When Marvel thinks outside the box, they really go for it, and one of their weirdest decisions was hiring Shakespeare enthusiast Kenneth Branagh to direct the first Thor film. It sorta worked, too, as the Asgardians have a very Shakespearean family dynamic full of comedy, tragedy, and betrayal. But Branagh didn't return for Thor: The Dark World, choosing instead to continue his run at studio projects like Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit and Disney's Cinderella. Maybe it was the $500M success he found with Cinderella that has Disney anxious to keep him in the fold because Branagh may be coming back to Marvel once more.
According to Umberto Gonzalez during an appearance on Popcorn Talk, Marvel really wants Branagh to return and direct Thor: Ragnarok. There could be a hurdle as Branagh recently agreed to direct a remake of Murder on the Orient Express, so it may not even be possible.
Thor: Ragnarok is due to open in November 2017 and is expected to be a major cog in the greater MCU. Ragnarok is the complete and utter destruction of all things in Norse mythology, so we could be looking at the end of Thor and the Asgardians. Considering Marvel has never gone beyond a third film for any of their solo franchises, it wouldn't be a complete surprise to see Thor's individual story end there. Branagh has expressed some interest in coming back to Marvel, so he may move some things around on his schedule to make that happen.
