One Hollywood stalwart could be making an epic return to Home and Away for

a long-awaited catch-up with their old co-stars. Diehard fans of the Aussie soap

will recall Marvel hero Chris Hemsworth first graced our screens when he nailed the role of

Kim Hyde back in 2004, aged just 23. After three years on the show, the beloved actor, who is now 40, said his goodbyes and swiftly rose to fame in showbiz.

Since his departure, fans have watched his career skyrocket as he secured leading roles in major blockbuster films like Thor and The Cabin in the Woods. However, after 17 years away from Summer Bay, whispers are circulating that he could be making a comeback to “help out” his former colleague Kate Ritchie.

During a discussion on Nova’s Fitzy and Wippa podcast with Kate Ritchie, it was revealed plans were in place to welcome back the actress alongside a significant Hollywood star on the iconic show. Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli, a co-host, stated Kate required an “audition partner” before any official return could be confirmed.

Chris Hemsworth could be set for a Home and Away return

Following a statement that he possessed a script, Wippa then dropped a hint to the seasoned actress that he’d arranged for a former Home and Away thespian to shoot some scenes with her. Fast-forward to Friday (June 28), Wippa disclosed he’d received a voicemail from an A-list star about Kate’s audition, reports the Daily Star.

Adding another layer of intrigue, he played back the message for listeners using a decoder to protect the actor’s identity. Their words were: “Look mate, I’ve read through that script you just sent me and it’s insane. That stuff, that storyline, that’s a Bay bombshell. And I love it, and I love the idea of you guys, you know, just sort of getting into it.”

The actor then enquired if there was any possibility to have more time to “prepare” for the demanding role. They continued: “So is there any chance you could just give me a little bit longer to perfect the character so I can, you know, do the scene justice? Because I think we’ve got something good on our hands here, and I’d love for it to go out properly. Call me back Wip.”

Kate, recognising the voice, immediately suspected it might be one of her old colleagues. She speculated: “I know who I think it sounds like. It’s a man with quite a deep, husky voice… He doesn’t work on Home and Away anymore. It’s not Chris Hemsworth, is it? ” While Wippa shied away from confirming her guess, he did mention: “I can’t answer your questions.”

“It’s a big name. You’ll find out when the scene’s on.” Kate became a household name as Sally Fletcher in Home and Away, a role she held from 1988 to 2008. Despite frequently expressing interest in returning to Summer Bay, there has been no confirmation from either Channel Seven or the show’s producers regarding Kate’s potential comeback.

Speculation about Kate’s return to the soap was ignited last week when she joined a grand Home and Away reunion for her co-stars at Ray Meagher’s 80th birthday bash. She used her Instagram Stories to share glimpses of the lively celebrations, just a fortnight before Ray’s milestone birthday on July 4.

In the previous month, Kate had a catch-up with Chris when he guested on her radio show to plug his latest film, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. The brunette stunner couldn’t hide her joy as she snapped a photo with Chris and his co-star Anya Taylor-Joy, 28. Fans will have to keep their eyes peeled to see if the Hollywood darling makes a comeback to the Bay this summer. Want all the biggest Showbiz and TV news straight to your inbox?