Written by Edwin Francisco
Christian Bale’s Gorr the God Butcher nabbed the top score for an MCU villain during test screenings. In other words, audiences love Christian Bale’s performance in Thor: Love and Thunder. Director Taika Waititi shared the massive praise himself.
After the second Thor: Love and Thunder trailer revealed Gorr the God Butcher, some comic-book fans questioned what they saw. Specifically, they wondered why he still looked like a light gray version of Christian Bale.
After all, Gorr the God Butcher was was as an alien with tentacles on his head in the comics. However, in the upcoming Thor movie, he’s pretty much very human except for the color of his skin. Hardcore Marvel followers wondered how his Gorr the God Butcher would turn out. Without a doubt, the trailer was fun, but not a lot of people are familiar with Gorr the God Butcher.
Christian Bale’s Gorr The God Butcher Chosen Best MCU Villain In Test Screenings
Image: Marvel Comics
In a recent interview, Taika Waititi talked about how Christian Bale performed in the movie. He said that Christian Bale’s portrayal adds to the dynamic of Thor’s villains. Waititi revealed:
I’d say he’s the most sympathetic villain they’ve had. He’s also tested the highest out of any villain that Marvel’s had.
This is good news, and it gives us hope that Gorr the God Butcher will be represented properly. That’s regardless of his look being vastly different from the comics. Besides, the overall character still heavily depends Christian Bale’s depiction.
Gorr the God Butcher is the most tragic villain than any other MCU movie has ever introduced. He was first introduced in Thor: God of Thunder No. 2 in November 2020. Writer Jason Aaron and artist Esad Ribic co-created him. The character comes from a planet with no name.
Starving for almost all his life, his parents died. Despite this, he got a wife and had kids. But despair hit him again as his wife and children also eventually died. Throughout all these experiences of hardships in his life, he trusted the gods. Nevertheless, after all the tragedies and hardships that he has gone through, he began to resent them.
In his thoughts he started to question why didn’t the gods help him when he prayed for them? It’s a sad tale that he has gone through. Thus, his anger towards the gods is understandable, quite natural through the series narrative.
Christian Bale’s Gorr The God Butcher Chosen Best MCU Villain In Test Screenings
Image: Marvel Studios
For a live-action adaptation, taking the role of Gorr the God Butcher is going to be difficult. The character has to relay the tragedies he has gone through in his every action. People must understand what his character is going through. His character can figuratively, and quite literally, bring darkness into Thor’s heroic story.
Waititi’s trailer showcased this contrast from the bright colors and flashes of light turning to monochrome dark tones the moment Christian Bale appeared.
Christian Bale is an incredible actor. He has won 76 awards out of 196 nominations. From doing dramatic films like Ford v Ferrari, sci-fi action like Terminator Salvation, a mystery thriller like The Prestige and even being Batman in The Dark Knight Trilogy. He is a very successful versatile actor.
Christian Bale does have the range and skill that could convey Gorr the God Butcher’s pain to the audience.