Chris Hemsworth has decided to take a break from acting, according to comments that the Thor: Love and Thunder star made in a recent episode of Limitless, the new six-part TV show for National Geographic (available on Disney+) that asks the question, “What if you could combat aging and discover the full potential of the human body?”
The 39-year-old actor revealed that he is genetically pre-disposed to developing Alzheimer’s, the neurodegenerative disease that results in memory loss, problems with language, disorientation, and mood swings as it advances.
“It’s not a pre-deterministic gene, but it is a strong indication,” Hemsworth said. “Ten years ago, I think it was more thought of as determinant.”
Hemsworth’s genetic makeup includes two copies of the APOE4 gene, one from his mother and another from his father, a combination that reportedly leads to an increased Alzheimer’s risk, as noted in coverage from IGN.
Hemsworth went on to say that he’ll be taking a break from work, explaining that he wants to spend more time with his family.
“It really triggered something in me to want to take some time off,” he said. “And since we finished the show, I’ve been completing the things I was already contracted to do. Now when I finish this tour this week, 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.”
Hemsworth has a couple of high-profile projects lined up, including Extraction 2, Avengers: Secret Wars, and Furiosa, an origin story for the character that Charlize Theron popularized in 2015’s Mad Max: Fury Road starring Tom Hardy.
Hemsworth will also play Terry Bollea in an upcoming Hulk Hogan biopic.