Tom Hiddleston recently revealed that Jack Nicholson's version of the Joker inspired his iconic portrayal of Loki in the MCU.
As everyone knows, the Golden Globe-winning actor made his breakthrough when he played the God of Mischief in the first Thor movie, which led to his beloved tenure in the rest of the MCU to this day. At this point, it's hard to imagine any other actor portraying the villainous character without him behind the role.
Did Jack Nicholson's Joker Inspire Tom Hiddleston's Portrayal of Loki?
In a recent interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Hiddleston shared that he wouldn't be able to portray Loki without having seen Tim Burton's Batman, which featured Nicholson's legendary performance as the Joker.
"Truthfully, I don’t think I would’ve played Loki without that film. I think the way Jack Nicholson played the Joker was so... at the time in my life when I saw it, it made such an impact on my imagination," he said.
"I understood he was the villain, but he was having such a good time. That could describe somebody else I know. And he was so charismatic and so inventive and so free."
Once he officially stepped into the role of Loki, Hiddleston looked to Nicholson's Joker as his inspiration.
"I think, probably, when I came to play Loki for the first film, I consciously carried Jack Nicholson in mind," he said.
Hiddleston also revealed that, when he filmed the first Thor movie, he and director Kenneth Branagh would experiment by shooting different versions of Loki's scenes.
"We did the Peter O’Toole take, which wasn’t an impersonation of Peter O’Toole, but it was a tribute to his sincerity and vulnerability in films like The Lion in Winter," he said.
"And then a Jack Nicholson take, where I was having the most fun in the room. And then a Clint Eastwood take, where whatever I was feeling would be hidden deep within me, and you wouldn’t be able to see it."
What's Next for Loki in the MCU?
Hiddleston will make his next appearance as Loki in Avengers: Doomsday, which will be released in theaters in December 2026. It will mark his return after last appearing in the second season finale of Loki in 2023.
In another recent interview, he shared that he has filmed all his scenes in the upcoming movie and described the story as "monumental."
"The center of the story is absolutely brilliant, and was so surprising when I read it. It just has never been done before," Hiddleston teased.
For now, fans should wait for more news and updates regarding the film in the coming months.
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