Chris Hemsworth Announces Acting Break After Shocking Diagnosis

Playing the Marvel superhero Thor since 2011, it's easy to forget that Chris Hemsworth is not, in fact, supernatural. With those brawns and incredible strength, Chris appears invincible to life's greatest hazards. Moreover, with his new Disney+ series, Limitless, the actor seeks to cement this reputation as he attempts to test the limits of the human body and extend his life. Unfortunately, however, Hemsworth is human, and a recent health discovery has forced this reality to hit home. As a result, the actor has decided to take a break from acting and focus on his family...

During episode four of Limitless, Chris was left stunned when various medical tests informed him of his strong genetic predisposition to Alzheimer's disease. According to Alz.org, "Alzheimer's is a type of dementia that affects memory, thinking, and behavior. Symptoms eventually grow severe enough to interfere with daily tasks." Talking to Vanity Fair, Hemsworth explained his plans to enact "preventative steps" to reduce the risk in whatever ways he can. Having inherited one ApoE4 gene from each of his parents, his chances of developing the disease are 8-10 times greater than the average person. "The idea that I won't be able to remember the life I experienced, or my wife, my kids, is probably my biggest fear," he said on the episode.

With this news, Hemsworth announced his plans for a brief retirement. "It really triggered something in me to want to take some time off," Chris told Vanity Fair. "And since we finished the show, I've been completing the things I was already contracted to do. [...] I'm going home, and I'm going to have a good chunk of time off and just simplify. Be with the kids, be with my wife." Although the network offered to cut the scenes from the series, the Thor actor opted to keep them in. "I thought, 'No, look, if this is a motivator for people to take better care of themselves and also understand that there are steps you can take — then fantastic," he explained.

Chris made sure to address the question on everyone's minds - is this the end for Thor? "I'm open to it if there's more," he teased before noting that a fifth installment would likely be the last. For now, though, he'll be relaxing with his wife and kids in Byron Bay, Australia.