Loki won't appear in Thor: Love and Thunder – here's why

Thor: Ragnarok
(Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Loki's Disney Plus series is less than a day away from being released, and fans can't wait to see the God of Mischief get up to his old tricks once more.

While Tom Hiddleston will be reprising his role as Loki in the MCU TV show, though, don't expect him to make a cameo appearance in the next Thor movie when it arrives in May 2022.

Why? Well, according to Hiddleston himself, that chapter in the Norse Gods' lives has ended.

Speaking to Empire Magazine ahead of the launch of Loki (per Digital Spy), Hiddleston was asked if the trickster God would somehow turn up in Thor: Love and Thunder.

"We have explored about as much as we can about these two brothers," Hiddleston said. "We talked about the Thor movies as a family saga, and the diametric opposition between Thor and Loki, and duality and antagonism, being a book that perhaps should remain closed for the moment."

Analysis: Loki could encounter Thor in the MCU in the future

While Hiddleston confirms that Loki won't make a cameo appearance in Thor: Love and Thunder, he doesn't completely rule out a reunion of sorts in the future.

The "remain closed for the moment" part of his answer is key here. If Marvel thought there was an opportunity to bring Thor and Loki back together post-Love and Thunder, there's no reason why they couldn't.

We know that the MCU is turning into the Marvel Cinematic Multiverse (MCM) during Marvel's Phase 4 slate, and that other MCU projects will have crossover events where characters from different universes collide. 

Spider-Man: No Way Home is one such example. The likes of Alfred Molina's Doc Ock and Jamie Foxx's Electro set to reprise their villanous roles in the MCU, even though they've appeared (and died) in Sony's other Spider-Man movie series adaptations.

This sets a precedent for other MCU (or MCM) productions to follow suit, including Loki and Thor's solo adventures.

If the MCU permanently turns into the MCM after No Way Home and Doctor Strange 2, Loki and Thor could theoretically bump into each other again. We don't know if that would occur in another movie or a potential second season for Loki, but it would be fascinating to see nonetheless. 

We imagine Thor wouldn't take too kindly to his brother turning up alive again, while Loki wouldn't be aware of any of the adventures they had been on since 2012's Avengers Assemble.

For now, we'll have to make do with the two Norse Gods making their own way through the MCM. Thor will return in Love and Thunder on May 4, 2022, while Loki season 1 will begin on Wednesday, June 9 exclusively on Disney Plus.

Senior Entertainment Reporter

As TechRadar's senior entertainment reporter, Tom covers all of the latest movies, TV shows, and streaming service news that you need to know about. You'll regularly find him writing about the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, and many other topics of interest.

An NCTJ-accredited journalist, Tom also writes reviews, analytical articles, opinion pieces, and interview-led features on the biggest franchises, actors, directors and other industry leaders. You may see his quotes pop up in the odd official Marvel Studios video, too, such as this Moon Knight TV spot.

Away from work, Tom can be found checking out the latest video games, immersing himself in his favorite sporting pastime of football, reading the many unread books on his shelf, staying fit at the gym, and petting every dog he comes across. Got a scoop, interesting story, or an intriguing angle on the latest news in entertainment? Feel free to drop him a line.

Read more
Red Guardian, Ghost, Bucky Barnes, Yelena Belova, and US agent stand in an elevator in Marvel's Thunderbolts film
Marvel's Thunderbolts movie: release date, trailers, confirmed cast, story synopsis, and more news and rumors
A collage of Iman Vellani's Kamala Khan in Marvels, Robert Downey Jr as Doctor Doom at Comic Con 2024, and Hailee Steinfeld's Kate Bishop in Hawkeye
'We take the comprehensive view': Joe and Anthony Russo drop big hint over Marvel heroes from Disney+ shows appearing in Avengers 5 and 6
Ghost, Yelena, Red Guardian, and John Walker looking shocked at something happening off-camera in Marvel's Thunderbolts movie
Marvel debuts new Thunderbolts* trailer during Super Bowl LIX, and it reveals the MCU movie's main villain who you probably expected to be a good guy
Sam Wilson walks through a dark corridor with Cap's shield in Captain America: Brave New World
When might Captain America: Brave New World be available to stream on Disney Plus?
A collage of Tom Holland in Spider-Man: No Way Home, Robert Downey Jr at San Diego Comic-Con 2024, and Vanessa Kirby in The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Marvel Phase 6: new MCU movies and Disney Plus shows, plus confirmed release dates
Daredevil standing a rooftop at night in Daredevil: Born Again
Marvel Phase 5: every new MCU movie and Disney Plus show that'll be released by mid-2025
Latest in Disney Plus
Diego Luna looks questioningly at the back of someone's head as Cassian Andor in the show Andor
Disney+ is making Andor free to stream on YouTube, and now you have no excuse not to watch the best Star Wars show
Matt Murdock and Kirsten McDuffie standing in a court room in Daredevil: Born Again
Daredevil: Born Again episode 3 contains another Marvel reference to Spider-Man, but it's got nothing to do with Tom Holland's Peter Parker
Hector Ayala sitting on a bed as he wears his White Tiger costume in Daredevil: Born Again season 1
Daredevil: Born Again episode 3's shocking White Tiger moment just set the stage for The Punisher's debut in the Marvel TV show, and I can't wait for it to happen
Mufasa is joined by another lion, a monkey and a bird in this promotional image
Mufasa: The Lion King prowls onto Disney+ as it finally gets a streaming release date
A costumed Matt Murdock smiles at someone off-camera in Netflix's Daredevil TV show
Daredevil: Born Again is Disney+'s biggest series of 2025 so far, but another Marvel TV show has performed even better
Matt Murdock holding a phone to his right ear in a prison in Daredevil: Born Again episode 2
What time is Daredevil: Born Again episode 3 going to be released on Disney+?
Latest in News
NordicTrack Ultra 1
The new NordicTrack Ultra 1 treadmill looks like it was designed by an architect and costs $15,000
An Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070
Nvidia RTX 5080 stock is so barren that retailers are holding competitions where you can "win" the right to buy one for MSRP
Assassin's Creed Shadows
Ubisoft shareholder accuses publisher of 'misleading investors', plans protest outside Paris HQ
Google Gemini AI logo on a smartphone with Google background
I made an AI version of Bilbo Baggins using Goggle Gemini for free, and shared a pipe with him outside Bag End – here’s what you can now do with Gems
Nicole Kidman wears a blue blouse with her arms crossed.
Netflix might be renewing The Perfect Couple and Beauty in Black for season 2, but I don’t get why when it’s canceled shows with poorer ratings
The Russo brothers posing for a photograph and Herman carrying a Volkswagen camper van in The Electric State
'We're optimists': AI enthusiasts Joe and Anthony Russo defend its use in movies and TV shows, but admit there are 'very real dangers' around its application