#about loki quote

By Josh Plainse, 9th July 2021

Warning: This post contains SPOILERS for Loki Episode 5

Loki head writer, Michael Waldron, explains why the other Lokis are more successful than Tom Hiddleston’s central variant. In Loki, Hiddleston plays the 2012 version of the God of Mischief who escaped with the Tesseract during Avengers: Endgame’s time heist and is then arrested by the Time Variance Authority (TVA). In episode 4 of the series, Loki is pruned right after he and Lady Loki, a.k.a. Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino) discover that the TVA’s figureheads, the Time-Keepers, are mindless androids.

Episode 5, “Journey Into Mystery,” picks up where the fourth episode left off: with Loki waking up in “The Void,” the TVA’s wasteland at the end of time, surrounded by pruned variants of himself; including Classic Loki, Kid Loki, Boastful Loki, and, of course, Alligator Loki. A handful of other green variants like President Loki (also played by Hiddleston) appear throughout the episode and share the trickster’s penchant for treachery, half-baked schemes, and fulfilling their “glorious purpose.” When the Loki variants end up in a room together, they inevitably and hilariously betray one another. Despite Loki’s protagonist (now) being one of the more reasonable Lokis, he wasn’t as successful, or at least didn’t avoid the TVA for as long as the others did on the timeline.

In Screen Rant’s interview with Loki’s head writer, Michael Waldron, he discusses this idea and Loki’s role on the Scared Timeline. Hearkening back to Mobius’ conversation with Loki in the pilot episode, Waldron talked about how Loki’s job is to lose so that others, like the Avengers, can win. Read what he had to say below:

He’s the Loki that was supposed to stay on the timeline. All those Lokis who had all those successes were Lokis who got pruned by the TVA. As Mobius says, ‘It’s your job to lose so others can become the best versions of themselves.’ That’s the part Loki is meant to play on the Sacred Timeline. The question is: can you change?

In episode 5, Classic Loki says “we lie and we cheat, we cut the throat of every person who trusts us, and for what? Power. Glorious power. Glorious purpose!” to which Kid Loki replies, “we’re broken, every version of us. Forever. And whenever one of us dares try to fix themselves, they’re sent here to die.” Kid Loki’s Nexus Event was killing Thor and Classic Loki’s was surviving the events of Avengers: Infinity War. However, the TVA never took notice because Classic Loki went to a remote planet and spent (presumably) hundreds of years in solitude, so it wasn’t until he emerged that he was arrested. While Classic Loki’s lack of effect on the timeline explains his success, it’s still unclear how variants like President Loki were able to accomplish so much without being pruned at the first Nexus Event (did their pruning come after the founding of the TVA?).

By Meaghan Darwish

[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for Loki Season 1, Episode 5, “Journey Into Mystery.”]

In the penultimate installment of Marvel’s Disney+ series, Loki gave truth to the phrase “the more the merrier,” as several Loki variants made their marvelous debut in The Void at the end of time.

Convening in the literal dumping spot for all things pruned by the TVA, Loki (Tom Hiddleston) met a horde of variants ranging from Classic Loki (Richard E. Grant) and Kid Loki (Jack Veal) to Boastful Loki (Deobia Oparei) and the ever-popular Alligator Loki. The Void is also where he reteams with Mobius (Owen Wilson) and Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino) with the goal of uncovering the truth behind the TVA’s control.

In order to get there though, Classic Loki made the ultimate sacrifice of distracting The Void’s all-powerful Alioth just long enough for Loki and Sylvie to enchant the smoke monster creature. Although brief, Classic Loki’s appearance was certainly impactful. Below, Grant opens up about what drew him to the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) in the first place, his Classic Loki costume, and what it was like working with Tom Hiddleston — a performer he’s admired for years — and fan-favorite Alligator Loki among other things.

What initially drew you to the MCU?

Richard E. Grant: [Tom Hiddleston]… I jumped at it. He has an encyclopedic depth of knowledge of all things Norse and Loki, he was a walking, talking resource. You could ask him anything and he could explain everything with great articulation and he’s passionate about everything. He was very, very informed. So that made it a delight to do.

And taking that into consideration, Classic Loki is a variant. What direction did you take when tackling the role? Did you refer to the comics or take inspiration from Tom Hiddleston’s role?

Well, I was inspired by Tom and led entirely by what was scripted. I was very struck by the fact that, in one scene, I had to talk about not being the God of Mischief so much as being the God of Outcasts. I thought that that was the key to who he was in this episode, that he is very isolated by living immortally, and that he’s arrested by the TVA when he gives in to his need and desire to have human connection again.

