Jun 19 2021, 05:52 PM, updated 5y ago
Marvel has confirmed that Loki is gender fluid in the MCU, bringing this version of the character closer to comic book iterations of the Norse god.
This news comes by way of SlashFilm, which caught the revelation in a video posted on Twitter by the offiical Loki account. The video is par for the course of Marvel and Disney's Loki marketing, but eagle-eyed viewers have spotted Loki's sex as "Fluid" in the first frame of the video, which you can view below.
As you can see in the Tweet above, Loki's sex is listed as "Fluid" on the case file, confirming something fans have suspected (and wanted to see) for years. Inverse spoke to Tom Hiddelston, who has played Loki in the MCU for over a decade, and the Disney Plus series' head writer, Michael Waldron, about the character's gender fluidity.
"I know how many people identifiy with Loki in particular and are eager for that representation, especially with this character," Waldron told Inverse. "We worked really hard."
Hiddleston told Inverse that Loki's gender fluidity has "always been there in the comics for some time and in the history of the character for hundreds, if not thousands of years." This is reference to the Loki seen in countless Marvel comics where the character is a shapeshifter, much like the MCU counterpart, although the shapeshifting occurs far more frequently in the comics.
Loki can shapeshift into other characters, animals, a male version of the Norse god, a female version, and more. As Inverse points out, Loki's appearance and gender are "constantly in flux." Inverse's report also points out that Loki's shapeshifting abilities were previously often used for disguise reasons rather than outright gender expression.
However, in 2014's Original Sin Vol 1 #2 comic, Loki's gender fluidity was spoken to directly, according to Inverse. When Loki and Thor arrive to a female-run society, Thor tells Loki that "these are fair maidens," to which Loki responds with, "So am I, sometimes." Loki later takes on the form of a female in that issue and is referred to with she/her pronouns.
Inverse notes that in that same arc, Loki and Thor's father, Odin, says to his children, "My son, my daughter, and my child who is both," which is another reference to Loki's gender fluidity. As for whether or not the gender fluidity of Hiddleston's Loki will be addressed so directly in the Disney Plus show remains to be seen.
Waldron told Inverse that it's "best experienced in the show, as opposed to me, a cis straight white guy giving clunky answers about it." Waldon credits the show's director, Kate Herron, for Loki's gender fluid confirmation, however.
"That was so important to Kate, that we did that justice," Waldron said. "Everyone will have to watch and see."
Hiddleston further touched on his character's gender fluidity when speaking to Inverse, explaining that "breadth and range of identity contained in the character has been emphasized and is something I was always aware of when I was cast 10 years ago."
"I know it was important to Kate Herron and Michael Waldron and to the whole team," Hiddleston continued. "And we were very aware, this is something we felt responsible for."
While waiting for Loki to hit Disney Plus tomorrow, check out our thoughts on the first two episodes of the show in IGN's Loki preview and then read about how Mephisto won't be appearing in the show. Read about how Loki was inspired by David Fincher after that and then check out where Loki lands on IGN's list of the 25 best Marvel villains in the MCU.
This post has been edited by red1982: Jun 19 2021, 05:52 PM
Loki Confirmed to be Gender Fluid
Quote
0.0200sec
0.89
5 queries
GZIP Disabled