Marvel stars Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman are in absolute awe of Oscar winner Christian Bale’s terrifying turn as Gorr the God Butcher in the latest MCU film Thor: Love and Thunder.
In the movie, Hemsworth returns as the titular superhero, a role that he previously played in three solo and four Avengers films. Bale, who earlier played Batman in Christopher Nolan’s critically-acclaimed Dark Knight trilogy, features in the film as Gorr the God Butcher, a galactic killer who seeks the extinction of the gods.
Hemsworth said he liked how Bale brought different layers to the character with his performance. “There’s so much drama and insanity around Gorr, but Christian Bale managed to pull the focus right into each moment. You can’t take your eyes off him. The character is fascinating because like all good villains, Gorr has a point.
“He may not be going about it the right way, but there’s empathy in the script and Christian brought so many more layers and so much more depth to Gorr,” the Australian star said in a statement.
Portman, who is returning as Jane Foster from 2011’s Thor and 2013’s Thor: The Dark World, confessed that she was “scared” by Bale’s presence as Gorr on the film’s sets.
“All of us were actually a little scared in Gorr’s presence,” said the actor, who in the movie will be taking on the mantle of The Mighty Thor, the female incarnation of the superhero.
Actor Tessa Thompson, who reprises her MCU role of Valkyrie, found Bale “mesmerising” as Gorr. “He does that thing that Marvel villains do so well, which is that you see their villainy comes from pain, from some unprocessed trauma,” she added.
Filmmaker Taika Waititi said Bale’s Gorr takes things a notch above from what Cate Blanchett’s Hela did in 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok.
“We needed to step up from Hela and find a villain who was somehow even more formidable and we found that in Gorr, who is played by the remarkable Christian Bale,” the director said.
Produced by Kevin Feige-led Marvel Studios, Thor: Love and Thunder will make its debut in Indian theatres on July 7. It will be released in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam.
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 'insensitive' remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.
The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Social media users reacted strongly, questioning why Rahul would compare his sisters in such personal terms. Several users were particularly disturbed by his reference to their appearance and sex appeal, pointing out that such comparisons within a family cross boundaries of propriety. One comment read, “This is disturbing. Why talk about your sisters like that? It’s not just weird, it’s wrong.” Another post said, “There’s nothing respectful about comparing your siblings’ attractiveness in public.”
The backlash also reignited conversation around a decades-old controversy involving Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Rahul was asked about the infamous 1990s magazine cover where the father-daughter duo shared a kiss, which had stirred public outrage at the time. Dismissing the criticism, Rahul said, “It doesn’t make any difference. It’s like water off a duck’s back. We know the truth, and we’ve seen everything since childhood.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it reflects a broader issue of the Bhatt family being insensitive to public perception and boundaries. Many users questioned the need for bringing up old incidents in a bid to defend new and equally questionable statements.
As of now, neither Alia Bhatt nor Pooja Bhatt has issued any public response to Rahul’s remarks. Both actors, known for their significant contributions to Indian cinema, have typically kept family matters private despite living in the public eye.
This episode has also sparked debate over the role of public figures in maintaining respect when discussing family matters in the media. Observers say such comments, especially when involving women’s appearance and personal qualities, reinforce problematic attitudes and fuel unnecessary controversies.
While Rahul Bhatt is not as prominent in the entertainment industry as his father or sisters, his comments have made headlines and placed the Bhatt family in the spotlight for reasons beyond their creative work. For many, this serves as a reminder that public platforms come with responsibility, and that family ties should not be trivialised or dissected for attention or comparison.
The backlash is unlikely to subside soon, especially as fans and followers of Alia and Pooja continue to express disappointment over the way the situation has unfolded. Whether or not Rahul chooses to clarify or apologise remains to be seen.