Team Thor
Filming for Team Thor occurred one month before the start of filming on Thor: Ragnarok in July 2016. Taika Waititi directed the project as a mockumentary similar to his film What We Do in the Shadows from 2014. Many fans were unsure of Waititi's new tonal approach for Ragnarok before this release arrived. Waititi felt Team Thor helped them show just how irreverent they were going to be with the characters. The shorts served as a strategic preview for the upcoming blockbuster film. Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige stated he saw the shorts as a doable version of their previous Marvel One-Shots series. He believed they helped redefine Thor into what he became in Ragnarok in a fun way. Jeff Goldblum, who portrays the Grandmaster, had shot footage with Waititi for another short that became Team Darryl. The three shorts were made available on Disney+ in January 2022 at which point Marvel classified them as One-Shots.
After saving Earth with the Avengers, Thor takes a short break in Australia where he lives with a local office worker named Darryl Jacobson. A film crew interviews him about his daily life in Australia while he stays there. Thor visits a kindergarten classroom and attempts to send emails with Darryl's help to Tony Stark and Steve Rogers concerning their conflict. He reveals an investigative board showing connections between the Infinity Stones, the Avengers, Nick Fury, and Thanos. Later Thor meets Bruce Banner at a café regarding not being contacted by Stark and Rogers. Banner receives a phone call from Stark who does not appear to want to reach out or talk to Thor. As such Thor decides to start his own team called Team Thor with him and Darryl. The mockumentary was first screened at the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con before being released online on the 28th of August 2016. It also appeared on the digital home media of Captain America: Civil War in September 2016.
Continuing from the first mockumentary Thor and his roommate Darryl discuss their domestic responsibilities at their apartment. Darryl is stuck with most of the cleaning work while Thor relaxes. Darryl states how Thor is a nice person but out of touch with time. He becomes frustrated with Thor's attempts to pay rent with Asgardian currency. Darryl suggests Thor look for a job which Thor laughs at and counters by suggesting they get a servant. Additional footage from Thor's visit to the kindergarten classroom appears again during the interview. The interview ends with Thor feeling he does not need anyone else in his life besides Darryl. He suggests that Darryl get a superhero outfit. Team Thor: Part 2 was released on the home media of Doctor Strange in February 2017. Hemsworth and Pearson both returned for this second installment.
After Thor moved out of Darryl's apartment Darryl moves to Los Angeles and becomes roommates with the Grandmaster. The Grandmaster is the only person who responded to his ads for a new living arrangement. Various clips show Darryl performing menial tasks for the Grandmaster such as taking out the trash and driving him around. Darryl describes how the Grandmaster seems like a good person but has issues understanding his personal space. The Grandmaster also has his own anger issues that cause problems. The Grandmaster states he has grown accustomed to Earth and plans to take it over while Darryl stands at his side. He creates a video explaining his plan and posts it to the internet. However after receiving no views he plans to advertise the first video by posting a second video with a musical guest. He hires Darryl's friends to help him but melts one of them when his expectations are not met. Darryl confesses he is unsure if the Grandmaster also wants to melt him and admits he misses Thor as his roommate. Team Darryl was released on digital download for Thor: Ragnarok on the 20th of February 2018 and on Blu-ray on March 6.
Despite being described as a silly little short Ethan Anderton of /Film found Team Thor to be hilarious. Germain Lussier at io9 felt Ragnarok would be amazing if it had an iota of this humor. Collider Tommy Cook and Adam Chitwood both enjoyed the short film. Cook felt it perfectly captured Waititi's irreverent sense of humor and praised Hemsworth's comedic abilities. Chitwood said there were a number of really funny touches and noted Hemsworth and Waititi were a good comedic fit. Ross A. Lincoln of Deadline Hollywood enjoyed the film and Hemsworth's comedy as well calling it one of the biggest highlights from Marvel's Comic-Con panel. Don Kaye at Syfy Wire called Team Thor one of the best movies Marvel has ever made. Nathalie Caron from Syfy Wire noted by its teaser that Part 2 was using the same brand of humor that made the first such a massive hit with fans everywhere. Writing for The Hollywood Reporter Aaron Couch called Part 2 the sequel no one could accuse of suffering from sequelitis. Alexandra August at Comic Book Resources called Team Darryl just as hilarious as the Team Thor installments before it if a little more disturbing.
In August 2018 Daley Pearson released a video reprising his role as Darryl to state he survived the Blip seen in Avengers: Infinity War. He is forced to work weekends since many of his co-workers did not survive. He also wishes Thor a happy birthday and asks him if he can transfer any money as Darryl is now in debt. In April 2019 Hemsworth expressed interest in doing more Team Thor short films with the possibility of doing a television series. Pearson appears as Darryl in Thor: Love and Thunder in 2022 as a New Asgard tour guide. The shorts were made available on Disney+ in January 2022 at which point Marvel classified them as One-Shots. They are the sixth through eighth Marvel One-Shot short films produced by Marvel Studios. Initially released from 2016 to 2018 they were included as special features in the MCU films' Blu-ray and digital distribution releases.
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Common questions
When was Team Thor first released online?
Team Thor was first released online on the 28th of August 2016. The mockumentary premiered earlier at the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con before its digital release.
Who directed the Team Thor short films?
Taika Waititi directed all three Team Thor short films as a mockumentary project. He also starred in the series alongside co-star Daley Pearson who plays Darryl Jacobson.
What is the relationship between Team Thor and Thor Ragnarok?
Filming for Team Thor occurred one month before the start of filming on Thor: Ragnarok in July 2016. Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige stated that the shorts served as a strategic preview to redefine Thor into what he became in Ragnarok.
How many Team Thor short films exist and when were they released?
Three Team Thor short films were produced and initially released from 2016 to 2018. Team Thor Part 2 came out in February 2017 while Team Darryl was released on the 20th of February 2018.
When did Marvel classify the Team Thor shorts as One-Shots?
Marvel classified the Team Thor shorts as One-Shots when they were made available on Disney+ in January 2022. These shorts are now recognized as the sixth through eighth Marvel One-Shot short films produced by Marvel Studios.