In a new interview with Empire magazine, Thor: Love and Thunder writer/director Taika Waititi promises that Natalie Portman’s return as Jane Foster will be anything but ‘boring.’ He teases that the actress will be funnier and play a bigger part in Thor’s fourth film. Portman taking on the role of the Mighty Thor will offer audiences a different version of the character than what they saw in the first two Thor films.

“You don’t want Natalie coming back and playing that same character who’s walking around with science equipment,” he explained. “You know, while Thor’s flying around, she’s left on Earth, tapping her foot going, ‘When’s he going to be back?’ That’s boring. You want her to be part of the adventure.”

Waititi also has a differing screenwriting style than the first two Thor films as well, and he’s excited to share his comedic chops with the actress. “Natalie’s really funny in real life. She’s kind of goofy and has got a great sense of humor, and I don’t think that was exploited enough in the first films,” he said.

He also explained how this big change will not be easy for Thor as it has been eight years since the couple separated. “She’s had a whole other life, and then the love of your life comes back on the scene and is now dressed like you,” the director noted. The idea to bring Portman back into the franchise after the actress left following Thor: The Dark World, was unexpected according to Waititi.

“I didn’t know we were going to use the storyline of the Mighty Thor character until we started working out the actual story,” he told the magazine. “I was writing and it was like, ‘Wouldn’t it be kind of cool to bring Jane back into the storyline?’”

Thor: Love and Thunder hits theaters July 8.