'Thor: Ragnarok' plot spoilers: Why is Lady Sif not in the sequel?

Jaimie Alexander as Lady Sif in "Thor: The Dark World" Marvel

Thor (Chris Hemsworth) gets a group of allies to take on Hela (Cate Blanchett) together in "Thor: Ragnarok," but Lady Sif (Jaimie Alexander) is not one of them.

The female warrior debuted in 2011's"Thor" and has since become a major part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She returned in "Thor: The Dark World" and made a cameo in "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D" season 1. Sif was even tipped to become the Avenger's new love interest after it was announced that Natalie Portman's Jane Foster would not appear in "Ragnarok". However, Alexander's character is nowhere to be found in the final installment of the Asgardian franchise, sparking speculations about her death.

Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige addressed the rumors recently, confirming that the character is indeed absent from "Thor: Ragnarok."

As recalled from "The Dark World," Loki (Tom Hiddleston) was disguising himself as Odin (Anthony Hopkins) at the end of the movie. Now that he is ruling Asgard, Feige suggested he may have done some things to keep his real identity as an imposter a secret, and that may have included getting rid of Odin loyalists like Thor's friends.

"So that was always one idea. And the idea that he would have to get rid of Heimdall, because Heimdall can see everything," Feige told CinemaBlend in an interview. "That was an idea - and probably the Warriors Three, to discount them... which is probably an answer to a question I've been asked a few times today: Sif was probably banished. She's off somewhere."

It looks like Lady Sif is still somewhere out there, prohibited from entering Asgard as the events in "Ragnarok" unfold. But, her fans may now breathe a sigh of relief knowing she is still alive, which means her return in the MCU is still very much possible.

"Thor: Ragnarok" opens in US cinemas on Nov. 3.

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