Here’s Why Odin’s New York Scene Was Changed In ‘Thor: Ragnarok’

The final cut of Thor: Ragnarok gave fans a pretty significant change to one scene, and it sounds like it was for good reason.

Spoilers for Thor: Ragnarok below!

In a recent interview with Empire, Ragnarok director Taika Waititi was asked about the changes made to Odin‘s (Anthony Hopkins) Earth-set scenes in the film. As Waititi explained, the initial plan was to have Odin’s death scene – as well as the subsequent descrution of Mjolnir by Hela (Cate Blanchett) – set in New York.

“What we wanted originally was for Thor and Loki to find Odin in New York, living on the streets, Fisher King style,” Waititi explained. “There was something really cool and interesting about that, and I think that might be on the DVD, that version.”

Fans had speculated about these scenes for quite some time, after early set photos spoiled Hopkins’ return. But as Waititi explained, early screenings of the film didn’t seem to respond well to that location.

“Something about having him there and then dying made a lot of audiences in our test screenings feel too sorry for him.” Waititi revealed. “It was such a bummer seeing the great king of Asgard stuck in New York. We preferred the idea he’d be in some mystical Norse environment.”

Ultimately, it seems like that change in setting was for the best. It also gave audiences a new context for Ragnarok‘s surprising ending, with all the pieces set in place to introduce Ultimate Asgard into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And fans did get to see a brief scene of Thor and Loki hunting for Odin in New York, which gave fans an amusing South Park Easter egg along the way.

Thor: Ragnarok is currently in theaters.