Summary

  • Tom Hiddleston's portrayal of Loki in the MCU has evolved from a villain to the savior of the multiverse.
  • Loki has had extensive character development over the duration of his MCU career, which has seen him eventually become one of the most important figures in the MCU's Multiverse Saga.
  • Loki's new role after the end of Loki season 2 leaves his future in the MCU unclear, but it's possible he could return in future projects.

Tom Hiddleston's Loki has had a lengthy and transformative journey in the MCU, taking him from the villainous God of Mischief to the savior of the multiverse. Originally, Marvel Studios' casting choices of Chris Hemsworth as Thor and Tom Hiddleston as his adoptive brother Loki were considered risky, but over the last decade, they have proven themselves to be perfect. Not only has Hemsworth become the only MCU star to receive four solo feature films, but Hiddleston has been given the opportunity to portray many different versions of Loki, and had his story extended following Loki's death in 2018's Avengers: Infinity War thanks to his dedicated Loki series on Disney+.

After debuting as a minor antagonist for Thor and the MCU's original Avengers team, Tom Hiddleston returned as Loki in 2021's Loki season 1, which saw him embark on a new redemption arc, and become a powerful hero in the MCU's Multiverse Saga. Loki has seen more character development in the MCU than most other heroes, and a great deal of his backstory has been explored. This shows just how far Loki has come since his early days as a villain, as he became one of the most important figures in Phase 4, and set himself up as the protector of the entire multiverse in Phase 5's Loki season 2.

Related: Loki Season 2's Ending Makes The MCU's New Avengers Roster Even More Important

Loki Is Born On Jotunheim & Raised On Asgard By Odin (965-2010)

Thor (2011)

In the MCU's main continuity, Loki was born shortly before a great battle between the Asgardians and the Frost Giants of Jotunheim in Tonsberg, Norway, in 965 AD. Odin and the Asgardian forces beat Laufey and the Frost Giants, and confiscated their greatest weapon: the Casket of Ancient Winters, which Odin stored in Asgard's vault. As well as taking the Casket, however, Odin also took Laufey's son, a runt who'd been left to die, deciding to raise him as his own, and using magic to give the young Loki the appearance of a normal Asgardian. Loki was raised as a prince, but also felt overshadowed by his adoptive brother, Thor.

What If...? season 1 explored a reality where Loki hadn't been taken by Odin. Thor had become addicted to partying, while Loki had grown into a full-size Frost Giant, but the pair had become best friends despite their differences.

Loki Hijacks A Plane As D. B. Cooper (1971)

Loki Season 1 (2021)

Loki as DB Cooper in Loki season 1-1

Loki and Thor grew up as incredibly competitive siblings, with Odin favoring Thor, and Frigga training Loki in the ways of witchcraft and magic. This competitive nature led to many escapades for the young siblings, including Loki hijacking Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305 in the United States in 1971 and stealing $200,000 after losing a bet to Thor. After being taken back to Asgard in the Bifrost, this hijacking became a huge mystery on Earth, with the culprit being dubbed D. B. Cooper by the media. Loki also continuously used his magic to prank Thor, including turning Thor into a frog, and transforming himself into a snake to trick Thor.

Loki Helps To Get Thor Banished From Asgard & Learns His True Heritage (2010)

Thor (2011)

Loki manipulating Thor on Jotunheim in 2011's Thor

In an effort to disrupt Thor's crowning as the King of Asgard, Loki orchestrated a plan to let Frost Giants into Asgard, who proceeded to steal the Casket of Ancient Winters. Loki used the opportunity to manipulate Thor into waging war on Jotunheim against their father's commands, prompting Odin to banish Thor from Asgard and strip him of his powers. Soon after, Loki learned of his true heritage as a Frost Giant, but his confrontation of Odin sent his father into the Odinsleep, allowing Loki to become interim King. Attempting to remove his only rival, Loki tried to have Thor killed, but the God of Thunder returned stronger than before.

Loki Apparently Falls To His Death (2010)

Thor (2011)

Loki about to fall into a wormhole in 2011's Thor

At the end of 2011's Thor, the power had gone to Loki's head, and he began to use the power of the Bifrost to create a wormhole that would destroy Jotunheim and exterminate the Frost Giants. However, Loki was thwarted by Thor, who returned to Asgard and destroyed the Bifrost Bridge. The brothers battled, and both almost plummeted to their deaths, but were saved by Odin. At this moment, Loki realized he would never earn his father's approval, and so let go and seemingly fell to his death, though actually went through the wormhole. It was soon revealed this portal eventually brought him into contact with the Mad Titan Thanos.

Loki Invades Earth & Battles The Avengers (2012)

The Avengers (2012)

Aware he would never have the throne of Asgard, but desperate for power, Loki decided to wage war on Midgard, a.k.a. Earth, in an extended attempt to taunt his brother, who had grown fond of the planet and humanity. Loki's ability to mind-control Erik Selvig and Clint Barton using his scepter, and his stealing of the Tesseract, prompted Nick Fury to bring together the MCU's original Avengers team. While they initially captured Loki, he soon killed Phil Coulson and escaped, but set to work wreaking havoc in New York City with his Chitauri army. Eventually, however, Loki was defeated by the Avengers, and brought back to Asgard as a prisoner.

