Okay, so it’s not an official still from Thor: Ragnarok, but Marvel was kind enough to kick off the New Year with a new behind-the-scenes image featuring Chris Hemsworth’s mighty Asgardian hero and director Taika Waititi (looking very…director-y). The studio also unveiled the first official plot synopsis for the upcoming sequel, which confirms a bunch of stuff we already know while reaffirming our faith in Ragnarok as the first great Thor movie.

…Unless, like me, you’re one of those rare weirdos who actually really enjoyed Thor: The Dark World — which means you’re still excited for Thor: Ragnarok, but mostly just because this means Thor will finally have a good sense of humor. And that new behind-the-scenes pic above is already proving it. Let’s zoom in on Hemsworth’s face:

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Marvel
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Hmm, not quite, but almost. Let’s do that again:

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Marvel
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He looks like his mind is being totally blown by whatever Taika Waititi is explaining, which could be, like, quantum physics or maybe how he decided to install his new IKEA entertainment unit, or possible the plot of Space Jam. It’s great.

Marvel also revealed this official synopsis, which confirms several previously reported plot elements, including that bit they borrowed from Planet Hulk:

In Marvel Studios’ ‘Thor: Ragnarok’, Thor is imprisoned on the other side of the universe without his mighty hammer and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok—the destruction of his homeworld and the end of Asgardian civilization—at the hands of an all-powerful new threat, the ruthless Hela. But first he must survive a deadly gladiatorial contest that pits him against his former ally and fellow Avenger—the Incredible Hulk!

Mark Ruffalo will reprise his role as Hulk with Tom Hiddleston returning as the mischievous Loki (possibly the last we’ll see of him for quite a while), Idris Elba as Heimdall and Anthony Hopkins as Odin. They’re joined by MCU newcomers Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie, Cate Blanchett as the villainous Hela, Jeff Goldblum as the Grandmaster, and Karl Urban as Skurge.

Thor: Ragnarok hits theaters on November 3.

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