It’s been a pretty good week for Marvel’s female stars.

During a series of announcements at San Diego Comic Con, Walt Disney’s Marvel Studios revealed a group of new superhero films starring strong female characters, including a standalone film for Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow and a starring role for Angelina Jolie in The Eternals.

And to top it all off, we now know Natalie Portman will reprise her role as Jane Foster in the fourth Thor film with an exciting difference - she’ll be picking up the hammer as a female goddess of thunder. 

Thor: Love and Thunder is set to be released in November 2021, and will be led by director Taika Waititi, who says his decision to introduce Portman as a goddess of thunder was inspired by the comic source material The Mighty Thor, which introduces the female superhero.

Portman will join stars Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson for the fourth instalment of the popular series.

Taking to her Instagram, Portman shared the news alongside a picture of her wielding Thor’s hammer on stage during the announcement.

“So thrilled to share the news with you today at #sdcc2019 that I’ll be returning to the @marvel #mcu as female Thor with legends @taikawaititi, @tessamaethompson and @chrishemsworth,” she wrote, adding: “(Remember this as the before picture for when I get jacked).”

As is to be expected, Twitter was all over the news, with fans sharing their delight at Waititi’s decision to introduce a female Thor.

“Jane Foster transformed from as “only Thor’s love interest” to GODDESS OF MF THUNDER. That’s the tweet,” one fan wrote. 

“Natalie Portman is Female Thor!! Marvel is giving us everything we’ve ever wanted,” another added. 

Marvel has already been giving us some powerful female energy over the last couple of years. We’ve had Brie Larson take on the role of a female superhero in Captain Marvel, seen some fantastic on-screen celebrations of female friendship, and heard some exciting rumours about a Ms Marvel adaptation.

You just keep doing what you’re doing, Marvel.

Images: Getty