Loki "Dies" Again On The Dark World (2013)

Thor: The Dark World (2013)

Loki faking his death on Svartalfheim in Thor The Dark World

As a prisoner, Loki was safe during the Dark Elves' attack on Asgard in 2013's Thor: The Dark World, but had to hear of his beloved mother's death without the chance to protect her. Hatching a plan to save an Aether-infected Jane Foster, however, Thor broke Loki free from prison, and used the latter's knowledge of secret passages off Asgard to transport them to Svartalfheim, a.k.a. the Dark World. During a confrontation with Malekith and Kurse, Loki apparently died, but it was soon revealed that he faked his death and used his magic to banish Odin to Earth, finally assuming the role of King of Asgard, masquerading as his father.

Marvel Studios originally planned for Loki to actually die in Thor: The Dark World, but this was rightfully reversed, allowing Tom Hiddleston to have a much longer career in the MCU than first planned.

Thor & Loki Battle Their Sister, Hela (2017)

Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

Loki protecting Asgardians in the final battle of Thor Ragnarok

After searching for the Infinity Stones, Thor returned to Asgard to find the Nine Realms in chaos, though soon realized that his father was actually Loki in disguise. Thor and Loki found Odin just in time to witness his death, which unlocked the cage of the Asgardian Goddess of Death, Thor and Loki's sister, Hela. Hela's volatility had prompted Odin to banish her and erase her memory from Asgard's history. While Hela increased her power on Asgard, Thor and Loki were preoccupied on Sakaar, though they soon returned to battle the Goddess of Death and her undead army, saving as many Asgardians as they could before their homeworld was destroyed.

Loki Is Killed By Thanos (2018)

Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Loki being killed by Thanos at the start of Avengers Infinity War

Following the destruction of Asgard, Thor, Loki, and their people began to travel to Earth, but were intercepted by Thanos who had begun his quest to collect the six Infinity Stones. Unfortunately, Loki was in possession of the Tesseract, a.k.a. the Space Stone, which he had stolen from Asgard's vault prior to the planet's destruction. This made him a target for Thanos, and despite making one last attempt on the Mad Titan's life, and dubbing himself "Loki Odinson" in a beautiful moment of redemption, Loki was swiftly killed by Thanos. Despite being seen as a villain for most of his MCU journey, Loki certainly died a hero.

Loki Escapes From The Avengers & Meets The TVA (2012)

Avengers: Endgame (2019) & Loki Season 1 (2021)

The MCU's original version of Loki may have been killed, but the Avengers' time travel antics in Endgame allowed a variant of the God of Mischief to escape shortly after the Battle of New York in 2012. Using the Tesseract, Loki transported himself from New York to the Gobi Desert, but he was soon captured by the Time Variance Authority. After being brought to trial and almost pruned, TVA analyst Mobius spared Loki's life in an effort to learn about his personality, starting Loki on a new redemption arc as he learned that his life was destined to amount to nothing, so he needed to find a new "glorious purpose."

Loki Meets His Multiversal Variants & He Who Remains

Loki Season 1 (2021)

Sylvie and Loki on Lamentis in Loki season 1

Loki was informed that the TVA was hunting another Loki variant who had been attacking Minute Men and stealing reset charges, who turned out to be Sylvie. Loki and Sylvie formed a strong bond as they fought to uncover the truth of the TVA, who were outed as fiction. After being pruned, Loki and Sylvie were sent to the Void at the end of time, where they met further Loki variants including Classic Loki, Boastful Loki and Kid Loki. Furthermore, Loki and Sylvie managed to enchant Alioth, a creature who consumed everything sent the Void, and soon came into contact with He Who Remains, the real figure behind the TVA.

Loki Time-Slips & Recruits Victor Timely To Fix The Temporal Loom

Loki Season 2 (2023)

Loki and Mobius in 1893 in Loki season 2

At the end of Loki season 1, Sylvie killed He Who Remains and thrust Loki back to the TVA, but inadvertently pushed him into the past. Loki found himself inflicted with "time-slipping", which dragged him between the past, present, and future, but he soon cured himself and informed his TVA friends of He Who Remains and his variants. With the TVA's Temporal Loom struggling to process the new branches created when Sylvie destroyed the Sacred Timeline, Loki and Mobius set out to mend it, with the help of new Kang variant Victor Timely. However, even with the help of Ouroboros, Hunter B-15, and Casey, this turned out to be futile.

Loki Controls His Time-Slipping & Becomes The God Of Time

Loki Season 2 (2023)

In Loki season 2's epic final episodes, Loki learned to control his time-slipping, allowing him to jump spontaneously to any time period, and live the same moment over and over again. After centuries learning how to deal with the Temporal Loom problem, Loki revisited He Who Remains, who told Loki that the Temporal Loom couldn't be adjusted for infinite branching timelines. This convinced Loki that the only way to save his friends would be to assume the role of the Temporal Loom himself, so he sacrificed everything he had been fighting for, condemning himself to an eternity of isolation as he sits guarding the infinite branches of the MCU's multiverse.

Key Release Dates