As it stands, there’s already a lot of new content that fans can expect from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). With that said, it begs the question: do we really need a Tom Hiddleston Loki series amidst all the new Disney Plus shows and films on the way? All things considered: the MCU could greatly benefit from the forthcoming Loki TV show – and here’s why.
Loki in the MCU: His Last Appearance
First and foremost, let’s give a recap on where fans last saw their beloved trickster god in Marvel entertainment. To refresh your memory, Loki was last seen in 2018’s Avengers Infinity War. His demise was quite the opener, as the Loki death scene pretty much set the stage for the rest of the film’s events.
In Infinity War, Loki was one of the first victims of the franchise’s big baddie: Thanos. Loki’s death was ultimately heartbreaking – not just for fans, but for Loki’s older brother, Thor, as well. As some fans may recall, Thor and Loki managed to put their differences aside by the end of Thor Ragnarok. This was after all their conflict (on top of Loki being the primary villain in the first Avengers film) in previous Thor movies. Thus, to see the sudden demise our beloved God of Mischief was both heartbreaking and devastating.
Another version of Loki also made an appearance in Avengers Endgame. This Loki was from an alternate timeline, though. As such, he technically wasn’t the exact same Loki we’ve come to know and love over the years. Still, a Loki is a Loki. Without this version of Loki, we wouldn’t have the Tom Hiddleston Loki series to begin with.
What to Expect from the Tom Hiddleston Loki Series
So we know that the Tom Hiddleston Loki in the upcoming Disney+ show is the one fans saw in Endgame. But what else is there to know about this new TV series?
The upcoming Tom Hiddleston Loki show sees our favorite God of Mischief detained by an organization that seems to be called the “TVA.” Fans of the comic books may be familiar with this organization, otherwise known as the Time Variance Authority. The TVA is responsible for monitoring different timelines in the Marvel series. As the Loki trailer shows, the TVA coordinates with Loki through Mobius M. Mobius, portrayed by Owen Wilson.
What Does the TVA Want With Loki, Though?
Going back to Endgame, the Loki of that timeline managed to escape the hands of the Avengers by stealing the Tesseract. According to Mobius, this “broke reality” and ultimately prompted paradoxes in the timeline. Thus, the TVA enlists Loki to fix the timeline unraveling caused by his actions.
To reiterate, this Loki isn’t the same Loki who has shown character growth across previous MCU films. This Tom Hiddleston Loki is a more mischievous one; a Loki that is more akin to the one we saw at the end of Thor The Dark World. This version of Loki, who we only get to briefly see in the first Thor movie, will finally be explored in greater depth. With the element of time travel in play, the upcoming Disney Plus series is sure to be filled with a ton of mischief and mayhem.
Plus, this Loki being referred to as a “Loki variant” suggests that we may even see other iterations of the character in the Tom Hiddleston Loki series. Perhaps we may see a more “accurate” depiction of the god, one that is closer to the Loki in Norse mythology? Or maybe the show could even touch on Loki, Agent of Asgard? Without a doubt, the possibilities are vast.
There’s also the brief – albeit crucial – appearance of who appears to be Black Widow in Vormir. This is an interesting twist, as the character (portrayed by Scarlett Johansson) previously sacrificed herself to obtain the Soul Stone in Endgame. Why would the trailer show this snippet, if not to insinuate that we may be seeing a potential return of the character? On the other hand, some fans speculate that this wasn’t actually Black Widow in the trailer. Some theorize that this might actually be Lady Loki in Vormir. Could this mean a female Loki is in the books?
Do We Really Need the Loki Disney Plus Show?
Some critics may argue that there is no need for the Tom Hiddleston Loki series. After all, Marvel Studios has pretty much exhausted the character over the years. We’ve seen him go from villain, to hero, to a mix of both in previous other MCU entries. Though that may be a valid point, there are still so many layers to Loki in Marvel that we can explore.
