Loki star Tom Hiddleston wanted references to his character’s bisexuality to be ‘meaningful’
The actor, 41, said: "It was a small step, and there’s further to go. But it was definitely important to all of us."
Words: Alastair James; pictures: Disney
Loki actor, Tom Hiddleston, has said he hopes the character’s bisexuality, which was referenced briefly in the Disney+ of the same name was “meaningful” to the fans.
The 2021 series revealed two elements of the comic book character were being brought to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) – his gender fluidity and bisexuality.
The first was revealed in a promo for the series where the character’s sex is stated as “fluid”. The second came in a brief scene in the show’s third episode where Loki mentioned liking “a bit of both” when it comes to princesses and princes.
“It was definitely important to all of us”
Speaking to The Guardian recently, the actor, 41, said he was “honoured” to have taken the character of Loki from the big to the small screen.
He went on to say: “We all wanted to retain the integrity of the character – I wanted to make sure we didn’t lose the bits that people loved, while doing something new.
“I also hope Loki coming out as bisexual was meaningful to people who spotted it. It was a small step, and there’s further to go. But it was definitely important to all of us.”
After the first series of Loki, director Kate Herron, who identifies as bisexual, explained why they included the character’s sexuality.
“He’s being written as bi and also pan, and I just wanted to make sure that we were acknowledging that aspect of his personality. Because the whole show is about Loki’s identity, and it felt like, well, we should be acknowledging this,” she told Collider.
She also hinted Loki could get a boyfriend in future seasons. However, Herron later announced she wasn’t returning for a second season which could throw any future development into doubt.
While the representation was praised by some, others, such as It’s A Sin creator, Russell T Davies blasted it as “pathetic”.
He told a Q&A with Swansea University in July 2021: “It’s a ridiculous, craven, feeble gesture towards the vital politics of the stories that should be told. So, they will damn us with their condescension in the end. So that’s my worry now.”
Disney has faced backlash for its LGBTQ representation in the MCU (and other films) before Loki.
Prior to the release of Avengers: Endgame in 2019 the film’s directors, Joe and Anthony Russo, teased a gay character which turned out to be a very minor role making a passing reference to dating a man.
In the recently released Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness Xochitl Gomez’s America Chavez makes mention to her two mums, which Disney refused to cut after Saudi Arabia requested it be removed for their region’s release.
Eternals wasn’t screened in Saudi Arabia, and other Gulf nations, after requests were made to cut out LGBTQ characters and Disney refused.
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