Tom Hiddleston Loki Joker Inspiration: How Jack Nicholson Shaped the MCU

The God of Mischief owes his existence to the Clown Prince of Crime. Tom Hiddleston, who has portrayed Loki for 15 years, recently revealed that he wouldn't have played the iconic Marvel character without the influence of a legendary DC villain.

The DC Villain Behind Tom Hiddleston's Loki

Speaking on the 'Happy Sad Confused' podcast, Hiddleston admitted that Jack Nicholson’s portrayal of the Joker in Tim Burton’s 1989 'Batman' left a permanent mark on his imagination. "Truthfully, I don’t think I would’ve played Loki without that film," the actor stated. He was captivated by how Nicholson's villain was "having such a good time" while remaining charismatic and inventive—traits that would eventually define Loki's own chaotic energy.

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Experimenting with 'Flavors' on Set

During the filming of the first 'Thor' movie, director Kenneth Branagh encouraged Hiddleston to experiment with different acting styles. They shot multiple versions of scenes, including a "Nicholson take" where Hiddleston focused on having the most fun in the room, a "Clint Eastwood take" for hidden emotions, and a "Peter O’Toole take" to capture vulnerability.

This multifaceted approach helped Hiddleston create the complex anti-hero fans adore today. Having last appeared in LokiSeason 2 as the God of Time, Hiddleston is now set to return to the big screen in 'Avengers: Doomsday'.