Even as Marvel fans are finally getting to blast off with the Guardians of the Galaxy again, they’re also looking forward to the next chapter in the Marvel Cosmic saga: Thor: Ragnarok.

The trailer for Thor 3 made a big impact, with director Taika Waititi offering fans a bold new vision of the Thor franchise, with a cool new villain in Cate Blacnchett’s Hela. After seeing Hela make her badass introduction by catching Mjolnir in midair and shattering it to pieces, fan speculation about how she may fit into the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe has been running rampant.

We’ve already taken a deep look into the theory that Hela could be the MCU version of death incarnate – but there’s another theory to explore: Is Hela Working for Thanos in Thor: Ragnarok?

Early Release

What little official information we have about Hela in Thor: Ragnarok comes from Cate Blanchett, who said in an interview that Hela has “been locked away for millennia getting more and more cross, and then, with a mistake, she gets unleashed and she ain’t getting back in that box.”

It seems that as soon as Hela is unleashed she goes right to work dismantling Asgard, Mjolnir, and Thor – but the question is: what’s the “mistake” that sets Hela free from her prison? And do Thanos’ machinations have anything to do with it? 

The Mad Titan clearly has big designs for the Infinity Stones, which is exactly where someone like Hela might be useful… 

Operation: Soul

Any Marvel Comics fans looking at the list of Infinity Stones in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, knows that there is a glaring hole in the lineup: The Soul Stone. 

The final Infinity Stone has been the subject of much speculation, with popular theories being that either Hela or Idris Elba’s Heimdall has it in his/her possession. That leaves room for a story in which Hela either: 

1. Must lay siege to Asgard, in order to obtain the Soul Stone (and deliver it to Thanos). 
2. Hela has the Soul Stone, uses it during Thor: Ragnarok, but ultimately surrenders it to Thanos (willingly or otherwise). 

In either case, it would serve Thanos’ purposes to set Hela free to wreak havoc on Asgard – with the Soul Stone serving as her bargaining chip with The Mad Titan. But it doesn’t have to be just about the Infinity Stone, as there’s something else that Hela can offer Thanos…

Bad Romance

As we already stated, Hela is a strong candidate to serve as The MCU’s version of Death, who appears in Marvel Comics in the personified visage of a beautiful and enigmatic robed woman. 

Thanos’ early history in Marvel’s “Infinity” storylines involved The Mad Titan trying to win death’s favor by destroying the universe. While we may not have a super model version of death in the MCU, Hela (ruler of Asgard’s underworld) would be a a logical substitution. So, even if the Soul Stone isn’t part of her story in Thor: Ragnarok, she could still technically be working for Thanos, simply by being herself. 

More Avengers: Infinity War News: 

• Avengers Infinity War: 5 Marvel Infinity Saga Easter Eggs Fans Want
• Benedict Wong Fanboys Out About Delivering Infinity Stone Line & Joining Avengers: Infinity War
• Russo Brothers Confirm Next Two Avengers Movies Still Directly Connected

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