The images of Hemsworth in his sunset years appear in episode four of the National Geographic series, which premieres all six of its episodes on Wednesday on Disney+. The show, produced by Black Swan filmmaker Darren Aronofsky, features Hemsworth exploring the aging process with doctors and researchers and engaging in challenges, travel, and training designed to extend the lifespan as long as possible.
In episode four, the actor, who is still in superhero condition for the Marvel films, spends time in a retirement home, wearing a bulky suit designed to mimic the effects of a few years of wear and tear on his body. He’s not used to being physically unable to do things. Thor may have rocked a dadbod onscreen at one point, but not Hemsworth.
“I said to Darren, ‘Look, am I supposed to act as though I’m in this situation and I am dying?’ And he said, ‘No,’ and I said, ‘Good, because that’d be super hokey and weird,’” Hemsworth says. “He said, ‘If you think it’s funny, find it funny. Go along for the ride. But we want to see your real reaction to it.’ And, yeah, certain moments caught me off guard and certain moments were ridiculous and hilarious and absurd—which is life.”
As part of that, the production mocked up some images of the actor in his later years, some a best-case scenario, some a little less generous. The images are digital recreations, not makeup.
Scrolling through them, he settles on the most extreme, depicting him at his thinnest and most weathered. “That one…” he says, wincing. “Took my hair away.”
While Hemsworth didn’t wear makeup or prosthetics for these images, his wife also took part in the episode and did go through a physical aging-up process to surprise him for one sequence set at a rest-home dance.
In the scene, she has her back to him as he approaches, then turns around to reveal how she might look decades from now. What happens next will be for the series to reveal, but suffice to say he doesn’t “run for the hills” either. They posed for a photo together—her in the age makeup, and him looking like he does now—then the producers digitally aged him up as well for a second image.