It’s actually kinda wild when you think about it. Back in 2009, nobody knew who Chris Hemsworth or Tom Hiddleston were. They were just two tall guys auditioning for a comic book movie directed by Kenneth Branagh. But here we are in 2026, and the relationship between Loki and Thor is basically the emotional spine of the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Honestly? It almost didn't happen this way.
The Audition That Changed Everything
You’ve probably seen the grainy footage. Tom Hiddleston, sporting long blonde hair and a much bulkier frame than we’re used to, swinging a replica of Mjölnir. He didn’t walk into that room wanting to play the God of Mischief. He wanted to be the lead. He wanted to be Thor.
Tom went on a strict diet, hit the gym, and tried to embody the "God of Thunder" energy. But Marvel saw something else. Kevin Feige and Kenneth Branagh noticed a specific kind of vulnerability in his performance. Branagh, who had worked with Tom on the BBC series Wallander, knew he had the Shakespearian chops to pull off a complex villain.
So they gave him the consolation prize.
✨ Don't miss: When Does Vanderpump Rules New Season Start: The Surprising Reality of the Season 12 Reboot
"I got a call at 5:00 p.m. UK time," Tom once recalled. It was Branagh and Feige on the phone together. They offered him Loki. He sat on the sidewalk for a long time just trying to process it. Imagine if he’d actually gotten the part of Thor—we would’ve lost one of the greatest redemptive arcs in cinema history.
Why Their "Brotherhood" Feels So Real
The chemistry between Loki, Tom Hiddleston, and Thor isn't just movie magic. It’s rooted in the fact that these two actors grew up together in the industry. When they started, they were "relative nobodies" as some critics put it at the time. They were in the trenches together, navigating the sudden, overwhelming pressure of a massive franchise.
In the first Thor movie, the stakes were surprisingly intimate. It wasn't about saving the world; it was about a father and two sons. Anthony Hopkins, who played Odin, famously said he signed on because the family dynamic intrigued him.
Loki wasn't just a bad guy. He was a hurt kid.
- Thor's journey: From arrogance to humility.
- Loki's journey: From innocence to jealousy.
That jealousy felt earned. In Thor (2011), Loki finds out he’s not even Asgardian. He’s a Frost Giant "relic" taken from a battlefield. That revelation is what breaks him. Most villains want power for the sake of it, but Loki just wanted to be Thor’s equal. He wanted his dad to look at him the way he looked at the golden child.
The Evolution of the Trickster
By the time we got to Thor: The Dark World, Loki was so popular that they had to rewrite the script. Originally, he wasn't even supposed to be in it much. But fans couldn't get enough. That's where we started seeing the "Get Help" dynamic—the playful, bickering energy that made Thor: Ragnarok such a massive hit.
Director Taika Waititi leaned into the comedy, but he didn't lose the heart. That elevator scene in Ragnarok where they talk about their lives? That’s peak character writing. Thor finally admits he thought they’d be fighting side-by-side forever. It’s the moment Loki realizes that his brother actually loves him, despite all the stabbing.
Then Infinity War happened.
Watching Loki die at the hands of Thanos while Thor watched, helpless, felt like the end. It was supposed to be the end. Even Tom Hiddleston thought his journey was over. But the MCU loves a loophole.
The 2026 Reunion: What’s Actually Happening?
If you’ve been keeping up with the news lately, you know that the "big Loki problem" is finally being addressed. Since the finale of Loki Season 2, our favorite trickster has been sitting at the center of time, literally holding the multiverse together as the God of Stories. He’s the most powerful being in the MCU, but he’s also the loneliest.
Thor has no idea.
In Thor: Love and Thunder, we saw a Thor who had moved on, raising Gorr’s daughter and finding a new purpose. But the shadow of his brother is always there. The big reveal for 2026 is that Tom Hiddleston and Chris Hemsworth are officially reunited for Avengers: Doomsday.
This isn't just a cameo. The word on the street is that their meeting will be the emotional climax of the film. But here’s the kicker: the Loki currently in the MCU isn't the one who died in Infinity War. He’s a variant. He hasn't lived through the events of The Dark World or Ragnarok with Thor.
Thor will be looking at a brother who doesn't share his memories.
How to Navigate the New Lore
If you're trying to keep the timelines straight, it's easy to get lost. Basically, the Loki we have now is the one who escaped with the Tesseract in Endgame. He’s grown through two seasons of television, learned about the TVA, and sacrificed his freedom to save every single timeline.
He’s not the villain who attacked New York anymore. He’s a protector.
To really appreciate where the story is going in Avengers: Doomsday, you should:
💡 You might also like: Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken: Why This Game of Thrones Episode Changed Everything
- Rewatch the first Thor (2011): Pay attention to the "I could have done it, Father!" scene. It mirrors the ending of Loki Season 2 perfectly.
- Focus on the "God of Stories" transition: In the comics, this is a major title. It means Loki isn't defined by his past lies but by the stories he chooses to tell now.
- Look for the Yggdrasil imagery: When Loki takes the throne at the end of his series, he shapes the timelines into a tree. This is the same tree Thor described to Jane Foster in the very first movie.
The symmetry is incredible. We’ve gone from two brothers fighting over a hammer to one brother literally holding the universe together so the other can live. It’s a long way from a "grisly pub" in North London where Tom Hiddleston first found out he got the part.
What most people get wrong is thinking Loki is just a "cool villain." He's a study in identity. Whether he’s a prince, a prisoner, or the literal anchor of reality, the one constant is his tie to Thor. 2026 is going to be a massive year for Asgardians. Stick around, because the story isn't over yet.