A canceled idea for a Thor prequel still has a place in the current-day MCU, and it is the best option to revive Chris Hemsworth’s Thor iteration.

Author Neil Gaiman’s canceled Thor prequel story still has a place in the MCU almost 20 years later, being the perfect way to revive Chris Hemsworth’s iteration of the character. The Coraline author answered a question on his Tumblr recently regarding whether he would ever do a Thor project, to which Gaiman revealed that he collaborated with Marvel on a Thor cartoon in 2006. The project was ultimately canceled because of creative differences between Marvel and Gaiman, but the idea of a Thor prequel could still be relevant in the current-day MCU.

Gaiman said that his Thor prequel cartoon focused on Loki growing up alongside his brother and his gradual descent into villainy. Marvel has since produced the Loki series which means that Gaiman’s original idea probably isn’t likely. However, Thor and Loki are still incredibly popular characters in the MCU and any project that includes them should theoretically perform well with fans. Gaiman’s idea of a prequel would be the most natural way for the MCU to bring back both Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston without having to conjure up a new future for them.

What Neil Gaiman Revealed About His Canceled Thor Project

Thor Almost Debuted Years Before His MCU Arrival

Gaiman’s post on Tumblr revealed that he’d spoken to Marvel about a Thor prequel project around 2006, before the MCU kicked off with John Favreau’s Iron Man in 2008. Even then, the studio was entertaining ideas about exploring Loki and Thor’s fractured relationship:

“Long ago – around 2006 – I was asked to create a Thor animated cartoon, and I got all excited, and the brief was it had to be set before the Thor movie. I did a deep Thor dive, reread everything Jack Kirby drew, came up with a whole story shape that ran a few seasons showing young Loki going from hero-worshipping his big brother to Going to the Bad, and then they told me I wasn’t actually allowed to have any of the characters at any point be different in any way from how they were in the Thor movie, so I said no thank you and stopped.”

Like Edgar Wright, Gaiman clearly wasn’t keen on having to tie his project into the burgeoning MCU lore, so stepped away from the project. Sadly, that robbed the MCU of more of Loki and Thor’s backstory, which would have added further context to their conflict in Kenneth Branagh’s Thor.

Edgar Wright was initially attached to the first version of Ant-Man, but dropped out over creative differences.

Thor And Loki’s Asgardian Roots Are Still Worth Exploring

An Asgardian Prequel Could Expand Thor’s Story Perfectly

Thor and Loki’s MCU stories have lately been focused on them as individuals rather than their family dynamic. Their brotherly relationship came to somewhat of a conclusion in Avengers: Infinity War when Loki died, and Thor has no idea about the events of Loki seasons 1 and 2. Since the destruction of Asgard in Thor: Ragnarok, Thor and Loki’s MCU stories have been far removed from their home realm. A prequel about them growing up as Gaiman suggested in the past would be a great way for the MCU to explore Asgard and reconnect the two brothers naturally.

With how much lore there seems to be in Asgard and the royal family, the world is truly worth fleshing out in more detail and a Thor prequel can do that. Especially in a cartoon series like Gaiman was working on, the animated medium lends itself to the exploration of a fantasy realm. It would also be the best way to flesh out Thor and Loki’s younger years without having to recast the characters for live-action or de-aging Hemsworth and Hiddleston.

The MCU Can Now Take Much More Creative Risks

What If Set A New Standard In The MCU

Since Disney+ shows premiered in the MCU, Marvel is now able to take much bigger creative risks than ever before. What If…? proved that animated projects can be received well, and Marvel is capitalizing off of that positive response with plenty of upcoming animated shows. The MCU has also come a long way since Gaiman’s initial pitch in 2006. Marvel is such an established studio now that even though they’ve had a tough few recent years, they could afford to take a risk on a project like Gaiman’s, especially if the featured characters are already incredibly popular with Marvel fans.

Neil Gaiman’s pitched Thor cartoon was scraped back in 2006, but the prequel could still have a place in the current-day MCU. Marvel Studios is now much more established and has room to take bigger creative risks. Although the Loki series means that Gaiman’s exact initial concept for a Thor prequel probably wouldn’t be feasible, the MCU can still execute his idea. Thor and Loki are such beloved MCU characters, and Hemsworth and Hiddleston’s brotherly dynamic deserves to be re-explored. Theoretically, any Thor project featuring them should perform, and it is the perfect way to revive their character iterations.