Tom Hiddleston Talks Loki’s “New Purpose” in AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY and What It Means for His MCU Future

Tom Hiddleston is returning as Loki in Marvel’s Avengers: Doomsday, but the God of Mischief is in a very different place than when we first met him. After the emotional finale of Loki Season 2, fans were left wondering how the character could possibly return to the MCU.

Now, Hiddleston is offering some insight into what comes next for Loki and why his story is entering a completely new chapter.

When we last saw Loki in his Disney+ series, he had made the ultimate sacrifice, taking his place at the center of the multiverse and holding the timelines together as the God of Stories. It was a fantastic conclusion to a character who started out as a power-hungry villain and eventually became one of Marvel’s most compelling heroes.

It also seemed pretty final. Loki was left alone, responsible for keeping the multiverse alive, which didn't exactly leave him much room to run around with the Avengers.

But with Avengers: Doomsday bringing him back, Marvel clearly has more planned for the character. During an interview with Nerd Reactor, Hiddleston talked about returning to the role after completing Loki’s journey in Season 2 and how that experience changed his approach to the upcoming Marvel movie.

He explained: “What was different for me, and this is, I think, okay to say this, is I began my engagement with Avengers: Doomsday having experienced the finale of Loki season 2. So, to arrive at the film with that experience.

“The end of Loki season 2, I think Loki is afforded redemption and catharsis, which completes a long arc which is set in motion at the beginning of the first Thor film…The whole journey of Loki has been an exploration of purpose and meaning.

“The beginning of Avengers, he says, ‘I am Loki of Asgard. And I am burdened with glorious purpose.’ And his purpose exists for others, and he’s going to use that purpose. That it will be more burden than glory. So, I arrived in Doomsday with all of that experience, with that story having been told, and it created a new starting point.”

That's an interesting way to approach Loki's return because, as Hiddleston points out, the character has already completed the journey that defined him for more than a decade.

Ever since Thor introduced him as Odin's troubled adopted son, Loki has struggled with his identity and his place in the universe. His desire for power led him to become the villain of The Avengers, but his experiences eventually transformed him into someone willing to sacrifice everything for others.

By the end of Loki Season 2, he'd finally figured out what his glorious purpose actually meant. He wasn't destined to rule over everyone. He was meant to protect them.

So, where does Marvel take him from there? That's where Avengers: Doomsday gets interesting, especially with Robert Downey Jr. entering the picture as Doctor Doom and the multiverse heading toward some serious trouble.

The additional scenes in Avengers: Endgame Encore have already given us a clue about Loki's involvement. One scene features Loki arriving at the home of Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter.

Anthony Russo has already confirmed that Steve's decision to stay in the past plays a role in triggering the events of Doomsday. With Loki now responsible for maintaining the timelines, it makes sense that he'd be investigating whatever damage Steve's actions may have caused.

Another added scene in Endgame Encore confirms that incursions have already begun, which puts the entire multiverse in danger.

This could mean Loki's role in Doomsday will be less about fighting alongside the Avengers and more about trying to prevent reality itself from falling apart.

Of course, I'd still love to see Loki face off against Doctor Doom. Those two characters sharing a scene could be awesome, especially considering how much Loki has changed since his villain days.

But there's also something exciting about seeing Hiddleston play a version of Loki who no longer needs to prove himself. He's found his purpose, accepted the responsibility that comes with it, and now has to figure out what that means when the multiverse faces its biggest threat yet.

Hiddleston isn't revealing any major spoilers, but his comments suggest we're getting a Loki who has moved beyond his old ambitions and personal struggles.

The big question is whether Loki can continue holding the timelines together while actively getting involved in the events of Avengers: Doomsday. That's going to be an interesting problem for Marvel to tackle.

Whatever happens, I'm happy Hiddleston is back. His performance in Loki Season 2 was some of his best work in the MCU, and it'll be great to see what he brings to this next chapter.