Thor 4 is happening. Word has just gotten out that Taika Waititi is back to write and direct what would be the sequel to Thor: Ragnarok. Chris Hemsworth is also set to return as the God of Thunder. The Hollywood Reporter just revealed that Waititi has signed a deal with Marvel Studios to return for Thor. As a side-effect, the Warner Bros. project Akira that Waititi was attached to is put on indefinite hold.

Waititi joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Thor: Ragnarok, putting a fresh spin on the character by tapping into Hemsworth’s humorous side. The result resonated well with audiences and Ragnarok went on to earn $853 million worldwide, becoming the highest grossing and best reviewed movie in the “Thor” franchise. Hemsworth’s reimagining of Thor carried forward into Infinity War and Endgame and was well received in both the Avengers movies.

Thor 4 unexpectedly becomes the first “officially” confirmed MCU Phase 4 movie, as well as the first standalone superhero movie to go beyond a trilogy. While there are no details on a release date, Akira was set to arrive in theaters on May 21, 2021. With Akira out of the picture, could Thor 4 pick up the May 2021 release date? It certainly wouldn’t be far-fetched to have Marvel push Thor for its prime summer slot, given the character’s popularity. We should hopefully have more details at SDCC this week.