Thor andLoki, portrayed by Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston respectively, are two of the most-loved and iconic characters of the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. This is something that has once again become apparent with their on-screen reunion in the latest episode of Marvel’sWhat If…?has seen fans calling for the pair to come together again in live-action in the near future.
The latest episode ofWhat If…?doesn’t just feature the return of Thor and Loki, but also Cate Blanchett as Hela, and Wanda Maximoff aka Scarlet Witch, voiced once more by Elisabeth Olsen. Just like Loki, Wanda is believed to have perished in the main Marvel timeline, but the multiverse could very well play a part in her return just like Loki – at least that is what her fans are hoping. In the meantime, the episode, entitled“What If… The Avengers Assembled in 1602?” it isthe reunion of Loki and Thorthat has seen the brothers trending among fans on social media.
Hemsworth’s Thor was introduced as the heir to Asgard’s throne in the Kenneth Branagh-directedThorin 2011. His initial arrogance and recklessness lead to his banishment to Earth, setting him off on a journey of self-discovery without his godly powers. Over four solo movies and several Avengers ensembles, the character has suffered loss many times, including the assumed death of his brother Loki on numerous occasions. Despite his popularity, his latest appearance inThor: Love & Thunderwas heavily criticized for turning Thor into a joke character.
Thor: Love and Thunder
The sequel to Thor: Ragnarok and the fourth movie in the Thor saga. Directed by Taika Waitit. The cast includes Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Christian Bale, Chris Pratt, and Karen Gillan.
Loki has had an entirely different journey since his first appearance in 2011. As the adopted brother of Thor, and the second son of Odin, he is usually out for his own gain – even when he appears to be doing it with good intentions. Across his complex, multiverse-spanning story, Loki has played the villain, the hero, the anti-hero, and, in his final scenes inLokiseason two, the lynch pin holding the entire multiverse together. Not bad for someone who spent much of the firstAvengersmovie attempting to undo Marvel’s Mightiest Heroes.
The relationship between Thor and Loki is one of the most compelling in the MCU. It is defined by a mix of brotherly love, intense rivalry, and a joyful-to-watch chemistry between Hemsworth and Hiddleston. However, it is now five years since the pair parted ways, with Thor believing his brother to be dead at the hands of Thanos, unaware that, thanks to the events ofAvengers: Endgame, a variant of the ever-resourceful Loki managed to slip between the layers of reality and carry on his adventures outside the main MCU timeline.
Related:Loki: The Biggest Differences Between the God of Mischief in the Comics and the MCU
Can Loki and Thor Expect a Reunion in the MCU?
Chris Hemsworth’s Thor and Tom Hiddleston’s Loki dressed in street clothes in New York in Thor: Ragnarok
When Loki met his maker in the opening scene ofAvengers: Infinity War, it appeared that the god of mischief had finally run out of luck. However, three years later Tom Hiddleston reprised his role in his own Disney+ series, which followed Loki to the TVA, a group seemingly set up to ensure the linear nature of the MCU’s “Sacred Timeline”, but which ultimately turned out to be the brainchild of He Who Remains aka Kang the Conqueror.
The last two years have seen Thor appear in his fourth solo movie, and Loki continue his story in season two of his hugely popular Disney+ series, but will the pair ever appear on-screen together again in a live-action movie? Fans really hope so, as does Hiddleston. In a recent interview withComicbook.comfollowing Loki’s finale, the actor said on the matter:
“I think both Thor and Loki have had to excavate and analyze the past and who they feel they really are and what they really want. But what’s interesting about family as well, this is just me thinking about it, is sometimes it will be difficult to let go of the preconception of who they used to be. Loki might be expecting Thor to behave in a certain way or be a certain way. Thor might be expecting Loki to be a certain way. So I think initially it would be really confusing, but also they’d been apart for a long time and no doubt they’ve been objects in each other’s mind. And so yeah, I think I wonder a reunion would likely be, we’ll see.”
Although it would seem almost certain that Marvel Studios will be revisiting Loki when the Multiverse Saga reaches its conclusion inAvengers: Secret Wars, whether this will also lead to an emotional, fan-pleasing reunion between Loki and Thor is something fans will have to speculate on a little longer, as the Phase 6 movie was recently delayed to May 2027.
