Will “Thor” put his career on ice?
Chris Hemsworth has said that he’s slowing down — but not retiring — after learning that he’s at very high risk of suffering from Alzheimer’s disease later in life.
But Tinseltown insiders say that his schedule is starting to look awfully clear in the not-too-distant future, reports Page Six.
The Aussie actor has four upcoming projects – including revisiting his Thor character in an upcoming Avengers sequel, and an untitled Hulk Hogan biopic. But after those projects, says a source, “he doesn’t plan to take on many roles because of [learning about his high risk for] Alzheimer’s.”
While Hemsworth told Vanity Fair he’s “not talking about retiring by any means,” our insider says it looks a whole lot like he’s heading in that direction.
Hemsworth, 39, discovered he’s at high risk for the disease while filming his National Geographic and Disney+ docuseries, Limitless.
He recently told the glossy about “the intensity [of] navigating” the test results last November, and emphasised it’s not a diagnosis — just a sign that the neurodegenerative disease is more likely to be in his future than it is for most people.
“Most of us, we like to avoid speaking about death,” he said. “Then to all of a sudden be told some big indicators are actually pointing to this as the route which is going to happen, the reality of it sinks in. Your own mortality.”
Hemsworth said learning that he’s “eight to 10 times more likely” to battle Alzheimer’s, “triggered something in me to want to take some time off.”
“I’ve been completing the things I was already contracted to do,” he said, adding that he plans to “go home and … to have a good chunk of time off and just simplify. Be with the kids, be with my wife.”
Hemsworth shares three children – India, 10, and twin Tristan and Sasha, 9 – with wife Elsa Pataky. A rep for the actor did not comment.
This article originally appeared in Page Six and was reproduced with permission