Tom Hiddleston Reveals Batman and Tobey Maguire’s Influence on the MCU

Tom Hiddleston, the star behind Loki in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), made surprising revelations during a recent interview, shedding light on the inspirations that shaped his iconic villain. Speaking with the Happy Sad Confused podcast in January 2026, the British actor not only named his favorite Spider-Man, but also pointed to a DC classic as the key to his performance. These statements are especially relevant now, as Hiddleston prepares for the highly anticipated Avengers: Doomsday, set for release in December this year, showing how the past of superhero cinema still echoes in current productions.

The actor clearly explained how these films influenced him. When asked, Hiddleston was direct: his personal favorite is Tom Holland, with whom he built a relationship on Marvel sets. However, he went a step further and credited Tobey Maguire as the pioneer. “We are all here, in a way, because of Tobey Maguire. That movie was the beginning of where we are,” he said. In doing so, he acknowledges that the early-2000s trilogy opened doors for the entire genre. Right after, he made an unexpected connection to the DC world, naming Tim Burton’s Batman (1989) as the best comic book movie of all time.

Jack Nicholson’s Legacy in the God of Mischief

The most striking revelation, however, came when Hiddleston detailed the direct influence of Jack Nicholson, the Joker of the 1989 film, on his performance as Loki. “I don’t think I would play Loki without that movie. The way Jack Nicholson played the Joker had a huge impact on my imagination,” he confessed. In this way, the actor connects the dots between the charm and mischievous freedom of the DC villain and the construction of his own character at Marvel. Every sardonic smile and every mischievous attitude of Loki therefore carries a conscious echo of Nicholson’s performance.

These statements arrive at a crucial moment for the MCU, which is gearing up for its upcoming epic chapters. Despite the focus on new heroes and futuristic narratives, the foundation, as Hiddleston himself points out, remains in the classic works. The interview thus serves as a powerful reminder that pop culture is a continuous cycle of inspiration. As we await Avengers: Doomsday and a possible third season of Loki on Disney+, it is clear that the genre’s greatness today is built on the shoulders of giants like Maguire, Keaton, and Nicholson.