“It was painted with broad strokes,” he says.
Hiddleston did play President Loki, a fact they used to mislead people in the show’s trailers.
“When in fact it’s the story of him becoming a hero.
Tom Hiddleston, center, as Loki variant President Loki.Marvel Studios
We knew that in the script our Lokis had to get out of there and escape.
Waldron and Herron break down some of the fight’s most memorable moments below.
“Alligator Loki was something that was in there that could have been so stupid,” he says.
Alligator Loki in ‘Loki’.Marvel Studios
“It could have been thrown away because it didn’t feel valid.
They really take it seriously that there is an alligator there and that’s why it’s fun.”
“It became funnier the more it just felt like a real alligator,” she reflects.
Tom Hiddleston in ‘Loki’.Marvel Studios
“But he let out this wild scream when he caught it.
Everyone was trying not to laugh.
I could never have predicted he would do that, but it was perfect.”
Richard E. Grant as Classic Loki in ‘Loki’.Chuck Zlotnick/Marvel Studios
Though other aspects of the alligator did require some tweaking.
Namely, the level of damage he would do to President Loki’s hand.
“I was like, ‘I don’t think we can do that.’
Boastful Loki (DeObia Oparei), Kid Loki (Jack Veal), Classic Loki (Richard E. Grant), and Alligator Loki in ‘Loki’.Marvel Studios
Hiddleston would act opposite a body double, with Herron reading lines off-camera.
Adds Waldron: “It’s incredibly complex stuff to be doing on a television schedule.”
“Credit to Tom, how good an actor he is reacting to that,” notes Herron.
Tom Hiddleston in ‘Loki’.Marvel Studios
“Basically it’s a mixture of doubles.
That was essential to set up his powers for the show’s climax.
But it was a tricky dance, figuring out just where to employ that aspect of Loki’s power.
“She had a lot of fun building the horns,” says Herron.
“Maybe some of them had to rebuild them in the void and how did they fight with them?
You give the roadmap to your stunt coordinator and designers and build it with them.”
He’s not afraid to scrap it up.
So, it’s cool to show that side of all these Lokis fighting.”
“We were painting out wires and things like that.
It was [that kind] of effects work than anything bigger.”
“With the jumping through the fight, Loki wants to get out of there.
He’s got a very clear mission.
That movement, Tom did that in rehearsal, and I found it very funny.
It felt emotionally true.”
That emotional truth was a guiding principle for both Waldron and Herron.
“This is what Loki’s actually going through.
