Marvel Reveals First Look at Loki in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’
Marvel’s mutant-heavy, multiverse-spanning marketing rollout for ‘Avengers: Doomsday‘ has produced a steady stream of official reveals over the past week, most of it centered on the massive ensemble of Avengers, X-Men, and Fantastic Four members assembling to stop Robert Downey Jr’s Doctor Doom. Amid all that noise, one returning character has been easy to overlook, mostly because Marvel keeps hiding him in the background.
Marvel Studios released the first officially sanctioned concept art from the film this week at the Shanghai Expo in China, showcasing not just Doctor Doom but the full lineup of heroes assembling to fight him, including the New Avengers, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, and a grouping believed to be Sam Wilson’s own Avengers team. Buried within that same artwork was a smaller but significant detail that fans immediately zeroed in on.
MCU Film News flagged that detail directly, sharing what it called the first look at Loki in the film. Tucked underneath Doctor Doom in the concept art, Tom Hiddleston’s Loki appears still powering the Multiverse, confirming his continued presence in the story even without a starring position in the main lineup.
That placement lines up with months of reporting suggesting Loki’s role in the film is far more important than his screen time might initially suggest. Industry insider Alex Perez has previously described Loki as the film’s McGuffin character, explaining that the race against Doctor Doom will essentially be a race to see who reaches Loki first. Since Loki is so intrinsically tied to the Multiverse and Doomsday explores that exact concept, insiders have expected him to be central to the plot despite operating largely behind the scenes.
Hiddleston himself has been building anticipation for his return in recent interviews. Speaking about Marvel confirming his casting, the actor described feeling relieved once he saw his name on the back of a chair, joking that it finally meant he no longer had to pretend he wasn’t in the film after having to do so in the past. He has also called the film’s script magnificent, promising fans should expect something that defies expectations.
Marvel has previously grouped Loki alongside Thor, Shang-Chi, Falcon, and Ant-Man as part of Sam Wilson’s Heroic Avengers team during a cast presentation in Italy, suggesting his role may extend beyond simply being fought over as a plot device. Reports have also indicated that additional scenes involving Loki and the TVA were filmed for the movie alongside an unannounced actor, hinting that his storyline may carry more weight than early marketing has let on.
What do you think about Loki’s role?
‘Avengers: Doomsday’ stars Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Mackie, Tom Hiddleston, Sebastian Stan, Letitia Wright, and Robert Downey Jr, and is directed by Joe and Anthony Russo from a screenplay by Stephen McFeely. The film releases in theaters on December 18, and with Loki now confirmed to be quietly steering the multiverse from the shadows of the film’s official art, fans have one more thread to pull on before the movie finally answers what role the God of Stories truly plays in Doctor Doom’s downfall.
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