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. In a conversation 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, scheduled for release this December, 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 with the pioneering role. “We are all here, in a way, because of Tobey Maguire. That film was the beginning of where we are,” he stated. In this way, he acknowledges that the early 2000s trilogy opened doors for the entire genre. Shortly 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.
The Legacy of Jack Nicholson in the God of Mischief
The most impactful revelation, however, came when Hiddleston detailed the direct influence of Jack Nicholson, the Joker from the 1989 film, on his performance as Loki. “I don’t think I would play Loki without that film. 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 malicious freedom of the DC villain and the construction of his own character in Marvel. Therefore, every sardonic smile and mischievous act from Loki carries a conscious echo of Nicholson’s performance.
These statements come at a crucial time for the MCU, which is preparing for its next epic chapters. Despite the focus on new heroes and futuristic narratives, the foundation, as Hiddleston himself points out, remains in the classic works. Thus, the interview 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.
