCU For Thor: Love and Thunder
Since Robert Downey Jr. first bopped to AC/DC in 2008's Iron Man, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has welcomed a galaxy of stars into its bountiful bosom. As we head into Phase 5 and prepare to welcome the likes of the Fantastic Four and X-Men, prepare for a new crop of A-listers to grace the world's highest-grossing franchise.
We've come a long way from the early days of RDJ, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, and Jeremy Renner holding up the MCU, and in more recent entries, we've seen everyone from Angelina Jolie to John Krasinski add their name to the roster. Thor: Love and Thunder put Russell Crowe on the books, but as it turns out, Morgan Freeman could've also lent his talents to Taika Waititi's mythological movie.
Why Wasn't Morgan Freeman In Thor: Love And Thunder?
Alongside Crowe's Zeus and Christian Bale's Gorr the God Butcher, Love and Thunder was a who's who of famous faces, including returning Thor franchise favourites like Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson, Natalie Portman, and Idris Elba. In an interview with ComicBookMovie.com, VFX Supervisor Jake Morrison explained how in some Multiverse, we could've seen Freeman.
As Love and Thunder galloped to its electrifying finale, Hemsworth's Thor and Portman's Mighty Thor journeyed to Eternity. Those up on their Marvel Comics will know Eternity is a cosmic being instead of an actual place, and for the purposes of the movie, Eternity grants those who reach its realms their heart's desires. Eternity was a silent entity instead of casting a Hollywood megastar to voice it, however, it could've been a completely different story.
Explaining what happened, Morrison said, "We went through a lot of different options to get to that. But I think we all kind of felt that sometimes, you know less is more really." Although Freeman wasn't technically in the running, he sounds like a benchmark for what could've been. Morrison added, "I was asking that the filmmakers like, 'Are we gonna cast somebody for this? Is this ultimately gonna, be you know, like Morgan Freeman’s playing God again? … Are we going to do that, because if we are, I’' like to know sooner, so I can go and get scans and things like that.'"
Could Morgan Freeman Join The MCU?
Obviously, it's a case of never say never. Even at the age of 85, Freeman is still acting - with a number of projects in post-production and him starring in The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard. Love and Thunder wouldn't be Freeman's first brush with the MCU, and back when Scott Derrickson was casting Doctor Strange, the Se7en actor's name was touted alongside Ken Watanabe and Bill Nighy to play the Ancient One. Given the backlash Tilda Swinton faced over the role, it's probably for the best Freeman avoided that one.
Eternity might not have been the biggest part in Love and Thunder, but as we move further into this cosmic branch of the MCU, many are expecting to learn more about the likes of Eternity, Destiny, the Living Tribunal, and more. If the wish-granting deity does return, who knows whether Morgan could be lured to the MCU? With that booming voice, we can't of anyone better to voice a disembodied cosmic power that's been around since the start of time.