My major disappointment was that I didn’t get to have muscles because in the Jack Kirby drawings and the original sixties comics, and certainly in the costume design that I was given with my face on it, I thought that I was going to be stepping into a muscle suit. I was born without any, so I was fairly rattled that I didn’t have that. I thought, “well, how am I supposed to fight as an Asgardian when I’ve got only my own muscles?” They said, “Don’t worry about that.” It did worry me, and it still worries me.

The costume still worked though, something that not many could pull off either. Was it fun getting into that or was the helmet as heavy as it looked?

The helmet is heavy, but more than anything, it was just very tight. But I was on it for such a short time, and it’s my job. So actors like to complain about things, but yeah, it was all fine and handleable. I so longed to be able to step into a muscle suit. I didn’t have to go to the gym. I’d have biceps and big shoulders, but that was not to be.

Well, really your Loki’s strength lies in his magic. What challenges did you face working in such a special effects-laden episode? Was there any tricks behind the scenes to help get you into the role and moments like the final face-off with Alioth?

Well, Alligator Loki looked like something made from three stuffed cushions that had been sewn together with a head and then a body and four little legs and a bit of a tail. So that was something that could either be dragged along next to us or thrown when it bit Loki’s hand off. But, otherwise, everything else had to be imagined. It’s the nature of your job that you have to use your imagination, so the magic is really what the CGI and the production designers come up with. The special effects were apparently extraordinary. I haven’t seen it, but I’ve seen stills, and it does look amazing.

It really does look amazing. But were the sets as complete looking as they did appear on screen? All the Lokis convened in the bowling alley and it just looks so impressive. What was it like to step onto a set like that?

The bowling alley set was all intact. Everything that you saw, we saw. When we were in the Void, we were on a football-sized landscape of grasses and mounds and things. But all those derelict ships and things that you see, we didn’t see any of that or the distance. It was all blue screen. So all that came afterward.

For the most part, all of the Lokis were there for you to interact with. What was it like getting to work together and expand upon this character fans have loved for so long?

Tom Hiddleston is the beginning, the middle, and the end of it all for me, so anything that Tom approved. If Tom felt that it was all right, and Kate [Herron, the director], who was so invested in it thought it was steering in the right direction, then I thought, oh, I must be doing something that they think is all right.

It’s a very odd thing when you come into a world that is so established, and then into a series that has been ongoing for episodes prior to your arrival, and then you leave. So you’re sort of parachuted in and then out of it. So you look for reassurance, and I suppose, some kind of stability from the people who are doing it all the time when you’re not. A bit like being a new person at school, thinking, have I got the right uniform on? Am I going in the right place or do the right things? It’s fear-filled at the beginning for me from that point of view.

As you mentioned, it’s a challenge bringing a new character into an established world, but Classic Loki really did make his mark. Do you think he really found his “Glorious Purpose” in sacrificing himself?

Yeah, helping [Loki and Sylvie was] the thing he was meant to do. Making that ultimate sacrifice.

You spoke earlier about working with Tom Hiddleston. Some cast members have mentioned his “Loki Lectures” on set, were you one of the lucky listeners and if so, how did it help you get into the head of the God of Mischief?

I did. Tom came and saw me on the first day that I worked, and I think he spoke almost nonstop for about two hours in sharing all his knowledge and wisdom about playing Loki. So it was incredibly helpful and useful. That was like an introduction into this universe from the man himself. That’s never happened to me before, and then I had that privilege of being in a situation like that. I’m very grateful for it.

By Rachel Paige, 7th July 2021

There’s no such thing as too many Lokis, and that’s proven true in Episode 5 of Marvel Studios’ Loki. After Loki winds up pruned at the hands of the Time Variance Authority, he finds himself in the Void — the place where all things go when they’re removed from the Sacred Timeline. And he quickly realizes he’s not alone, as the God of Mischief is greeted by Loki, Loki, Loki, and Loki.

Or as we’ll know them: Classic Loki, Kid Loki, Boastful Loki, and Alligator Loki.

The new group of outcasts, played by Richard E. Grant, Jack Veal, DeObia Oparei, and a CGI alligator, respectively, quickly become Loki’s guide through this strange new space, offering him refuge in their “Loki Palace” until all hell breaks loose there.

“It was completely surreal and an absolute delight,” Tom Hiddleston tells Marvel.com. “I've been living with playing Loki for a long time and have become used to all his different characteristics. To suddenly be surrounded by incarnations and embodiments of those characteristics... those moments with Richard, DeObia, and Jack all together was so much fun. They're all brilliant.”

