Chris Hemsworth has revealed that he will step away from acting to spend more time with his family.

The Australian actor, who portrays Thor in the Avengers franchise, says he’ll take the rest of the year off after filming Infinity War and Endgame back-to-back.

The explanation is simple: family. “This year I probably won’t shoot anything,” the Men in Black: International star told the Daily Telegraph in Australia. “I just want to be at home now with my kids.” With wife Elsa Pataky, the Avengers: Endgame star has five-year-old twins Tristan and Sasha and seven-year-old India Rose.

After relocating from Los Angeles in 2014, the family now resides in Byron Bay.

He went on to say, “They are at a very important age. They are still young and they are aware when I leave more than before.”

He continued: “I have this year where I’m probably not going to shoot anything. I have a press time, a few endorsements and bits and pieces, but mostly just be home.” Chris’ time off will give him time to “sit back and enjoy” being with his family.

Elsa with the children. Credit: Instagram/Elsa Pataky

“If you went back ten years and asked me what my dream scenario would be, this is kind of it.” Time with his family is one thing that he and his wife, who is a fellow actress, have had to sacrifice. In 2017, the 12 Strong star shared how the Spanish actress has put her career on hold to benefit his. “My wife and I fell in love, had kids, didn’t really see each other for a few years, then fell back in love,” he shared with GQ Australia.

“In terms of work, she’s certainly given up more than I have. She’d like me to step back and be at home with the kids more, and of course, I want that too. But I feel like I’m at this crucial point in my career – I’ve just got to set up for longevity or I’ll slip off.”

When he had to go abroad shooting for lengthy periods of time, the Hemsworth sibling claimed he battled leaving his children behind in Australia.

Hemsworth recalled a time when he had to return to London to shoot another film after a delightful few months at home in Byron Bay, and he said it was especially difficult witnessing young India Rose struggle with their goodbyes.

He stated “‘She’s normally like, ‘Yeah, see you, daddy. Cool.” [This time] she was like, ‘Papa! Papa! Papa!’.

“She doesn’t always call me Papa, either.”

“I wasn’t, like, sobbing, but…” Hemsworth continued.

Hemsworth originally appeared as Marvel’s hammer-wielding hero in the 2011 film Thor, and has since returned in two sequels, The Dark World and Ragnarok, as well as The Avengers, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Doctor Strange, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame.