Marvel fans have probably grown pretty tired of trying to guess what's going to happen next in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After the end of WandaVision, which was both satisfying and disappointing in how it wrapped up Wanda's story of overcoming grief but did not deliver on the many fan theories surrounding it, fans may be wary to make any assumptions about characters that might show up in the future. Still, there is a deep roster of Marvel characters out there, and if the movies are good at one thing, it's giving more obscure characters a chance to shine. Thor: Love and Thunder may be the next movie to do so.
It's already known that Christian Bale will make his MCU debut as Gorr the God Butcher, a character who wishes to eliminate all gods from the universe. However, he may need some help in accomplishing that task. The universe is a big place, after all. So how exactly could he accomplish his goal? Perhaps by utilizing an all-powerful beast that is fuelled purely by hatred and negative emotions. It's entirely possible that the next Thor adventure may feature none other than Mangog. Fans may be tiring of endless speculation, but there are plenty of valid reasons for this obscure monster's inclusion in Thor: Love and Thunder.
What is a 'Mangog?'
First appearing in Marvel comics back in 1968 in issue 158 of Thor, the Mangog is introduced with a plan to bring about Ragnarok and destroy Odin. Within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Odin has already died and Ragnarok happened just before the events of Avengers: Infinity War, but there is still a way for Mangog to be included, which owes more to his backstory. Mangog is the last of a race that was completely decimated by Odin and the Asgardians. He was imprisoned beneath Asgard but eventually freed by a rock troll named Ulik. He has faced off against numerous Asgardians, including Volstagg and Thor himself, and his strength is nearly impossible to overcome by traditional means.
Mangog is an immensely powerful being. It is nearly impossible to entirely destroy him, as he feeds on psychic energies. This includes running on pure hatred. As long as it exists anywhere in the universe, Mangog endures. Although he has been defeated by Thor on numerous occasions through different means, he never really goes away, usually finding some new way to return. His powers include all of the expected ones (superhuman strength, endurance, and speed). Beyond that, though, Mangog can also manipulate energy at a molecular level, fire blasts of energy from his hands, and even transform into other beings.
How Would Mangog Work In Thor: Love and Thunder?
One of the biggest reveals about the upcoming Thor: Love and Thunder was that it would feature the long-absent Jane Foster (played once more by Natalie Portman), and that she would take her place as the new Thor by wielding Mjolnir. Oddly enough, Mangog is actually a big part of Jane's story in the comics. When Mangog learns of the new Thor, he reappears and vows to put an end to all Gods in the universe once and for all. While much of his final battle took place on Asgard, it's entirely possible that Gorr will unleash Mangog at some point and direct him to New Asgard, now located on Earth.
In the comics, Jane, Thor, and Odin do battle with Mangog. Jane is only able to defeat him by chaining the beast to Mjolnir and hurling the hammer into the sun, taking Mangog with it. It's not hard to imagine Taika Waititi including a moment like this in his film, as it would exemplify Jane's heroism and strength in a big way.
At the same time, the title of the film has a thematic tie to Mangog. The creature is literally driven by hate, the opposite of love. While that word in the title could simply be a reference to Thor and Jane Foster's relationship, it could also be a hidden answer to how the day is won by the heroes: through both love and thunder to ultimately defeat both Mangog and Gorr.
One Last Clue
The reason for all of this speculation about Mangog's involvement in Thor: Love and Thunder comes from yet another Marvel project: Contest of Champions. The mobile fighting game has introduced a number of lesser-known characters in the past, but recently added Mangog to its ranks. Considering that Mangog is not necessarily one of the better-known villains in Thor's history, it does seem like suspicious timing that he would be added to the roster while Thor: Love and Thunder is in production.
Does his inclusion in the game necessarily cement his inclusion in the upcoming movie? Of course not, but it does seem like odd timing. Mangog being introduced to people who play Contest of Champions could be a way to prime them for his first film appearance. Mangog has also been featured in two other thor video games: Thor: God of Thunder and Thor: The Dark World.
As with any theories about upcoming Marvel properties, this is all just speculation. However, the timing of Mangog's introduction to Contest of Champions, along with his history with both Thor and Jane Foster does seem suspicious. Whether or not he really does show up in Thor: Love and Thunder remains to be seen. At least fans will get to see Melissa McCarthy playing fake Hela.