How Tom Hiddleston Found Loki’s Humanity Through Superman’s Legacy
Tom Hiddleston opens up about the creative process behind his iconic Loki role, revealing how Christopher Reeve’s Superman shaped his approach and set a new standard for bringing mythic characters to life.
Few performers have become as inseparable from a single character as Tom Hiddleston has with Loki. Since his debut as the Norse god of mischief in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Hiddleston has embodied the role across seven films, two seasons of his own series, and even a couple of Simpsons shorts for Disney Plus. His connection to the character is undeniable, and it all began with his first appearance in Thor, the third film in the rapidly expanding MCU.
Reflecting on those early days in a 2024 interview, Hiddleston recalled how his previous work with director Kenneth Branagh gave him a slight edge during auditions. Still, he knew he had to tread carefully when bringing such a legendary comic book figure to the screen for the first time.
“I remember thinking, ‘This is almost Shakespearean, this language’,”
he shared.
“What’s the best example I can [look to] of an actor who managed to humanize and make real this elevated world of myth?”
Drawing Inspiration From Legends
To shape his portrayal, Hiddleston didn’t just rely on the source material from Norse and Marvel mythology. He also studied performances by legendary British actors, especially Peter O’Toole in The Lion in Winter. But when it came to grounding a superhuman character in reality, one performance stood out above the rest: Christopher Reeve’s Superman from 1978.
“He’s masterful in that film,”
Hiddleston reflected.
“In a way, it’s a similar premise: He’s a god or he’s a being from a different realm, and it’s not naturalistic in the way that we might expect. He does it so truthfully, and it’s so clear and clean and open and honest. I thought, ‘If I can even approximate or get close to the kind of clarity that Christopher Reeve had in those films, I’ll be lucky’.”
The Lasting Impact of Reeve’s Superman
While Hiddleston is forever linked to Loki, Christopher Reeve’s legacy as Superman is just as enduring. Reeve’s portrayal set a standard so high that every actor who has stepped into the role since has, in some way, echoed his performance. His charm and sincerity helped launch not only the original film series but also the entire superhero movie genre. Even after his passing in 2004, Reeve’s influence remains strong, with his son Will set to appear in James Gunn’s 2025 reboot of the Man of Steel as a tribute to his father’s impact.
Whatever Hiddleston absorbed from Reeve’s approach clearly paid off. Both actors are now inextricably tied to their iconic alter egos, each playing a crucial role in the success of their respective franchises. As with Brandon Routh’s time as Superman, it’s hard not to feel for whoever eventually has to step into Hiddleston’s shoes when he finally retires Loki’s scepter.