Patty Jenkins was set to direct Thor: The Dark World but she eventually left the project due to creative differences. Jenkins would later go on to direct the hit DC film Wonder Woman in 2017 and later this year, we’ll see her helm the highly-anticipated sequel to that franchise.
As for the Thor franchise, The Dark World didn’t necessarily pan out for Marvel as it is widely regarded as one of the few blunders in the MCU. But, the God of Hammers Thunder would soon bounce back with Thor: Ragnarok in 2017, which pretty much acted as a soft-reboot for the franchise. Its upcoming sequel, Thor: Love and Thunder, is expected to follow in Ragnarok’s footsteps with Natalie Portman returning as Jane Foster and Christian Bale reportedly set to play the main antagonist.
So, even though both Patty Jenkins and the Thor franchise would find monumental success in their respective ways, there’s still the question of why Jenkins decided to exit the project. While speaking with Vanity Fair about Wonder Woman 1984, Jenkins reflected on why she left The Dark World:
“I did not believe that I could make a good movie out of the script that they were planning on doing. I think it would have been a huge deal—it would have looked like it was my fault. It would’ve looked like, ‘Oh my God, this woman directed it and she missed all these things.’ That was the one time in my career where I really felt like, Do this with [another director] and it’s not going to be a big deal. And maybe they’ll understand it and love it more than I do.”
“You can’t do movies you don’t believe in. The only reason to do it would be to prove to people that I could. But it wouldn’t have proved anything if I didn’t succeed. I don’t think that I would have gotten another chance. And so, I’m super grateful.”
Are you disappointed that we never got to see Jenkins’ version of Thor: The Dark World? Or do you think it all worked out for the best? Let us know in the comments below!