Avengers Endgame: Chris Hemsworth reveals surprise ‘Fat Thor’ secret

The popular Avenger was seen with a belly, unkempt hair and a penchant for booze and videogames when the Marvel film flashed forward by five years. Struggling with the huge grief he suffered during previous films, and the guilt at not stopping Thanos from enacting the Snap, he sinks into a depression that is slowly untangled by the events of Endgame. But one thing that does not change is his weight: Thor does not return to his original God of Thunder physique before the end credits roll.

Although the so-called “fat Thor” twist has been met with some controversy amongst fans, this particular element – the omission of a “getting back in shape” story beat – has been widely praised.

Now, in a new interview with Variety, it has emerged that Hemsworth himself fought for this to be the case.

The profile piece reveals that the actor wanted to continue working on this iteration of the character, and didn’t want him to lose the weight.

“I like that anything goes. You’re not locked into expectations,” he added.

“I enjoyed that version of Thor. It was so different than any other way I played the character.

“And then it took on a life of its own.”

Talking about the filming process, he said: “People just kept coming up and cuddling me like a big bear or rubbing my belly like I was pregnant. Or trying to sit on my lap like I was Santa Claus.

“You get a lot of affection. I felt like an old man, an old grandpa, with a bunch of kids around.

“And then you get sick of it when people come up and grab your belly. ‘Don’t grab me like that!’

“I know how my wife [Elsa Pataky] felt when strangers would come up and rub her belly.”

Whether or not Hemsworth will reprise the character again is unconfirmed, but the close of Avengers: Endgame alluded to potential escapades with Guardians of the Galaxy in their upcoming threequel.

Avengers: Endgame is out now.