Loki Writer Says MCU Character Being Genderfluid Was Never Up For Debate

Loki head writer, Michael Waldron, says that the titular character’s genderfluidity was never up for debate. A god in Norse mythology, Loki is commonly considered to be male, but he is probably best described as genderfluid. Considering his shapeshifting abilities, several legends see Loki take on the female form for various different reasons. In one tale, Loki disguises himself as one of Thor’s handmaiden in order to steal Mjöllnir. However, other legends see Loki remaining a woman for several years.

Marvel’s comics recognize this aspect of the character from Norse mythology, as numerous storylines see Loki transformed into a woman. In a 2008 issue of Thor, the God of Mischief embodies Lady Sif for some time after the destruction of Asgard. Days before Tom Hiddleston’s solo series premiered, a promotional spot showed a glimpse of Loki’s TVA file, confirming that the MCU’s version of the character is genderfluid. This was developed further at the end of the second episode, as the alleged evil variant was revealed to be Lady Loki (Sophia Di Martinos).

Now, Loki’s head writer Michael Waldron is opening up about the character’s genderfluidity. In an interview with Collider’s Steve Weintraub, Waldron was asked about the video that seemingly confirmed an age-old Marvel theory that Loki is genderfluid. Waldron confirmed this is canonical and says that Loki’s genderfluidity was never up for debate in the writer’s room. Read what Waldron said below:

I think that’s canon for this character going back to Norse mythology and everything. That’s an important part of who this character is and certainly who he represents to such a large part of the fanbase and everything, so never a debate on that at all.

Marvel Studios Head, Kevin Feige, has previously expressed a desire to diversify the MCU, but Waldron revealing Loki to be genderfluid does seem to be because of some order from above. Loki’s genderfluidity has been established for thousands of years in mythology and lore, and the show’s decision to include it is a direct reference to that.

Loki’s fluid identity was also confirmed in the comics in a 2014 issue of the Avengers storyline, Original Sin, so it’s no surprise Waldron and his team of writers decided to include this aspect of the character in his Disney+ series. Previously, it was believed that Loki only shapeshifted as a woman for the purposes of a disguise, but at this point in the comics, it was clarified that this was a gender expression. It will be interesting to see how this aspect of the character is explored in future episodes of Loki.

Loki releases new episodes every Wednesday on Disney+.

Source: Collider

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Adam Bentz
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Adam Bentz is a movie and TV news writer for Screen Rant. From a young age, Adam has been interested in a wide range of movies and television, but it was talented auteurs like Quentin Tarantino, Paul Thomas Anderson, and Aaron Sorkin who ultimately sparked his interest in the craft. Motivated by his love for the screen, Adam studied creative writing with a concentration in screenwriting at Southern New Hampshire University.

After graduating, Adam interned as a writer with The Borgen Project, a nonprofit organization working to end extreme poverty. Other than writing for Screen Rant, Adam reviews films on his website adambentz.wordpress.com

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