The whispers started almost immediately. A glimpse in a trailer, a single frame, and suddenly the internet was alight with intense fan theories and the potential Hela return. Not just any return, mind you, but one that could redefine the Goddess of Death, making her an even deadlier threat than the one who once shattered Mjolnir with a casual flick of her wrist. For many, Hela, magnificently portrayed by Cate Blanchett, was far too compelling a villain to be truly gone, and the MCU's Multiverse Saga offers the perfect stage for her resurgence.
At a Glance: Hela's Looming Return in What If...?
- Hela's presumed defeat in Thor: Ragnarok was ambiguous, leaving room for a return.
- Marvel Studios' What If...? Season 2 trailer shows a variant of Hela, hinting at new powers.
- A prominent fan theory suggests Hela controls Ta Lo's Great Protector, the dragon from Shang-Chi.
- Evidence includes the dragon's glowing green eyes, reminiscent of Hela's undead army.
- This control likely implies the Great Protector's death, leveraging Hela's established necromancy.
- Alternatively, What If...? could grant Hela a new ability to possess living beings, escalating her threat.
- While What If...? is typically non-canon, it fuels hopes for a live-action Hela return in the prime MCU.
The Unvanquished Goddess? Hela's Legacy and the Multiverse's Opening Doors
To understand the fervor around Hela's potential return, you first need to recall her explosive debut in 2017's Thor: Ragnarok. As Asgardian King Odin's firstborn, Hela, the Goddess of Death, unveiled a dark, forgotten history of Asgard—one built on violent conquest alongside her father. Her power was intrinsically linked to Asgard itself, growing exponentially stronger the closer she was to her homeworld. She effortlessly dispatched armies, proved immune to most weaponry, and even the mighty Thor struggled against her raw strength.
Her supposed defeat came not at the hands of Thor, but through the cataclysmic event of Ragnarok itself, orchestrated by Surtur. With Asgard destroyed, her power source presumably vanished, and Hela was last seen engulfed in the fiery destruction. But here's the crucial part: we never explicitly saw her die. In the world of comic books and the MCU, "presumed defeated" is often an open invitation for a comeback. Many fans, still captivated by her menace and Cate Blanchett's captivating performance, have long pondered how she might eventually resurface.
Enter What If...?, Marvel Studios' animated series for Disney+ that brilliantly explores alternate realities within the burgeoning Multiverse Saga. Each episode offers a fresh take on familiar characters and pivotal events, allowing for boundless narrative exploration. It's a playground where established rules can bend, and characters can assume roles far different from their prime-timeline counterparts. This very flexibility makes What If...? the perfect canvas for revisiting Thor: Ragnarok and bringing back a character as formidable as Hela, free from the immediate constraints of main continuity.
The Green-Eyed Dragon: Unpacking the What If...? Season 2 Theory
The most recent fuel for the Hela return fire came directly from the What If...? Season 2 trailer, released in November 2023. Eagle-eyed viewers caught a tantalizing glimpse of Hela's new storyline, showing her interacting with Xu Wenwu, the powerful owner of the Ten Rings. This pairing alone was enough to pique interest, combining two formidable figures from different corners of the MCU.
However, one subtle detail ignited a far more terrifying theory: Hela has seemingly taken control of the Great Protector, the magnificent dragon guardian of Ta Lo from Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. The evidence? The Great Protector's eyes glow a vivid, unmistakable green in the trailer. This isn't just a stylistic choice; it's a direct callback to Thor: Ragnarok, where Hela's undead army, reanimated by her magic and the Eternal Flame, also exhibited the same unsettling green luminescence. For fans, this detail isn't merely a coincidence; it's a terrifying implication that Hela's dark magic is once again at work, bending even mythical beasts to her will.
Hela's Dark Arts: Necromancy and Control
This theory isn't as outlandish as it might initially appear, primarily because Hela has already demonstrated the core ability required to achieve it in the live-action MCU. During her conquest of Asgard in Thor: Ragnarok, Hela proved herself a master necromancer. When Asgard's living armies refused to bend the knee, she didn't hesitate. She used her formidable magic, amplified by the power of the Eternal Flame, to resurrect her former soldiers and even the gigantic wolf Fenris, who had been dead for millennia. These reanimated forces, imbued with her will, became a terrifying, loyal extension of her power.
The glowing green eyes on the Great Protector in the What If...? trailer strongly suggest a similar enchantment. If Hela's magic can bring back and command an army of dead Asgardians and a colossal wolf, why not a powerful dragon? This established capacity for necromancy forms the bedrock of the theory, proving her strength as a conjurer of the dead. It points to a direct, frightening application of her existing power set in a new, multiversal context. Delving into the intricacies of Asgardian magic shows Hela as an unparalleled master of deathly enchantments.
For the Dragon to Be Controlled, Must It First Die?
Here's where the theory takes a darker turn. While Hela has shown a remarkable ability to raise and command the dead, she hasn't, in the live-action MCU, demonstrated the power to possess living beings. This crucial distinction leads to a grim implication: if Hela is indeed controlling the Great Protector in What If...?, the dragon must have been killed beforehand.
The question then becomes: what could possibly kill Ta Lo's Great Protector? This ancient, powerful dragon was a formidable force, strong enough to contend with the soul-sucking Dweller-in-Darkness in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. The Dweller-in-Darkness came close to defeating the Great Protector during their battle, severely weakening it before Shang-Chi intervened.