Additionally, it’s maybe the first time Loki (the original one), is overwhelmed just enough for a little outburst. As the group begins trekking across the Void, Loki stops and demands answers, yelling that he has no idea how much time has passed since the Battle of New York, and he isn’t even alarmed by the addition of an alligator.

“In that moment, the character who looks least like Loki is me,” Hiddleston continues. “It was like being at some sort of surrealist party. It was brilliant. I just enjoyed it so much. And my character, Loki, is completely out of his depth and a fish out of water. And it was such an enjoyable thing to play.”

Loki also isn’t the only character Hiddleston plays in the episode, as he also steps into the shoes of President Loki. Maybe the most arrogant and pompous Loki, President Loki shows up expecting to take over the Loki Palace until his own army turns on him.

“Again, that was quite surreal,” Hiddleston says. “President Loki is almost the worst of the bad bunch. It certainly felt this way; he's the least vulnerable, the most autocratic and terrifyingly ambitious character who seems to have no empathy or care for anyone else.”

Playing both roles required “a few quick changes on those days” as Hiddleston jumped from one character to the other. “Doing them both in the same scene was slightly mad, but in an enjoyable way. And fun, too, because it was about leaning into Loki as a pure villain, or his capacity to be a pure villain.”

A Loki who’s not a villain whatsoever is Classic Loki, perfectly played by Richard E. Grant. Even Owen Wilson chimed in about the actor telling Marvel.com, “I love Richard E. Grant. So getting to do some scenes with him and then just meet him and hang out with him was great”. Out of all the Lokis, Classic Loki’s the one who affects Loki the most, both with helping him (and Sylvie) fight off Alioth, but also via his run-in with the TVA.

As Classic Loki tells the group, he was plucked off his timeline for a sad, but wholesome, reason: He missed his brother Thor. According to Classic Loki, he survived an encounter with Thanos due to cunning use of his projection magic, and then drifted away through space before landing on a remote planet where he lived out his years, reflecting on his place in the universe. That is, until one day, the loneliness was too much and he took his first steps in hopes of reuniting with the God of Thunder. That’s when the TVA showed up.

Calling it a “thought experiment,” head writer Michael Waldron tells Marvel.com the backstory came from the question of, “What if Loki did in fact survive the events of Avengers: Infinity War?”

“And I thought, ‘Well, what if that did happen?’” continues Waldron. “And if it did, in fact, how could he have aged up? How could he have lived out his years in a way that the TVA would never come find him?”

From that, Classic Loki’s backstory was born, and serves as a reminder to Loki that he, too, can change his ways, is not relegated to one role on the Sacred Timeline, and can form actual relationships with people.

“It was that tragic thing where he finally realizes ‘I'm meant to be alone,’” Waldron adds. “It is just so sad. There's a real lesson there for our Loki in that he's going to reject that notion-- that this tiger can change his stripes, and he refuses to be alone. [Loki] wants to do the right thing. [He] wants to see if he can have real companionship in his life.”

By Rachel LaBonte, 5th July 2021

Sophia Di Martino shares what inspiration she took from her Loki co-star Tom Hiddleston's portrayal when approaching her own performance. As is evident from the title alone, Loki is the long-awaited solo showcase for Hiddleston's fan favorite MCU character. At the same time, though, it's given the actor the chance to share the spotlight with some franchise newcomers, like Di Martino. As revealed in Loki's early episodes, Di Martino plays Sylvie, the Loki Variant being hunted by the Time Variance Authority for killing their Hunters in a bigger scheme to take down the organization.

Sylvie has quickly become a fan favorite just like Loki. Though they are technically the same being, they share enough differences to make their interactions truly fascinating. Last week's Loki episode 4 revealed more about Sylvie's origins, including how the TVA arrested her as a child for somehow disrupting the Sacred Timeline. With only two episodes left in Loki's run (barring a potential season 2), Sylvie is guaranteed to play a major role in the epic climax against the TVA.

Di Martino recently sat down with ET to talk about Loki and her experience playing Sylvie. When asked if there was anything she borrowed from Hiddleston's performance when building Sylvie, Di Martino revealed she was inspired by something very key to all Lokis: His mischief. The actress said:

I think, like you say, watching Tom play Loki, you can tell how much fun he's having, and how much he's enjoying the mischievousness of it and the chaotic nature of it. So I definitely tried to channel that in my own way and just really have fun with it, and have fun with Sylvie's cheekiness and her sarcasm. And yeah, mischief and the chaos, and just go with it. I definitely was inspired by that.

