The actor learned to play an instrument because of its benefits to cognitive health, Sheeran explained in a preview of season 2 of ‘Limitless with Chris Hemsworth’

Never mind the screen — Chris Hemsworth is hitting the stage!

The Marvel star, 41, learned to play an instrument for the upcoming second season of Limitless with Chris Hemsworth, the mental wellness-focused National Geographic docuseries in which he revealed he has a greater chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Hemsworth’s instrument of choice? Drums — and he got to debut his newfound percussion skills in perhaps the most epic way possible: onstage beside pal Ed Sheeran.

The singer-songwriter, 33, and National Geographic showed a sneak peek of Hemsworth’s debut performance — the date and location of which were not disclosed — after developing his drum skills in an Instagram video shared on Saturday, Aug. 24.

Explaining how he and Hemsworth ended up collaborating, Sheeran began, “Basically what’s happening is Chris emailed me last December saying he’s doing a documentary on cognitive health and the benefits of learning an instrument.”

“And he came to visit me, and he’s learned drums and he’s coming onstage in front of 70,000 [people],” the singer added as a visibly nervous Hemsworth stood beside him.

“I’ve been thinking about it … a lot,” the actor chimed in while doing an air-drum motion. “It’ll be nice to put this one to bed.”

The video cuts to Hemsworth gearing up to get behind the drum set — and then to Sheeran revealing to his concert crowd that Thor himself had been sitting beside him the entire show.

“He’s been onstage playing with us the whole time, playing in time,” the singer said, before the big reveal: “Please make some noise for Chris Hemsworth!”

After a clip of Sheeran singing “Thinking Out Loud” as Hemsworth accompanied him on drums, the singer gave one more shout-out. “Make some noise for Chris!” he told the crowd. “Give him a big round of applause, guys!”

Post-show, the pair convened backstage for a hug — and some more praise from Sheeran. “You really, really did well,” the “Don’t” singer told Hemsworth before revealing that he had an award made to commemorate his new skill.

Shaped like a hand holding drumsticks, the trophy is a “participation award” for “drumming excellence,” Sheeran said. 

The bromance between Sheeran and Hemsworth — who previously joked that he is “the president” of the singer’s fan club — runs deep. In December 2023 — around the time when Hemsworth sent his email about learning to drum — the “Shape of You” artist kicked off an Instagram post recapping his year with a picture showing off their friendship.

The photo captured the duo holding each end of Mjölnir — the fictional hammer that Thor, played by Hemsworth, wields. The shot was presumably snapped around February, when the singer gifted the actor a guitar in exchange for the on-screen superhero’s hammer.

Hemsworth documented the exchange at the time with a video, accompanied by a cheeky caption: “Just an instrumental trade off between two blokes.”

“Ed Sheeran I’ll make this guitar sing like no other and you swing that hammer with all your soul. Love you brother!” the movie star added at the time.

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Source: The Wall Street Journal