Erik Selvig
Erik Selvig arrived in the world on a day in 1951 within the city of Stockholm, Sweden. He grew up listening to stories about Asgard and its legendary figures like Thor. These tales shaped his early understanding of the universe around him. Later in life, he became a professor of Theoretical Astrophysics at Culver University. There he met Bruce Banner during his tenure as an academic. He also took Jane Foster under his wing after meeting her father, who was his colleague.
Selvig traveled through New Mexico with Jane Foster and Darcy Lewis to study thermonuclear astrophysics. A storm hit them while they researched in the desert. A powerless Thor appeared before the trio. They took him to a local hospital but he escaped. S.H.I.E.L.D. later captured him when he claimed to be Donald Blake. Loki sent the Destroyer to Earth to kill Thor. After Thor defeated the creature, Nick Fury recruited Selvig to study the Tesseract. Loki manipulated Selvig to open a portal for the Chitauri invasion. Selvig worked to stabilize the Tesseract at a secret location. He then moved it to the highest point of Stark Tower. Tony Stark knocked him out when they confronted each other. Natasha Romanoff disabled the portal using Loki's scepter. Thor comforted Selvig after the battle ended.
A year passed since the Battle of New York. The effects of Loki's mind control caused Selvig to suffer a mental breakdown. Thor returned to ask for help against Malekith and the Dark Elves. Malekith planned to unleash an event called the Convergence. Selvig worked with Foster and Lewis to develop teleportation devices. These machines were designed to send Malekith and his army back to their realm. Thor defeated the elves and sent them away. The events left Selvig shaken by the psychological toll of his actions.
By 2015 Selvig had fully recovered from his previous breakdown. Thor asked for his help to continue a vision given by Wanda Maximoff. They traveled to the Water of Sights where Thor saw visions of six Infinity Stones. When Thor lost control, Selvig saved him. The two left the location together. After Ultron was stopped, Selvig joined the new Avengers Compound. He began work to assist the Avengers in keeping the world safe. Thanos killed Selvig during the Blip in 2018. Banner brought him back to life in 2023. Later Jane consulted him about her cancer treatment but he said it was ineffective. He hosted a NOVA special dedicated to Einstein-Rosen bridges before that time.
An alternate timeline existed where a zombie plague took over Earth. Erik Selvig became one of the infected individuals. Kamala Khan found him while escaping with Riri Williams and Kate Bishop on a Quinjet. Selvig swallowed a shrunken intergalactic transmitter before succumbing to the infection. Kamala dug the transmitter out of his stomach. She did so reluctantly as he attempted to attack them. He remained stuck in a seat belt after the extraction attempt failed.
Stellan Skarsgård joined the cast of Thor in October 2009. The film was written by Ashley Edward Miller, Zack Stentz, and Don Payne. Skarsgård signed a five-film deal with Marvel Studios. His character appeared in the post-credits scene at the end of Thor. Joss Whedon directed that scene which set up Selvig's role in The Avengers. Skarsgård also appeared in Thor: The Dark World and Avengers: Age of Ultron. In February 2015 he noted he had one more Marvel film in his contract. He stated he would not appear in Thor: Ragnarok. He mentioned he possibly could appear in another Avengers film later.
Selvig appears in MCU tie-in comics like The Avengers Prelude: Fury's Big Week. He also features in Thor: The Dark World Prelude. Erik Selvig is the main character of the 2018 novel The Cosmic Quest Volume Two: Aftermath. This story takes place after Avengers: Infinity War events. Avengers: Endgame retconned this information to show him killed during the Blip. He appears as a playable character in Lego Marvel's Avengers. Selvig made his comics debut in the 2016 Avengers: Standoff! storyline. He was depicted as an agent of Hydra in that arc. Captain America: Steve Rogers #16 revealed he was converted by Kobik. He sacrificed himself to protect her from Steve Rogers.
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Common questions
When and where was Erik Selvig born?
Erik Selvig arrived in the world on a day in 1951 within the city of Stockholm, Sweden. He grew up listening to stories about Asgard and its legendary figures like Thor.
What role did Erik Selvig play during the Battle of New York?
Loki manipulated Erik Selvig to open a portal for the Chitauri invasion while he worked to stabilize the Tesseract at a secret location. Tony Stark knocked him out when they confronted each other before Natasha Romanoff disabled the portal using Loki's scepter.
How did Erik Selvig die and return to life in the Marvel Cinematic Universe?
Thanos killed Erik Selvig during the Blip in 2018. Bruce Banner brought him back to life in 2023 after Thanos snapped his fingers.
Which films featured Stellan Skarsgård as Erik Selvig?
Stellan Skarsgård joined the cast of Thor in October 2009 and appeared in Thor: The Dark World and Avengers: Age of Ultron. He noted in February 2015 that he had one more Marvel film in his contract but stated he would not appear in Thor: Ragnarok.
Did Erik Selvig survive the events of Avengers: Infinity War?
Avengers: Endgame retconned information from the 2018 novel The Cosmic Quest Volume Two: Aftermath to show Erik Selvig was killed during the Blip. An alternate timeline existed where a zombie plague took over Earth and Erik Selvig became one of the infected individuals.