Tom Hiddleston’s portrayal of Loki in the Marvel Cinematic Universe was one of the most distinguished parts of the franchise. From the start to the end of his tenure in the movies, he remained constant in terms of delivery, which would make the audience wonder what his inspiration could have been.
While Loki played a massive part in the MCU, Hiddleston admitted that it was a DC figure that gave him the idea of how to seamlessly play the role.
Tom Hiddleston Drew Inspiration From Superman To Play Loki
During an interview with Backstage, actor Tom Hiddleston reflected on his audition for Loki when he was only 28 years old. At the time, he still had not found the role that would give him worldwide fame. When he read the script for Thor, he was reminded of his time on stage.
I remember thinking, this is almost Shakespearean, this language. What’s the best example I can [look to] of an actor who managed to humanize and make real this elevated world of myth?
The actor was a huge fan of Christopher Reeve who played Superman in the 1978 film. This is where he drew inspiration from for his role as Loki. The similarity between the God of Mischief and the Last Son of Krypton was evident.
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.
Hiddleston 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.”
Of course, Loki had his own signature style, and fans easily saw it the moment he was shown on the screen. Like Superman, he also commanded attention.
Tom Hiddleston Was Also A Fan Of DC’s Batman
Tom Hiddleston shared via Metro that not only was he a fan of Christopher Reeve’s Superman, but he also loved Batman.
I used to watch Michael Keaton’s Batman on a loop. I loved it, and I loved The Joker. You can get very intellectual about it. It’s almost like superheroes are a kind of modern mythology that are a bit like the Greek or Roman gods.
Indeed, it was quite intriguing how the actor utilized both DC heroes to his advantage. Apart from his love for literature and drama, he confessed being an avid superhero enthusiast. Being given the opportunity to play Loki was quite a feast for the actor. “A part like Loki in a film like The Avengers is a fantastic concoction of everything I love,” he shared.
As one of the smartest and most talented actors in the industry, it is incredible to know that he took inspiration from one of the pillars of the superhero genre. After all, Loki and Superman share a lot of similarities.
