After the success of the first series of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) show that puts anarchic god of chaos Loki at its forefront, Tom Hiddleston returns for a second season of imaginative mayhem and adventures in the twisty world of the universe’s alternative timelines. Tymon Smith spoke to producer Kevin Wright about what fans can expect.
What are the big themes you wanted to explore in season two?
We really looked at season one and so much of that was about identity and the search for identity. In season two we wanted to challenge those things further and much of that was about really understanding yourself and maybe becoming the best version of yourself. That comes through not so much what you say, but through your actions. So much of this season centres on a series of obstacles and increasing stakes, so we really see what people do when they’re challenged. What is true to their identity and what comes out when they don’t have so much time to think and have to act?
The MCU has a legion of dedicated fans with high expectations. How much has their feedback influenced the shape of this season?
We obviously go into it with our idea of what we want the show to be. With something like Loki though, I would say the audience and fan response has largely been one that embraced the show and the weirdness of it. That’s given us more freedom to dive into those things further and take more chances. I think that was largely because the fans liked it and enjoyed it. If they had reacted negatively, maybe it would have made us rethink some things. I think there was a real sense of empowerment for the filmmakers that we could continue to tell our story and not just go back and try to play the hits again, and give the audience exactly what they expected from the first season and continue to build out the world and hope that people will be excited by that.
Tom Hiddleston has played the character for over a decade. What has this show allowed him to do with the character and what’s it like to watch him expand the world of Loki?
This guy obviously was a villain, an anti-hero, and we’re pushing him into completely new territory now with this variant version of Loki, and I think audiences have been really excited about that. The thing that Tom always talked about that we really embraced was to push the character forward: he has to embrace all aspects of himself, so we have to acknowledge his darker past and the more villainous things he did. But again I think it just speaks to Tom's specific talents and love for the character that, 12 years in, he’s still finding new ways to tell stories with the character. He always says, and I think we all feel this way with the show, he’s merely a steward for the character. This is a character that’s had a life in the comics, a life in mythology, that has clearly intrigued people for a long time, and he feels a real responsibility to take care of the character and constantly deliver new things to it.
What do you think the future of this hugely popular genre will be?
We’ve been having a lot of conversations about how these stories can continue to evolve. It’s something that started on Loki season one. We would say: “Kids who were eight years old by the time Iron Man came out are now 18.” So I think people have been sitting with these stories for a long time and they can tell when you’re telling the same stories over and over, just with different characters. So with something like Loki, we really went out of our way to make it stylistically unique, and the themes and the storytelling within it are deeper and smarter. In a world where there is so much being made, and we’re also fighting for time against TikTok and Instagram and all these things, you have to do something smart and unique and thoughtful to make an impact with people.
* 'Loki Season Two' is now streaming on Disney Plus.
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