Loki: Will Tom Hiddleston Replace Jonathan Majors As MCU Big Bad?

Loki, the Marvel Cinematic Universe series, primarily revolves around the mischievous God of Mischief, portrayed by Tom Hiddleston. While Loki is undoubtedly the central character, the show hints at a more significant narrative that involves several key figures. Surprisingly, there was a point during the development of the Disney+ series when Tom Hiddleston was almost slated to play He Who Remains, rather than Jonathan Majors!

In the previous season finale, it was revealed that the Kang Variant, known as He Who Remains had been concealed in the Citadel at the End of Time within the Void. This marked Jonathan Majors’ first appearance as Kang the Conqueror or a Variant determined to prevent a multiversal war. Fans were captivated by Majors’ intense introduction to the MCU.

Loki Showrunner Wanted Tom Hiddleston To Play He Who Remains

Interestingly, it nearly didn’t happen. Kevin Wright, the executive producer, disclosed to Den of Geek that the concept of having He Who Remains portrayed as a familiar face was under consideration.

“In the writers’ room, all ideas are on the table, and there were conversations about what if Loki was He Who Remains,” Wright said. He then pointed out that although the idea was tossed around, the creative team ultimately decided against it in favor of Jonathan Majors’ multiverse-spanning character.

“Those conversations didn’t get very far; I don’t think it even got to Tom because while there is something fun about that, and there are compelling aspects to it, it makes the universe feel small. So, it was always going to be He Who Remains, always a version of Kang,” Wright said.

The notion of He Who Remains being a Loki Variant could have been a compelling and logical twist, given that the series centers around Loki. In addition to that, it would conveniently leave Jonathan Majors out of the series while providing consistency with Tom Hiddleston playing a new role. On the other hand, the first season offered a remarkable introduction to Jonathan Majors and gave MCU fans a glimpse of what to expect from a multifaceted character like Kang the Conqueror.

Will Loki Season 2 Still Feature Jonathan Majors After Recent Controversies?

Although the concept of He Who Remains as a Loki Variant wasn’t realized, it’s undeniable that Loki Season 2 will feature more Kang Variants. It has been confirmed that Jonathan Majors will reprise his role as Victor Timely, a Variant introduced in Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania. While this new Variant has yet to appear in the second season, there’s a possibility we’ll soon get to meet him.

Marvel Studios/Disney+

While a new Kang Variant is already set to debut in Loki Season 2, people are also wondering about Jonathan Majors’ future in the MCU. Majors’ legal battle is still set to continue and it is possible that Marvel and Disney are hoping that everything will be settled before Majors’ next return into the MCU.

Tom Hiddleston returns as the God of Mischief in Loki Season 2. Episode 3 of the ongoing MCU series doesn’t have an official title as of now, but it is already scheduled to debut on Disney+ on October 19, 2023.