Tom Hiddleston Says a DC Villain Shaped His Iconic Marvel Role as Loki

Tom Hiddleston has revealed a surprising source of inspiration behind one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s most beloved characters: a DC supervillain.

The Golden Globe-winning actor, who has portrayed Loki for more than 15 years, said he may never have played the God of Mischief if he hadn’t seen Batman as a young viewer.

Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Hiddleston explained that Jack Nicholson’s unforgettable performance as the Joker left a lasting impression on his imagination.

“Truthfully, I don’t think I would’ve played Loki without that film,” Hiddleston said. “The way Jack Nicholson played the Joker made such an impact on me. He was clearly the villain, but he was having such a good time. He was charismatic, inventive, and free.”

Hiddleston admitted that when he first stepped into Loki’s boots, Nicholson’s Joker was very much on his mind.

“When I came to play Loki for the first film, I consciously carried Jack Nicholson with me,” he added.

Villains Who Enjoy Being Villains

This isn’t the first time Hiddleston has spoken about his love for cinematic villains. In a 2013 interview, he credited Nicholson, along with other legendary actors, for influencing his approach to complex antagonists.

“I’m standing on the shoulders of the villains I loved as a child,” he said at the time, also praising Alan Rickman and James Mason. “I loved villains who enjoyed themselves.”

Experimenting on the Thor Set

During the podcast, Hiddleston also shared a behind-the-scenes detail from the making of Thor, directed by Kenneth Branagh. The actor and director would often film multiple versions of the same scene, each inspired by a different acting style.

“There was a Jack Nicholson take where I was having the most fun in the room,” Hiddleston said. “A Clint Eastwood-style take where everything was buried deep inside. And even a Peter O’Toole-inspired version focused on sincerity and vulnerability.”

These variations, he explained, gave Branagh a range of “flavors” in the editing room and helped shape Loki into a layered, unpredictable character.

What’s Next for Loki?

Hiddleston is set to return to the MCU in Avengers: Doomsday. Fans last saw Loki at the end of Loki season 2, where he ascended to an awe-inspiring new role as the God of Time — holding the entire multiverse together.

No pressure, indeed.