In an alternate reality, as explored by What If...?, it's entirely plausible that events unfolded differently. Perhaps in this version of Ta Lo, the Dweller-in-Darkness's attack was successful, and there was no Shang-Chi or his family to intervene. The Great Protector could have been killed, leaving its powerful body vulnerable to Hela's necromantic touch. This scenario aligns perfectly with Hela's established abilities and the premise of What If...? to explore divergent timelines. The lore of the Great Protector emphasizes its immense power, making its death a significant event.
A New Brand of Terrifying: Hela's Potential New Powers
While the necromancy theory is compelling and well-supported by existing canon, What If...? always leaves room for the unexpected. It's entirely possible that this alternate reality's Hela has been gifted an expanded power set, one that makes her even more terrifying. What if, in this version, Hela can possess living creatures as well as raise the dead?
Such an upgrade would elevate her threat level exponentially. Imagine the Goddess of Death not only commanding legions of the deceased but also capable of taking over the bodies of the living, turning heroes or even other cosmic beings into her puppets. This would make her an unparalleled force in the multiverse, capable of infiltrating and conquering in ways previously unimagined. It would be a chilling development that could make her one of the most formidable antagonists What If...? has ever introduced, and it certainly keeps what's next for What If...? Season 2 incredibly exciting.
Beyond What If...?: Could Hela Resurface in the Main MCU?
While What If...? typically exists in its own separate pocket realities, the sheer popularity and narrative potential of Hela's character often lead fans to ask the inevitable question: could this What If...? appearance pave the way for a live-action return in the prime MCU timeline?
For many, Cate Blanchett's Hela remains one of the MCU's most iconic villains, a character with depth, style, and raw power that left a lasting impression. The ambiguous nature of her "death" in Ragnarok has always kept the door ajar. With the Multiverse now a central theme, exemplified by shows like Loki and movies like Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the pathways for her return seem more numerous than ever. A Hela variant could cross over, or perhaps the prime Hela merely escaped Surtur's grasp, banished to another dimension or realm rather than destroyed.
While What If...? serves as a great proving ground for new character dynamics and power sets, it also keeps the conversation alive. The emotional resonance of a villain of Hela's caliber means that even if her What If...? story remains self-contained, the desire for her live-action return will only intensify. Understanding the MCU Multiverse reveals countless possibilities for how this could unfold.
Why This Theory Matters: The Stakes of Hela's Return
The idea of Hela, especially an empowered variant, returning is more than just fan service; it carries significant narrative weight.
- Elevated Threat Level: A Hela who can command the Great Protector, or even possess living beings, instantly becomes a multiversal threat on par with major antagonists like Kang. Her existing power set, combined with new abilities, positions her as a force that could challenge multiple heroes across different realities.
- Narrative Richness: Her return offers a chance to explore new aspects of her character, her motivations, and her interactions with heroes who may have never faced her. Teaming her with Xu Wenwu, for instance, opens up fascinating new villainous dynamics.
- Recontextualizing Lore: Her presence could shed new light on Asgardian history, the nature of death in the MCU, or even the power of the Ten Rings and Ta Lo.
- Cate Blanchett's Enduring Appeal: Frankly, fans just want to see more of All about Cate Blanchetts Thor in action. Her portrayal was so commanding that any opportunity to bring her back is met with widespread enthusiasm.
Her unique blend of regal elegance and brutal power makes her a standout villain. Any story involving her immediately raises the stakes, promising visceral action and compelling character moments.
Navigating Fan Theories: What to Expect and What's Just Wishful Thinking
It's important to approach fan theories, especially those sparked by What If...?, with a blend of excitement and realism. These theories are a testament to the passionate community surrounding the MCU, demonstrating how deeply invested viewers are in the lore and characters. They allow us to speculate, connect dots, and imagine possibilities beyond what's officially presented.
Trailers, by their very nature, are designed to tease and create buzz. Subtle details, like the glowing green eyes of the Great Protector, are often intentionally placed to spark discussions and generate theories. While many fan theories prove to be incredibly insightful and even prescient, others are delightful flights of fancy that ultimately don't materialize in the final product.
The beauty of What If...? is that it allows for these grand, often wild, ideas to play out without necessarily impacting the main MCU canon. It gives creators the freedom to experiment and give fans something truly unexpected. So, while the theory of Hela controlling the Great Protector is compelling and well-reasoned, remember it's still speculation until the episode airs. Enjoy the ride, the detective work, and the thrilling anticipation!
Your Guide to Hela's Next Chapter
Whether you're a longtime fan of the Goddess of Death or simply intrigued by the multiversal madness, here's how you can prepare for and engage with Hela's potential return:
- Rewatch Thor: Ragnarok: Refresh your memory on Hela's original powers, her motivations, and the nuances of Cate Blanchett's performance. It will make her What If...? appearance even more impactful.
- Catch Up on Shang-Chi: Revisit the majestic Ta Lo and the powerful Great Protector to fully appreciate the stakes if Hela truly wields control over it.
- Dive into What If...? Season 2: This is where the action happens. Keep an open mind, enjoy the alternate realities, and see how this version of Hela unfolds.
- Join the Conversation: Engage with fellow fans online. Share your own theories, discuss the evidence, and celebrate the collective excitement of the MCU community.
The potential return of Hela, especially as a deadlier, dragon-controlling variant, is a thrilling prospect. It underscores the boundless creativity of the Multiverse Saga and Marvel Studios' willingness to push boundaries. Get ready, because the Goddess of Death might just be back, and she's bringing a truly monstrous new ally with her.