Tamara Flores
Prepare to be enchanted by the legendary hammer wielded by Chris Hemsworth’s Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This powerful weapon has a name that may challenge English-speaking tongues, but Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige was adamant that Mjölnir would remain unchanged for the screen.
In an exciting excerpt from the upcoming book MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios, shared by Vanity Fair, Thor writer Zack Stentz revealed a fascinating conversation between Feige and director Kenneth Branagh during the early stages of the movie’s development. Stentz recalled, “One of my most vivid memories of those notes sessions was Branagh didn’t like the name Mjölnir because it’s difficult to pronounce. He turned to all of us and asked, ‘Do we have to call the hammer ‘Mjölnir’? I see that it’s made out of some metal called ‘Uru.’ Could we call it Uru instead? Or would the fanboys string me up?'”
Feige responded with a mischievous half-smile and simply stated, “Ken, the fanboys would string you up.” Branagh, understanding the importance of honoring the source material, accepted the decision, saying, “‘Alright. We won’t be doing that, then.'”
Mjölnir was a Thor character in its own right
A nod to the challenge of pronouncing Mjölnir’s name was cleverly included in the film when Darcy humorously responds with “Meow-meow?” upon hearing it. Even those who were unfamiliar with Thor’s hammer prior to watching the movie have now grown accustomed to it. Since its introduction in the MCU, Mjölnir has not only served as Thor’s iconic weapon but also as a testament to his “worthiness,” as only those deemed worthy can lift it.
Although Mjölnir was eventually destroyed by Hela in Thor: Ragnarok, it played a significant role in Thor’s journey to find a new weapon in Avengers: Infinity War. While his new axe, Stormbreaker, has rightfully earned its place in the Marvel canon, the impact of Mjölnir cannot be underestimated. It even made a triumphant return from the past in Avengers: Endgame, granting Steve Rogers a moment of celebrated worthiness.
