Tom Hiddleston Says He Would Never Have Played Loki If Not for “The Greatest Comic Book Movie of All Time”

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I always figured Tom Hiddleston would be back as Loki! Honestly, with Loki being such a powerful figure who’s practically holding the entire multiverse together, it would have been impossible to wrap up this saga without him. He’s been tight-lipped about the new movie in interviews, but he recently told Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast about the classic comic book character who actually inspired his take on the God of Mischief – it was fascinating to hear!

In a long interview, Hiddleston answered questions about his favorite Spider-Man (he chose Tom Holland) and the best comic book movie ever made. He first said he wouldn’t include his own films in the running, then named Tim Burton’s Batman as his top pick. He explained how that movie specifically inspired his portrayal of Loki in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

I honestly don’t think I would have taken on the role of Loki if it weren’t for that movie. Jack Nicholson’s performance as the Joker really captured my imagination when I first saw it. Even though he was a villain, he seemed to be enjoying himself so much, and that reminded me of someone I knew.

He had a captivating personality, a knack for originality, and a rebellious spirit. I was also a huge fan of Michael Keaton’s portrayal of both Bruce Wayne and Batman, and I really enjoyed the way those characters interacted. When I first started playing Loki, I intentionally tried to channel some of that same energy from Jack Nicholson’s performances.

Tom Hiddleston and Kenneth Branagh Had a Unique “Shorthand” Filming ‘Thor’

As a huge MCU fan, I always think about how different things could have been! It’s well known Tom Hiddleston absolutely made Loki his own, and we’ve all seen that footage of him auditioning for Thor. But something I recently learned is that while filming the first Thor movie with Kenneth Branagh, he and the other actors would playfully do entire scenes imitating different performers – just for fun, and to explore different approaches. It’s a fascinating little detail about how they built those characters!

Loki was a really complicated character – charming, vulnerable, and full of contradictions. To honor different actors, we filmed scenes in various styles. We’d do a version inspired by Peter O’Toole, capturing his elegance and vulnerability from ‘The Lion in Winter.’ Then I’d play him like Jack Nicholson, which was the most enjoyable for me. Finally, we’d do a Clint Eastwood version, keeping my emotions hidden to create different nuances when editing the scenes.

Loki is a remarkably complex character, and the filmmakers clearly put a lot of effort into portraying his inner struggles – arguably more so than with any other character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. His story will continue and likely conclude in Avengers: Doomsday, which is scheduled to be released on December 18, 2026, finally revealing how his arc comes to a close.

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2026-01-10 03:39