Nobody knows Loki better than Hiddleston; by now, most fans know he conducted "Loki lectures" during production to better inform the cast about his character. Seeing as Sylvie is simply another version of the titular trickster, it makes sense for Di Martino to base parts of her performance on Hiddleston's. Loki and Sylvie are the same, but different, and just as it was likely important to find elements that separated Sylvie from Loki, it must've been important to find a similar thread tying them together.

Both Loki and Sylvie have undergone some major character growth within the last two episodes alone, which seemingly led to a dramatic Nexus event in last week's instalment. Where this will lead the two of them remains to be seen, but it seems likely that Sylvie will be sticking around within the MCU. Di Martino said recently she's heard nothing of a spin-off, but if Loki gets a season 2, there might be more to her adventure. Hiddleston and Di Martino have proven to be an excellent onscreen pair, and audiences will surely want to see more of them in the future. Here's hoping Loki ends well for these two.

It’s hard to believe nowadays, but back in 2009, the Marvel Cinematic Universe was far from a sure thing. Iron Man had been a huge hit, but The Incredible Hulk had a much more lukewarm reception. So when acting legend Kenneth Branagh was hired to direct Thor, it was made clear to him that the importance of finding the right tone and the right cast was paramount. Essentially, the future of the MCU would live or die based on how much audiences connected with the God of Thunder.

Branagh sat down with us for an extended interview on the most recent episode of Collider Connected in anticipation of the release of his Disney+ movie Artemis Fowl, and he recalled how Thor was important to the future of the MCU: 

“There was no question that tonally Thor was critical after the massive success of the brilliant Iron Man from Mr. Favreau and Robert [Downey Jr.], and then slightly less successful in their terms The Incredible Hulk. Thor became critical to being the sort of tonal bridge—featuring literally a rainbow bridge as well—between as it were the Earthbound and space-bound and fantasy-bound parts of the Marvel universe. So there was a kind of connective matrix that Thor, Asgard, the Nine Realms and everything that it involved could provide inside that large Marvel Cinematic Universe that was enormously important that couldn’t be done by the brilliant Captain America, because it wasn’t the same material. This was the one that said, ‘Is there a fantastical future?’”

Beyond that, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige and Co. were also planning The Avengers and a storyline that hinged on the strained relationship between Thor and Loki. So casting these roles, Feige told Branagh, was the most important decision the company would make:

“I’ll never forget the moment that we cast those two boys [Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston]. It was like a sort of meditation or a sort of incantation… Kevin Feige must’ve walked around this long oval table a hundred times on that Saturday morning as I kept sort of saying, ‘I think we should call them.’ ‘Are you sure?’ ‘Yeah, I think we should call them.’… and I knew how profoundly serious that decision was. Kevin said, ‘We’ll never make a more important decision in this company than what’s happening in this room, Saturday morning at 10:30, when you pick up the phone to Chris Hemsworth and then Tom Hiddleston. It’s either going to work or it’s not. Good luck.’”

Obviously the decision turned out to be the correct one, as Thor and Loki became fan-favorite characters thanks to the performances of Hemsworth and Hiddleston. To be honest, I never considered just how important Thor was to the MCU—if that movie hadn’t worked, it would’ve been impossible to introduce Thanos or the Infinity Gems, or get into the really weird stuff like Guardians of the Galaxy and Doctor Strange.

As for why Branagh didn’t return for Thor: The Dark World, the filmmaker says he needed a “re-charge” after spending three years of his life making the first movie:

“I always wear leather these days,” Tom Hiddleston quipped with a laugh as he strode in, tall and resplendent with long, flowing hair and Loki’s blue and black soft leather costume, complete with a cape.

Full interview below the cut:

He was on a break from filming “Thor: Ragnarok” at the Village Roadshow Studios in Oxenford, Gold Coast, Queensland in October last year. Earlier, we watched Tom and Jeff Goldblum (Grandmaster) shoot a scene in a colorful set.

“This is not my own hair, no,” he clarified with a grin. In contrast, Chris Hemsworth (Thor) surprised us with a short haircut in his return as Thor. “Chris doesn’t have to come in as early in the morning as I do,” Tom said. Is he jealous? “Chris just gets an hour more sleep than I do, but that’s OK,” he answered.

The London native sat down for a chat as he ate an orange and drank bottled sparkling water. There’s a playful mood in the studio which Tom credited to director Taika Waititi and costar Jeff Goldblum. The New Zealand filmmaker, noted for his small movies, is a refreshing choice to direct this third installment of the “Thor” franchise.

