Chris Hemsworth isn’t just rocking up, swinging a hammer and cashing Marvel cheques anymore.
Since Extraction dropped in 2020, he’s quietly started building another lane for himself behind the camera. His latest project, Crime 101, which hits cinemas on Friday, February 13, is the newest example of that shift, with Hemsworth stepping in as both star and producer.
And when he was asked what makes him want to produce something, the answer wasn’t some film school TED Talk.
It was simple.
“Whether it’s producing or acting, it’s the same question: would I want to see this on the big screen? Is it engaging?” Hemsworth said. “As an actor, would I enjoy playing the character, and do I see an angle on it?”
That’s it. No overthinking. No artsy waffle. If he wouldn’t pay to watch it, he’s probably not signing on.
Hemsworth said that at this stage of his career, producer credit or not, he’s already being brought into bigger-picture conversations. He’s sitting in on visual effects discussions. He’s spending time in the edit room. He’s learning how all the moving parts actually fit together.
And that’s changed how he sees the job.
“When I was just acting, I’d think, I need another take, I need this, I need that,” he explained. “When you step back, you see how many pieces are being assembled and gain a real appreciation for efficiency. You realize how asking for more can compromise another department.”
It’s a different mindset. Less tunnel vision. More awareness of how one decision affects the entire machine.
He also admitted there’s a humility that comes with that broader involvement. When you see how much work goes into lighting, sound, editing and post-production, you stop thinking the world revolves around your close-up.
And if you’re wondering whether he’s eyeing the director’s chair next, the answer is yes. He hasn’t directed yet, but he said it’s something he’d love to do, especially because of how much impact the editing process has on the final product.
“A film lives and dies in the edit,” he said.
Crime 101 features a stacked cast alongside Hemsworth, including Halle Berry, Mark Ruffalo, Barry Keoghan, Monica Barbaro, Corey Hawkins, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Nick Nolte.
It’s another step in Hemsworth’s evolution from franchise superstar to hands-on filmmaker. And if his only real filter is whether he’d actually want to sit in a cinema and watch it himself, that’s not a bad starting point.
