Russell Crowe has joined the cast of Marvel's Thor: Love and Thunder, joining Chris Hemsworth, who is reprising his role as the God of Thunder, Natalie Portman, and Christian Bale, who will be playing the villain.

Details on the Gladiator actor's role are being kept under wraps at this time, though reports that the idea was to surprise fans with a "fun cameo" from Crowe when the movie is released.

Meanwhile, it was also recently revealed that Matt Damon will make a special appearance in Thor: Love and Thunder as well, reprising the small part he played in Thor: Ragnarok. Christian Bale of The Dark Knight fame will also be making his Marvel debut as the movie's villain, Gorr the God Butcher.

Taika Waititi, who took home the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for "Jojo Rabbit", will return to write and direct. The filmmaker directed the third film in the installment, "Thor: Ragnarok", which was written by Eric Pearson, Craig Kyle and Christopher L. Yost. Waititi also portrayed Korg in "Ragnarok" and "Avengers: Endgame".

The plot remains under wraps, but at the end of "Avengers: Endgame", Thor left New Asgard on Earth and hitched a ride to parts unknown with the Guardians of the Galaxy.

Russell Crowe won the Academy Award for Best Actor from his iconic performance in the 2000 blockbuster Gladiator. He has also won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for playing John Forbes Nash Jr. in the acclaimed drama A Beautiful Mind. Concerning superhero movies, Crowe played Superman's father Jor-El in Zack Snyder's 2013 movie Man of Steel.

Source: Press Release