Groot's Avengers: Infinity War Sacrifice Led to a Major 

Groot's bold move in Avengers: Infinity War leads to a major plot point for Thor's relationship with his axe Stormbreaker in Thor: Love and Thunder.

[{"selector":"#anim-537b97eb-93aa-4242-befc-9ee5a713f1ba [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8c6340e4-bbf8-4ba5-9a90-4b5adf8260e3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0ffb97b3-a77a-4d2f-96cb-5220bba72aa4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.55555%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The mighty battleaxe Stormbreaker is a weapon truly meant for a king, but a hiccup in its original forging inadvertently leads to a major plot point in Thor: Love and Thunder.

[{"selector":"#anim-cf0b14b3-8f74-4020-9773-d66c9e4d6f7c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(21.874999829338595%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-16cb7f93-1fce-4072-80cc-417232b34e16","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-26feb0e0-475c-4d56-a365-dba6959b4b66","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.09433%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] During the events of Avengers: Infinity War, Thor was left beaten by Thanos and without his signature weapon, the hammer Mjolnir.

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[{"selector":"#anim-38da667d-cbde-42d6-a768-7566162e10b8 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(34.29738111422036%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0354443f-9be2-4011-963b-86df2aaa3aac","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8517861e-c227-49b6-b09e-9a81e798339d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 139.07531%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] While it did save Thor's life Groot's sacrifice left a strong influence on Stormbreaker's personality, as disclosed by Thor 4's director at a press conference attended by CBR.

[{"selector":"#anim-3305d6c3-7611-4e05-8dc8-66be50322ed8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8967ae4e-027d-4f03-9f79-be06f6ab15f2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(114.92064%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] It would seem that some of Groot's youthful angst might have left a lasting impression on the God of Thunder's all-powerful weapon.

[{"selector":"#anim-3d0fd953-d3a6-4bad-aef7-e25efaa35cda [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0.07812469707599871%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-141addfe-6501-4cd0-88b6-70c48843d354","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1aaea74e-39ad-4167-b34d-8654a3cf1ea4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.92064%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] This attitude will be very present in the upcoming film as Thor wrestles not only with his feelings for Jane Foster but for her hammer, the newly repaired Mjolnir.

[{"selector":"#anim-f523721d-6cf1-4787-8ad3-7d73654c8f14","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-912c4a6c-2774-47a5-b650-647f20b510d9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 156.52641%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] One clip even showed Thor attempting to reclaim Mjolnir only to have Stormbreaker make its way into his hand instead.