As the God of Mischief, one can never be too sure about Loki. He may seem like a reformed character, but some habits are hard to break. One minute Loki may seem trustworthy, and the next, he’s stabbing you in the back. Add in working with the TVA and time travel into the mix, and you’ve got a recipe for quite a dynamic Loki series in your hands.
Simply put, the Tom Hiddleston Loki series is an opportunity to reset the character and further explore his more mischievous side. Chris Hemsworth’s Thor was already refreshed, what with Taika Waititi’s treatment of the hero in Ragnarok. Let’s not forget Fat Thor in Endgame, either. Why can’t Loki receive a solid reset in the MCU as well?
Yes, we’ve seen him take on the villain mantle, and we’ve even witnessed his evolution into an antihero. But to see a more “classic” Loki who brings nothing but mayhem, yet within the restraints of the TVA? There’s no denying how interesting an addition this is to the MCU’s expansion.
More importantly, however, is how the upcoming Tom Hiddleston Loki series will help bring everything together. In particular, it will act as another catalyst to further establish the multiverse in the MCU.
Multiverse in the MCU
Longtime Marvel fans are no strangers to the concept of a multiverse. In the MCU specifically, the multiverse was previously hinted at in 2019’s Spider-Man: Far From Home. However, with WandaVision now having set the stage for the emerging multiverse, the Tom Hiddleston Loki series will only help cement this concept in the ever-expanding MCU. Let’s not forget the upcoming Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, either.
It’s clear, then, that the multiverse will play a much larger role in the future of the MCU. Therefore, Loki on Disney+ will undoubtedly play a crucial part in the grander scheme of things for Marvel. Some netizens may deem the Tom Hiddleston Loki series as unnecessary, but in terms of the multiverse, it is an essential.
As to how exactly the Tom Hiddleston Loki series will toy with the multiverse is yet to be seen, though. Nevertheless, with the Loki release date set for July 11, fans need not wait for much longer.
Who is Loki?
With all the talk about the upcoming Tom Hiddleston Loki show, some newcomers may feel a little lost as to who exactly Loki is. After all, the series comes after years of building the MCU, so a lot of the lore has already been established.
For the uninitiated, Loki Laufeyson is the God of Mischief. He is the younger brother of Thor, though it is later revealed that he was actually adopted by Odin, the Ruler of Asgard. As it turns out, Loki is actually a Frost Giant, or a Jotunn. He was the biological son of Laufey, King of Jotunheim. However, Laufey abandons the infant Loki, as he was too small for a Frost Giant. Odin and Frigga later adopt Loki in order to raise him as an Asgardian.
Loki’s discovery of his roots was what catapulted him into villaindom. The constant comparisons to his older brother would aggravate this, as Thor was always the favored Asgardian prince in their youth. The revelation of Loki being a Jotunn also explains why his character name went from “Loki Odinson” to “Loki Laufeyson.”
Though he was not present in Avengers Age of Ultron, Tom Hiddleston’s Loki has made an appearance in all the other Avengers films. In the anticipated Loki series, Hiddleston is the only MCU veteran to be confirmed in the show thus far.
Loki Mythology
Though rooted in Norse Mythology, there are some elements in the MCU’s Loki that differ slightly in comparison to the Loki in actual mythology. For starters, Loki in Norse Mythology fathers Hel, the Goddess of Death. In the MCU, Hel is actually the antagonist Hela. Portrayed by Cate Blanchett, Hela in the MCU is actually Odin’s firstborn, making her the elder sister to Thor and Loki.
Loki mythology also shows him as a companion to Odin and Thor and not necessarily their kin. There are of course other mythological elements that we did not see in the MCU, such as Loki giving birth to Odin’s horse, Sleipnir.
It’s worth noting that the MCU’s iteration of Loki is but a reimagining of what we know in Norse Mythology. Both Tom Hiddleston Loki and the mythological Loki are tricksters at heart, but ultimately, they have their own differences that set themselves apart from one another.
Who Plays Loki?
