Tom Hiddleston Was ‘Inspired’ by Alan Rickman’s ‘Playfulness’ in Die Hard When Playing Loki
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It has been nearly 13 years since Tom Hiddleston graced our screens as Loki in Marvel’s Thor (2011), and his portrayal of the god of mischief remains iconic. While preparing for the role, Hiddleston drew inspiration from some unexpected yet legendary sources. During a cast panel at PaleyFest 2024, Hiddleston, now 43, shared how Alan Rickman’s unforgettable portrayal of Hans Gruber in Die Hard (1988) shaped his approach to Loki. Another key influence was James Mason’s performance as the villainous Phillip Vandamm in North by Northwest (1959).
Both Rickman’s and Mason’s characters embody control and revenge, traits that resonate deeply with Loki’s persona. Hiddleston admitted that he was captivated by their performances from a young age, recalling how their villainy was delivered with a sense of charm and charisma, despite their antagonist roles.
“I just was so drawn to those performances,” Hiddleston said. “They seemed to be having such a wonderful time playing these antagonists… And that was part of the charm. They were so charismatic, even though they weren’t at the center of those films.”
This sense of playfulness and enjoyment in being the villain is a defining element of Loki’s character across the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Initially, Loki wasn’t a central character in either Thor or The Avengers, but his sly charm and unpredictability quickly made him a fan favorite. The launch of his spin-off show Loki on Disney+ in 2021 cemented his status as a central figure in the MCU’s expanding universe.
Across two seasons, Hiddleston’s portrayal of Loki as an antihero and complex character won over millions of viewers. In season two, Loki’s evolution took center stage, as the character made profound sacrifices to save the multiverse, even becoming a living temporal loom to preserve the timelines. The transformation from a self-serving villain to a sacrificial hero was a defining moment for the series.
“That was the very basis of the season I set out to write,” said Loki executive producer and writer Eric Martin at PaleyFest. “Seeing that all culminate in that and Tom, just bringing every last bit of emotion to it, it just made everything [worthwhile].”
As the finale of Loki’s second season aired, fans were left in awe of the show’s epic conclusion. However, the question on everyone’s mind remains: will we see more of Loki? Executive producer and director Aaron Moorhead hinted that the future of the character might depend on Hiddleston himself. “We love where we ended it,” Moorhead shared. “We were told to close the book, and we haven’t heard anything different since.”
While the future of Loki in the MCU remains uncertain, one thing is clear — Tom Hiddleston’s portrayal of the trickster god, inspired by cinematic greats like Alan Rickman and James Mason, has become a standout performance in modern film and television. Fans will no doubt continue to hope that Loki’s mischief is far from over.
