Tom Hiddleston Missed a Key Role Thanks To Being Hungover and Orlando Bloom Got It

Tom Hiddleston is best known around the world as Loki, the God of Mischief in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The role became so popular that it even inspired its own Disney+ series. But Hiddleston hasn’t just stayed in blockbuster territory—he’s also spent years working on smaller, critically praised films.

In the UK, his collaborations with director Joanna Hogg on movies like Archipelago and Exhibition are often highlighted as some of his most impressive works. Early in his career, though, Hiddleston had his share of missteps.

One story he shared in the documentary Muse of Fire, which explores Shakespeare’s influence on modern actors, stands out. He revealed how he lost a major role because of one night of poor judgment. The part was Will Turner in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, a role that eventually went to Orlando Bloom and made him famous.

Hiddleston admitted he had only received the script the night before the audition. Instead of staying in to rehearse, he went out drinking with friends. “The next day, I walked in at 10 am, very hungover, hadn’t learnt it and did it a couple of times, and the casting director was like: ‘Uh-huh, okay, okay. Well, thanks for coming in,” he recalled. He never got a callback.

Even though missing the role could have been a major setback, Hiddleston’s career didn’t suffer in the long run. He found his own path to stardom and went on to become one of Hollywood’s most respected actors. His experience is a clear reminder that preparation matters in a competitive industry—but one bad day doesn’t have to define your career.

This year, Hiddleston is busier than ever. He returned to espionage in the second season of The Night Manager, streaming on Prime Video and the BBC, where he reprises his role as Jonathan Pine. The series also stars Olivia Colman, Camila Morrone, and Diego Calva, and it has already been renewed for a third season.

On the big screen, he stars in The Life of Chuck, a Stephen King adaptation directed by Mike Flanagan. The film won the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival and is set for wide release in June 2025.

Marvel fans are also eagerly awaiting his return as Loki in Avengers: Doomsday, coming later this year. Beyond film and TV, Hiddleston is returning to the stage in a limited Broadway run of Much Ado About Nothing, starring opposite Hayley Atwell.

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