Fans are still mourning the death of Loki in Avengers: Infinity War, but is there reason to hope for his return in Thor 4? After all, Loki used his last words to remind Thanos that the villain would never be like him or Thor - a true god, for whom the normal laws of death don't apply.

So even if Chris Hemsworth and Taika Waititi have yet to decide where the next Thor movie will head after The Avengers 4, it isn't guaranteed Loki won't-- or can't be a part of it. And looking at the current state of Thor's world after Ragnarok and Infinity War, the opportunity is there to make Loki a more powerful figure in the MCU than ever before.

RELATED: How Thor 4 Can Finally Add Thor's OTHER Brothers

To be clear, this is only our theory on the perfect way Marvel could return Loki to the MCU without diminishing his death, or "undoing" it in any way. Loki could finally claim his very own throne, too. Just... not in the land of the living.

First Things First: Yes, Loki Actually Died

Thor mourns Loki's death

There are plenty of theories to choose from that have already been created and debated online: that reflection of Loki is what actually died, or even that he survived the confrontation with Thanos by pretending to be Bruce Banner (hence no Hulk). For our purposes, however, we are taking the filmmakers of Infinity War at their word.

That may prove to be unwise, considering the sequel is expected to reverse most of the Infinity War deaths. But for all intents and purposes, we're assuming Thanos really did choke the life out of Loki. The good news is that the makers of Thor 4 don't actually have to undo, reverse, or retcon the death scene to keep Loki's story from being completely finished. Because as every Norse mythology fan (Marvel or otherwise) knows that for gods like Thor and Loki, death is just the beginning of another stage in their life.

Loki (Probably) Earned His Place in Valhalla

Loki flips his daggers in battle in Thor

The even better news for Loki is that his afterlife may be more glorious than if he had died during... well, any previous film. What makes Loki's death in Infinity War so tragic is that it comes after he seemingly embraces his brother, his adopted people, and his better self. In Thor: Ragnarok he chose heroism over selfishness... and that alone may have earned him a place in Valhalla.

We'll dive into the different locations that exist beyond life for Thor, Loki, Odin, and the rest of the Asgardians later. But for now, we'll point to the poem Thor utters for his father in Ragnarok: wishing him eternal life in Valhalla while those he leaves behind will not "mourn but rejoice, for those that have died the glorious death." Loki may not have died in glorious combat defending Asgard, but he was willing to, as evidenced before his death, proclaiming himself a "prince of Asgard... Odin's son."

His message to Thor, that "the sun will shine on us again" may have been foreshadowing Valhalla, but it isn't just a happy ending he earned. Because if Loki did travel to Valhalla, Thor may have a real chance to resurrect his people. And Loki may finally get the crown he's been after for years.

Page 2 of 2: How Loki Can Finally Become King (of The Dead)

To Save His People, Thor Must Descend into Hel

Since Norse conceptions of the afterlife aren't as clear-cut as you might think, Marvel would have a lot of flexibility when it comes to Thor, Loki, and the Asgardians on their travel into the underworld. In Thor: The Dark World, the soul of Frigga rose into the stars as golden stardust, just as Odin's does in Ragnarok. Not the everyday Asgardian guards... or Heimdall, or Loki, or any others. Whether intended or not, Marvel films have shown that there are different rules for different people when it comes to death among the "god-like."

The only real agreed-upon mythology in the comics is that the greatest of Asgardian warriors have their souls carried to the heavenly halls of Valhalla. The rest travel to Hel, which isn't actually as bad as it sounds. And up until recently in the comics, those souls even had their own monarch to protect them. A "Lord of Corpses" - or a King of the Dead, if that sounds a bit better.

His name is Balder the Brave, and he is Thor and Loki's brother. Believe it or not, introducing him into the MCU is easier than it sounds. And if Thor is looking to reclaim the souls unjustly struck down by Thanos wielding the Power Infinity Stone, it's Balder who he needs to go see.

RELATED: Thor Becomes King of Hell in Marvel Comics

Based on the films, there may even be signs that Balder is already keeping watch as the King of Hel. The biggest one being... well, that the dead aren't running amuck across the Nine Realms. Clearly somebody is handling that unsung task, because audiences know that the goddess who had the job in the comics was most definitely not.

Hela joking Thor in Thor: Ragnarok

That's right, ruling over the dead as their Queen was originally Hela's duty, though she isn't quite the same as the version fans saw in Thor: Ragnarok. In the MCU, Hela's ambitions for taking lives became too much for Odin, who banished her to an unknown prison for millennia. Which begs the question: who was ruling Hel all that time?

In the comics it was Balder who accepted the crown and the extra powers when Hela vacated it, and we've already explained why Marvel would be wise to adapt that comic story for Thor 4. But even if the film doesn't include the rest of the comic book story - Thor visiting Valhalla, followed by a brotherly reunion of Thor, Balder, Tyr, and Loki - then the question would remain.

If Hela has abandoned her post of keeping watch over the dead, then somebody needs to take it. And thanks to Thanos, a rightful king has recently entered the realm of the dead.

Will Loki Become The New King of Hel?

What would make this twist so rewarding is that, in most people's estimation, leaving Valhalla behind to rule the frigid expanse of Hel would be a step down. So if fans wanted Loki to stay a hero, and not swindle his way into another throne with a villainous smirk, this crown would actually fit the bill. Across the board, it's a win-win.

Loki finally gets the throne he was born to inherit. But as his character has evolved, so too has his reasoning. He now takes a throne not of glory, wealth, or pride - but one of service, penance, and duty. If Balder is a part of the story, then all the better: Loki can take his post and return him to life, as well, as a means of righting the wrong of killing him in the first place (...it was a long time ago).

Where would the Thor movies, or Thor himself go from there? Who knows. But at least it would allow Taika Waititi to make the Thor: Ragnarok 2 he may have wanted to, before Marvel turned his promising ending into a mass slaughter. All that, AND a new brother for Thor? Fans should be so lucky.

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