Loki director explains why it was ‘important’ for the character to be ‘acknowledged as gender fluid’ in the upcoming Disney+ series: ‘He’s gender fluid in the Norse mythology and the comics’

Tom Hiddleston’s Loki was revealed to be gender fluid in a teaser video for the upcoming Disney+ series dropped this week.

Director Kate Herron explained in a chat with Insider why it was ‘important’ to her that the Norse god’s non-binary gender identity was acknowledged in the new show.

While Hidddleston has portrayed the trickster across multiple films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the new Disney+ series will mark the first time that the character is played as gender fluid. 

God of Mischief: Tom Hiddleston’s Loki is gender fluid in the upcoming Disney+ series and director Kate Herron explained in a chat with Insider why it was ‘important’ to her that the Norse god’s non-binary gender identity was acknowledged

‘I would say that details are marked in but it is something acknowledged,’ the director said. 

Adding: ‘He’s gender fluid in the Norse mythology and the comics and it felt like an important thing to, as you say, make sure it’s canon.’ 

A teaser for Loki was dropped on Monday and confirmed that Hiddleston’s Disney+ Loki was ‘fluid.’ 

The clips shows a file documenting Loki Laufeyson’s Time Variance Authority and lists ‘FLUID’ under the gender.

‘I would say that details are marked in but it is something acknowledged,’ the director said. ‘He’s gender fluid in the Norse mythology and the comics and it felt like an important thing to, as you say, make sure it’s canon.’

Non-binary: A teaser for Loki was dropped on Monday and shows a file documenting Loki Laufeyson’s Time Variance Authority and lists ‘FLUID’ under the gender

The series also stars Owen Wilson as Mobius M. Mobius, Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Ravonna Renslayer and Wunmi Mosaku as Hunter B-15, as well as Sophia Di Martino and Richard E. Grant.

The timeline of the show follows the Asgardian in the wake of 2018’s Avengers: Endgame.

Hiddleston was first seen as the character in Thor in 2011, and has gone on to appear in the role in 2012’s The Avengers, 2013’s Thor: The Dark World, 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok and 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War.

Loki’s gender identity had been speculated upon in the wake of a comic book in which Odin called Loki, ‘my son, and my daughter, and my child who is both.’

Canon: Loki’s gender identity had been speculated upon in the wake of a comic book in which Odin called Loki, ‘my son, and my daughter, and my child who is both’ 

Loki’s gender fluidity was also topical in the 2019 book Loki: Where Mischief Lies from writer Mackenzi Lee.

‘I think queer undertones are intrinsic to Loki and his magic,’ Lee told Comics Beat in 2019. ‘Being a shapeshifter already makes him fluid, and as far back as versions of him in the Norse myths, we see Loki manipulating his gender and taking a variety of partners.

‘It would have felt disingenuous to portray him as anything else. And, while we’ve come a long way with representation in comics, we still have a long way to go. As for direct references on the page – like many people, I’m tired of queer rep being only subtext in media. We need to bring identity onto the page.

Disney+ is no doubt anticipating another huge hit on their hands after the immense success of the first two Marvel series, Wandavision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which both crashed the platform when new episodes debuted. 

Loki premieres Wednesday June 9 on Disney+. 

Tune in: Loki premieres Wednesday June 9 on Disney+

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