Tom Hiddleston, The Cast & Producers Of 'Loki' Share Interesting Behind The Scenes Details
From Loki lectures to long friendships off-screen, here's what the cast shared.
By Diandra Nunis — 09 Jun 2021, 05:55 PM
The God of Mischief and Marvel's beloved villain finally gets his own show and it debuts today
While so many of Marvel's villains end up being one-shot wonders or forgotten, Loki stands out due to his mischievous and playful ways as well as his wit. Perhaps, even more than that – the vulnerability of his character that's almost relatable.
Created exclusively for Disney+, the original live-action series, takes place after the events of Avengers: Endgame. Described as a crime thriller meets epic adventure, this six-episode series shows the different sides of Loki as you have never seen him.
In a global press conference, the cast, director, producers, and head writer shared some interesting details about the characters, the production of the series, and their experiences on the set of Loki
Participating in the virtual press conference were the following:
- Tom Hiddleston (Loki, executive producer)
- Owen Wilson (Mobius)
- Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Ravonna Renslayer)
- Wunmi Mosaku (Hunter B-15)
- Kate Herron (director, executive producer)
- Michael Waldron (head writer, executive producer)
- Kevin Feige (executive producer)
1. Tom Hiddleston shares what he finds most interesting about playing Loki in the series and what it means to him
Tom Hiddleston, who has portrayed Loki in six Marvel Cinematic Universe films, returns as everyone's favorite villain.
When asked how he felt upon hearing Loki will be getting a standalone series, Hiddleston said it was a "combination of delight and surprise". He said, "I was so excited by the idea. Also, I had to scratch my head because that scene in Avengers: Infinity War had felt so final. Had felt so conclusive as to the end of Loki's story. I'm happy to be doing it."What he finds most interesting about playing Loki in his own series is that Loki is stripped of everything that's familiar to him. "Thor [Loki's brother] is not close by. Asgard seems some distance away. The Avengers aren't in sight. He's stripped of his status and his power."
He added, "If you take all those things that Loki has used to identify himself, what remains of Loki? Who is he within or outside all of those things? And I think those questions became for all of us, really fascinating to ask."
As for the character's huge fan base, the actor says that that is the reason he continues to play Loki. "He clearly means so much to so many people and for so many different reasons. And that is incredibly gratifying for me. I see that as a big honour."
2. Owen Wilson recalls having 'Loki lectures'
Owen Wilson plays Mobius, an agent of the Time Variance Authority (TVA) who specialises in the investigations of dangerous time criminals. His character is supposed to know more about Loki than Loki does.
Wilson recalls how just before production began, Hiddleston was bringing him up to speed on the events in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and about Loki. They would soon name such occurrences as the 'Loki lectures'.
Hiddleston added, "I was trying to help Owen with some of my memories about my experience and he asked such insightful, intelligent questions that made me rethink various aspects of the character. And, I think our conversations found their way into the scenes themselves because they are quite intense conversations."
3. Wunmi Mosaku on playing Hunter B-15 and her long friendship with Hiddleston
With her role in Loki, Wunmi Mosaku has become one of the few actresses who has appeared in both the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and the DC Extended Universe. She plays a brand new character, one with no comic book background, called Hunter B-15.
Mosaku said the best part of her entire experience in the MCU is that there wasn't added pressure and that she could bring her own take on the character and fans would have to accept it. "Being able to just have a clean slate and just do whatever I want to do with Kate Herron (director), it's great. It's fun."
The Leading Lady Parts actress, in which she starred alongside Hiddleston, shared that they both go way back as they both enrolled in the same drama school. "I've known Tom since I was 18, my first year at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). So, it felt really, really good (to be working with people I know)."
4. The writers drew inspiration from well-known movies when producing Loki
When asked what were some of the inspirations for the crime-thriller aspect of the show, the writer and producers revealed that it was inspired by a lot of film noir movies as can be seen in the lighting used in the series.
Herron teases, "Se7en is a very heavy influence. There's a little reference in Se7en in episode two of a little needle drop, which I'm sure fans of that film will recognise instantly."
In the writer's room, head writer Michael Waldron shared that director David Fincher, known for his psychological thrillers, was definitely a huge inspiration. He pointed out specifically Fincher's Zodiac and Silence of the Lambs.