Tom and Chris are joined in the cast by Idris Elba, Cate Blanchett, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tessa Thompson, Mark Ruffalo and Anthony Hopkins.

Excerpts from our conversation:

Since we are on the set, what has been this day like for you, so far? Do you thrive in a grueling shooting schedule? 

I love what I do. I’m lucky to call this a job. In the scheme of things, a day’s work as an actor can’t be called grueling. I do get up very early, but that’s just the nature of how things are run because with Taika on this particular film, we like to shoot between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.

I have to be ready to shoot at 7:30 a.m. so I’ve got to get all of this (hair and makeup) on before then. I get up to train because that’s the only time I have. So I get up at about 3 a.m. but I go to bed early.

At what time? 

Oh, it depends. If I’m shooting regularly, it’s easy to put myself to bed at around 8 p.m.

How long does the hair and makeup take? 

It takes a while because I don’t look like this underneath. There are little intricacies. I’m supported by the most incredible team that has done my hair, makeup and costume for some time. They take pride in their precision, and I depend on them. It takes about two and half or three hours. We’ve all seen films where a misplaced wig will take you out of the film.

How do hair, costume and makeup help you? 

The costume is always helpful. They’re big, structured, heavy costumes with capes, shoulder blades and body armor. It makes you stand in a different way—you stand up straight so you carry yourself differently than when you’re wearing jeans and a T-shirt. All of it is helpful. There’s something about these gloves—they feel like fighting gloves. It’s like armor. Loki is so protected.

The hair and makeup is helpful, too. It helps put me right back into place. The costumes are so brilliantly designed in this film because the designers have to replicate two-dimensional comic-book art, which is very colorful and often practically impossible. And yet, they manage to do it.

I’m not just standing in the costume, but fighting and running in it, doing tumbles and somersaults. They’ve found a way to make the costumes practical, so you can wear them for 10 hours, and they become a part of the performance.

In the scene that we watched on the set, we saw that Loki was delighted his brother was going to be in the gladiator match. Then, it was announced that it’s the Hulk he’s going to compete against. Loki goes, “Oh, sh*t.”

Loki hasn’t seen the Hulk since he lost “Infinity War One” in the first “Avengers” film, so the idea for Loki to be in the presence of the Hulk is immediately terrifying. He knows what happened last time.

Also, in that scene, there seems to be a little buddy thing going on between Loki and the Grandmaster. Can you talk about that relationship? 

The fun thing about the Grandmaster and Loki is that they’re both outsiders, mischievous spirits who probably both feel like they never belong. They have big egos and an anarchistic sense of humor. They recognize each other’s traits.

The Grandmaster has fashioned his own kingdom, which is a tyranny, basically. It’s where people dance and play music, but he’s a despot.

How is it working with Jeff? 

Jeff is absolutely one of the most consummate actors I’ve ever worked with. He’s so prepared and professional and, at the same time, relentlessly playful. He finds new ways to do it every single time, and he’s given so much. Every one’s been on the floor laughing.

He’s only been here for 10 days, but he’s been shooting every day. When I think of his career, there’s nothing he hasn’t done. But he’s still so fresh and energetic. It’s a real pleasure.

Can you talk about how refreshing it must be to have an indie filmmaker like Taika Waititi direct this? Earlier, Taika said the producers weren’t interested in a director who knows how to blow things up. 

The thing about directors is that they bring their own fingerprint to their films. I’d say that about any director I’ve worked with on this character—Kenneth Branagh, Joss Whedon, Alan Taylor and now, Taika. His particular artistic fingerprint is one of humor and humanity. He’s very funny and smart. He has injected into this film and into the world of Thor this incredible, light heart and sense of fun.

As Loki, I’m the god of mischief. I’ve always had fun, but every single character is having a great time in this. Chris Hemsworth is loving the fact that, now, people are starting to realize how funny he is. Taika and Chris together are a match made in heaven. This movie will have a lot of laughs in it, and that all comes from Taika. He’s fantastic.

Taika’s independent films are miraculous, truly. I saw “Hunt for the Wilderpeople” before I came here. It was shot in 18 days, which is an amazing achievement.

Obviously, you don’t want to repeat Loki as the same evil brother who tries to sabotage Thor. You want to add dimension. But now, we have Cate Blanchett playing the ultimate devil. What are the new curves for Loki in this film?

Loki has always been unpredictable. The most fun thing about him this time around is that I don’t have the responsibility to play the villain or antagonist. Cate is the villain, and she does an extraordinary job.