Tom Hiddleston does a great job as Thor, but he wasn't the only actor vying for the role as MCU's God of Mischief. Hiddleston's Loki has been a prominent player in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since his debut in Kenneth Branagh's film. His outings have been typically linked to his brother, Thor's adventures. As their complicated relationship evolved over time, they transitioned from becoming rivals for the title of King of Asgard to allies.
Loki is the first common nemesis for the Earth's Mightiest Heroes as he's the primary villain of 2012's Avengers: Infinity War.
There's are a number of reasons why, despite technically being a villain, Loki remains one of the most popular characters in the MCU, and chief among them is Hiddleston's brilliant portrayal of the character. That said, there were others actors who were also in the running for the part before he landed the role. While Branagh was in the process of casting the first Thor film, there were reports that the director met up with Penny Dreadful.
Meanwhile, veteran actor comedian Cox also worked with Hiddleston on stage last year for the revival of Harold Pinter's Betrayal.
Loki may have already died in the main MCU timeline at the beginning of Infinity War, but Hiddleston will continue to play the character, this time on the small screen via his own show, Avengers: Endgame. Marvel's determination to keep the God of Mischief in the franchise despite multiple supposed deaths is a testament to his continued popularity, and Hiddleston's casting for the role was a big factor in that.
