Who Is The [SPOILER] Variant? Marvel Show Villain Explained

The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase 4 continues with the debut of Loki on Disney+, but who is the evil Loki variant? After stealing the Tesseract during the Avengers’ time heist in Avengers: Endgame, the 2012 version of the trickster god quickly teleported away. However, he was caught by the Time Variance Authority, a bureaucratic agency tasked with protecting the Sacred Timeline from harm. The big twist came at the end of Loki’s premiere, with the introduction of a unique villain yet to be introduced in the MCU. 

Working alongside Agent Mobius, Loki was recruited to help the TVA catch another variant, someone who risks endangering the Sacred Timeline. As it turns out, the variant is none other than an alternate version of Loki, who also broke free from the primary timeline of events and has been popping up at random points in history. It was a twist the God of Mischief himself didn’t see coming, but if there’s anyone who probably knows this variant best, it’s him. 

While the evil Loki variant remains hidden behind an emerald cloak and hood for now, there are a couple of options regarding the identity of Loki’s villain and how it factors into the future of the trickster god.  

Is Tom Hiddleston Playing Multiple Lokis?

With another Loki variant confirmed to be a part of the Disney+ series, it’s possible that Tom Hiddleston will work his magic on more than one version of his character. Technically, the actor has already gone back to playing an a previous version of Loki, so it stands to reason that he could come face-to-face with himself when the variant’s hood comes down. However, with the multiverse eventually being introduced in the MCU and Loki introducing an agency tasked with protecting the timeline, it would make more sense for the variant Loki (and every other version of the character) to be played by other actors. There’s already been plenty of speculation surrounding Richard E. Grant’s undisclosed role, with fans believing that he is playing an older version of Hiddleston’s God of Mischief. While it would be fun to watch the actor face off against himself, it would be far more interesting if he squared off with others playing various alternate takes on Loki rather than the one with the same face fans are used to. 

Is Lady Loki The Variant?

In the comics, Lady Loki is one of the most notable of Loki’s forms and whose gender fluidity has become a crucial aspect of the character’s canon. The character takes some of its influence from the Norse mythology surrounding the trickster god, who prominently featured as an elder woman. In Loki, the reveal that the variant the TVA was hunting was none other than another version of the God of Mischief was surprising. While it has yet to be confirmed whether or not Lady Loki is the variant the TVA is after, photos from the set of Loki revealed that she will at least be a part of the Disney+ series.

The images suggested that actress Sophia Di Martino’s role wasn’t merely that of a shape-shifting Loki, but a distinct version of the character who somehow exists apart from the MCU version fans have come to know. This revelation could potentially alter Loki’s future, as well as the timeline itself. With all that in mind, it’s possible the variant in the show is Lady Loki, who has had a longstanding history in the comics and who would be a great addition to MCU canon. With the series continuing on with the timeline-hopping story that began in Avengers: Endgame, it makes sense that the primary villain of the show would turn out to be alternate Loki, the one person who could outsmart both prime Loki and the TVA at once. What’s unclear is where in the timeline the Loki variant originally hailed from or during what period she potentially escaped.

Loki has so far established the Sacred Timeline as being the only timeline, but it wasn’t always this way, with several timelines chaotically existing at the same time in the past. In the comic Thor & Loki: Double Trouble #3, Lady Loki has a device that allows her to travel between dimensions and the same could be the case in the show. It’s not dissimilar to how Loki’s use of the Tesseract teleported him to another location and it would go a long way to explain how the new variant is moving through time and place. There are a lot of moving parts in the series and it’s hard to gauge exactly what the potential Lady Loki might be after. Is it the destruction of the Sacred Timeline? Is the plan to simply unleash pure chaos in time? Whatever the variant’s endgame is, it will hopefully be revealed sooner rather than later.     

Lady Loki’s Powers In Marvel Comics

During the events of Ragnarok in the comics, Loki is reborn as Lady Loki and there’s never any doubt that this version of the character and the previous version are one and the same. Therefore, Lady Loki possesses the exact same powers — shapeshifting, levitating, creating illusions, teleportation, and sorcery, among other abilities. Lady Loki also shares similar characteristics as Hiddleston’s Loki as she’s incredibly mischievous and deceitful, constantly and cleverly executing manipulative schemes to achieve her goal. Like the MCU’s OG Loki, Lady Loki is neither a straightforward villain or hero, often shifting between one or the other depending on the story and circumstances. 

What Other Variants Could Appear In Loki?

There are several different versions of Loki in the comics, so it’s not far-fetched to think there are other variants of the trickster god running amok throughout the series. In addition to Lady Loki, the Disney+ series could introduce Old Loki, who is speculated to be the aforementioned Grant; Kid Loki, a reborn iteration of the God of Mischief who was once a member of the Young Avengers; Ikol, an echo of the original Loki; King Loki; and President Loki. The amount of Lokis existing in the comics are plentiful and it stands to reason they could all appear in a show about, well, Loki. 

Considering Loki has already begun its exploration of the trickster god’s interiority and the history of his actions in the MCU, it seems possible that the Marvel series could introduce a plethora of variants, all distinguishable from Loki’s prime form, to delve further into his character’s psyche. Whether other variants will appear in the remaining episodes of Loki is unclear, but there are certainly plenty of versions and inspiration that can be drawn from the comics. The series has already laid the groundwork with the introduction of yet another Loki, which paves the way for even more variants of the fan favorite Asgardian to appear in the future.

Loki releases new episodes every Wednesday on Disney+.

About The Author

Mae Abdulbaki
(1080 Articles Published)

Mae Abdulbaki is a movie reviews editor with Screen Rant. She previously wrote about a variety of movies and TV shows for Inverse, CinemaBlend, Pajiba, and The Young Folks, where she wrote reviews, features, news pieces. Her other work can be found at The Mary Sue, Film School Rejects, UPROXX, Heroic Hollywood, Looper, The List, and Bam Smack Pow, among others. Mae has also appeared on television segments, podcasts, and panels to discuss all things entertainment.

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