We’re going to have to cherish all the Chris Hemsworth we get on the big screen from now on — because there’s about to be a lot less.
The Thor star found out late last year he’s at an unusually high risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease. In his Disney+ show Limitless, while on the search for longevity, he got a bombshell result from a medical test: a doctor told him he has the apolipoprotein E gene, APOE4, the “strongest risk factor gene for Alzheimer’s disease” according to the National Institute of Aging. Not only that, though, the 39-year-old Aussie has it twice over. About 25% of the population has it once, but only 2-3% has it twice. Devastatingly, this means Chris is at about a 10 times higher risk than the general population for developing the disease.
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During a clip he shared with GMA in November, the Extraction actor said it’s his “biggest fear” — especially because his grandfather had Alzheimer’s as well:
“The idea that I won’t be able to remember the life I experienced, or my wife, my kids, is probably my biggest fear … [My grandfather] either doesn’t remember who we are, you know, his grandkids, but also even his own children, for years. It’s heartbreaking.”
The Avengers star told Vanity Fair he was “not talking about retiring by any means” at the time, but according to new deets from Hollywood insiders, he might be changing his mind. Sources told Page Six on Sunday he “doesn’t plan to take on many roles because of [learning about his high risk for] Alzheimer’s.” So sad…
This doesn’t really come as a surprise, though, as he told The Glossy back in November about how the entire situation was very intense to navigate. The Bad Times at the El Royale star said the discovery “triggered something in me to want to take some time off”:
“Most of us, we like to avoid speaking about death. Then to all of a sudden be told some big indicators are actually pointing to this as the route which is going to happen, the reality of it sinks in. Your own mortality … I’ve been completing the things I was already contracted to do. [I plan to] go home and … to have a good chunk of time off and just simplify. Be with the kids, be with my wife.”
The actor shares three children with his wife Elsa Pataky — India, 10, and twins Tristan and Sasha, 9. It makes sense, considering he has the money, to take a little time and make all the memories he can with his little ones. We totally get it!
He’s got four upcoming projects listed on IMDB. The sequel to Netflix hit Extraction and the Mad Max prequel Furiosa are already in the can. After that he’s got more work with Marvel and a Hulk Hogan biopic in development. As for what’s beyond? We’ll just have to see. We’re guessing Chris won’t be able to quit entirely, but being way more selective means we’ll have to really celebrate any movie he deems Hemsworthy.
We’re definitely going to miss seeing Chris on the big screen, but we wish him the best no matter what he chooses to do! Reactions, Perezcious readers?
[Image via Jimmy Kimmel Live/Netflix/Marvel Studios/YouTube]
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