Marvel StudiosChris Hemsworth apparently looked to a Nine Inch Nails song for inspiration while filming the latest Avengers movie.
On Wednesday’s Tonight Show, the Australian actor shared a video of himself performing an acoustic version of “Hurt” while in character as Thor on the Avengers: Endgame set. Hemsworth explained that the song, particularly the acclaimed Johnny Cash version, reflected Thor’s emotional state in the film, whose depression over the events in Avengers: Infinity War led to him putting on weight and becoming a heavy drinker.
“It’s the saddest song in the world,” Hemsworth said of “Hurt.”
The short clip of Hemsworth’s performance was filmed in secret in his trailer, as the Avengers movies have a strict “no leaks” policy. He added that he didn’t know at the time if he’d ever show the video publicly.
“I’m a terrible singer and a terrible guitarist,” Hemsworth laughed.
This isn’t the first connection between a Marvel film and Nine Inch Nails. In this year’s Captain Marvel, Brie Larson‘s titular character wears a NIN t-shirt, which led to the band’s website selling its own Captain Marvel-inspired shirt.
Meanwhile, Nine Inch Nails songs continue to pop up in unexpected places this year.
Hemsworth’s “Hurt” performance follows the smash Lil Nas X hit “Old Town Road” sampling NIN’s 2008 song “34 Ghost IV,” which gave Trent Reznor a writing credit on his first number-one Hot 100 single. And a new Black Mirror episode features pop star Miley Cyrus singing reworked versions of “Head Like a Hole” and “Right Where It Belongs.”
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