Resident Loki actor, Tom Hiddleston, has proven to be an impressive embodiment of the God of Mischief. Hiddleston made his MCU debut in the first Thor film back in 2011. Since then, he has only further polished his portrayal of the character, going so far as to show the character’s more vulnerable side as well.
Though Loki was what many consider his breakthrough role, Hiddleston has also appeared in several other films, too. Some notable Tom Hiddleston movies include Midnight in Paris, Crimson Peak, and Kong: Skull Island. He also portrayed country music singer Hank Williams in 2015’s I Saw the Light, opposite WandaVision actress Elizabeth Olsen. Additionally, Hiddleston has also been considered as a James Bond option, though the mantle has yet to officially move past Daniel Craig.
Hiddleston has made a name for himself on the small screen as well. In 2016, he starred in and was an executive producer for the AMC/BBC limited series The Night Manager. It was this role that awarded Hiddleston his first Golden Globe Award. The actor also garnered two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his involvement in said series as well.
Thor: Love and Thunder
The Tom Hiddleston Loki portrayal has been present in pretty much all Thor films thus far. However, with the demise of the character (or at least the iteration of him found in previous Thor films) at the beginning of Infinity War, it seems unlikely that we may get the same Loki in the next Thor film.
Titled Thor: Love and Thunder, the next film will see the return of Chris Hemsworth in the titular role. Tessa Thompson will also be back as Valkyrie, and Taika Waititi will be back in the director’s chair as well. The most interesting comeback in Love and Thunder, though, is the reemergence of Natalie Portman.
Natalie Portman’s Return
For those who may be unaware, Portman – who portrayed Jane Foster – was last seen in Thor Dark World. This ended up being her last appearance in the MCU, as she was only briefly mentioned in Avengers: Age of Ultron. It was later confirmed in Ragnarok that the romance between Jane and Thor had ceased to exist, as the two called it quits.
The return of Portman to the MCU – in a Thor film, no less – is thus both interesting and exciting. Though we won’t get to see Love and Thunder until 2022, Waititi intends to adapt the Mighty Thor comic books with the film. This means that we’ll get to see Lady Thor, with Jane herself taking on the mantle and powers of Thor.
On the other hand, however, this may also suggest a closing chapter on Hemsworth as Thor. The Mighty Thor saga where Jane becomes the new Thor is actually prompted by Thor suffering from cancer. Jane thus becomes his successor. That said, adapting Mighty Thor hints that this may be the last we see of Hemsworth’s Thor. There has yet to be any confirmation as to whether or not this will indeed be the case, though.
Where does Loki fit into all this then? The thing is, Tom Hiddleston’s Loki has not been confirmed to make an appearance in Love and Thunder. It’s not a possibility that we can completely rule out, especially when you consider the multiverse and all. However, as it stands, the Tom Hiddleston Loki series seems to have no link to Love and Thunder.
Not yet, at least. Who knows, we might get a Tom Hiddleston Loki appearance at the end of Love and Thunder. The MCU is pretty notorious for its post-credits scenes, after all.
The MCU Needs the Tom Hiddleston Loki Series
The superhero movie fatigue is real. With the MCU having released countless films and other media since 2008’s Iron Man, some audiences are understandably tired of the same superhero concept time and time again. This is especially with other competitors joining the fray, such as DC with their own DC Extended Universe. Additionally, Disney and Marvel already have WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier under their belt. So, some viewers may grow weary of even more superhuman and otherworldly media coming in so soon.
But, there’s really no denying just how important the Tom Hiddleston Loki series will be in the MCU. With big stars such as Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans having already made their exit from the franchise, the MCU needs some new and exciting content to jumpstart its next phase. What better way to switch things up with the multiverse? And what better way to further ground the multiverse in the MCU with Loki’s adventures through different timelines?
This is only the beginning for Marvel’s next phase. At the heart of it all lies Loki, who is undeniably an integral piece in the larger puzzle that is the MCU.
