How Tom Hiddleston Found Loki: The Superman Connection

Few performers have become so closely associated with a single role as Tom Hiddleston has with Loki. Since his debut as the Norse mischief-maker in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Hiddleston has returned to the part time and again—across seven films, two series of his own, and even a couple of Simpsons shorts for good measure. It’s a connection that’s hard to rival.

In a 2024 conversation with Backstage, Hiddleston cast his mind back to the earliest days of Loki, recalling his first outing in Thor, the third chapter of the then-nascent MCU. Having previously worked with director Kenneth Branagh, Hiddleston may have had a slight edge over other hopefuls, but the challenge of bringing such a storied comic book figure to life was not lost on him. He remembered,

“I remember thinking, ‘This is almost Shakespearean, this language’,”

and found himself searching for a performance that could ground the fantastical in something recognisably human.

Seeking Inspiration Beyond the Comics

While Loki’s roots run deep in both Norse legend and Marvel’s own mythology, Hiddleston didn’t limit his research to the source material. He looked to the greats, particularly Peter O’Toole’s turn in The Lion in Winter, but it was Christopher Reeve’s Superman that truly caught his attention. For Hiddleston, Reeve’s approach to the Man of Steel offered a blueprint for making the extraordinary feel authentic.

He explained,

“He’s masterful in that film. 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

Reeve’s portrayal of Superman set a standard that has lingered for decades. His blend of charm and sincerity became the yardstick by which all subsequent Supermen have been measured. Even after his passing in 2004, Reeve’s influence endures—his son Will is set to appear in James Gunn’s 2025 reboot, a nod to the family legacy.

Hiddleston, for his part, channelled what he could from Reeve’s performance, aiming for that same sense of clarity and honesty. The result? Both actors are now inextricably linked to their respective alter egos, each leaving a mark on their franchises that’s not easily erased.

Living in the Shadow of Iconic Roles

It’s a curious fate, being so thoroughly identified with a single character. Hiddleston’s Loki, like Reeve’s Superman, has become a touchstone for audiences and future actors alike. The shadow cast by such performances is long, and stepping into those shoes is no small ask. As with Brandon Routh’s stint as Superman, one can’t help but feel a bit for whoever eventually takes up Loki’s sceptre when Hiddleston decides he’s had enough.