As Marvel Studios prepares for one of its most ambitious ensemble films yet, ‘Avengers: Doomsday’, fans have been obsessively scanning cast lists, trailers, and interviews for clues about who will, and won’t, be part of the coming storm.
Having established returns of heavyweights like Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Robert Downey Jr., etc, the expectations are high. However, there is one more notable absence: Tessa Thompson’s King Valkyrie.
Valkyrie’s MCU Future Remains Unclear Ahead Of ‘Avengers: Doomsday’
Since her explosive debut in ‘Thor: Ragnarok’, Valkyrie has become a fan-favorite, an irreverent, battle-hardened warrior who grew into the reluctant yet resolute ruler of New Asgard. This has left her off the official list of ‘Doomsday’, particularly with the way Thor’s corner of the MCU appears to be set to feature in the next chapter of the Avengers. Now, Thompson’s own carefully worded comments have only deepened the mystery.
Thompson, when directly questioned as to whether she would appear in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’, gave the sort of answer longtime Marvel fans are all too familiar with: a polite, playful dodge. “I’m not able to confirm anything,” she said, neither affirming nor denying Valkyrie’s involvement. That type of answer is virtually a language in itself in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It doesn’t mean yes. It doesn’t mean no. However, it hardly ever implies never.
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What Thompson did affirm, though, was that she loved the MCU as a creative environment. She talked passionately of the people working behind the scenes, the craftspeople, directors, and performers who assist in creating these huge worlds. More to the point, she pointed out something that has always made Valkyrie an interesting figure: Marvel’s tonal flexibility. Thompson argues that MCU movies are free to flow between drama and comedy.
This enables characters to be both superheroic and human at the same time. Valkyrie is the personification of that balance. One moment, she can exchange sarcastic insults, and the next, she can bear the burden of a collapsed civilization. That’s why her absence from ‘Doomsday’ feels so noticeable.
Valkyrie is not just any warrior; she is a leader. She is the future, particularly when Thor himself seems to be moving into more mythic realms. Leaving her out entirely would feel less like a creative choice and more like an unresolved thread.
Valkyrie Has A Lot Of Potential
While Thompson remained guarded about Doomsday, she was far more open about one thing: she would happily return as Valkyrie. “For sure,” she said, making it clear that her interest in the character hasn’t faded. That passion is important, particularly in a franchise where actor buy-in can be a factor in determining the prominence of characters in subsequent narratives. Thompson has also been pleasantly open about where she would like the journey of Valkyrie to follow, especially in her personal life.
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She has already flirted with the notion of a love affair between Valkyrie and Captain Marvel, played by Brie Larson, a notion that has long been popular among fans. Thompson framed it with humor and warmth, joking about Valkyrie being “single” and “ready to mingle.” That transparency is an indication of a bigger fact: Valkyrie has tremendous untapped potential.
Whether she joins the fight in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ or stands as New Asgard’s silent guardian while the universe burns, Valkyrie remains a vital piece of Marvel’s future.
