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Moviefone As we all know, CBM's are often a vehicle that can rocket little known actors to instant fame and success. Granted, most of these actors and actresses are very, very talented and have a "pseudo" cult following long before they star in these blockbuster, tent-pole franchises; it's with unequivocal doubt that I say comic book movies are a tool that many actors use to achieve that mega level of fame and status. Look no further than the likes of Christian Bale, sure he was fairly well known before Batman Begins but it was the role of Bruce Wayne that propelled him to his current height of super-stardom. And more recently, we have the likes of Michael Fassbender, Chris Hemsworth, and Chloe Moretz who are now all cashing in on stellar performances in comic book films and using that momentum to land movie roles they may have otherwise never landed. This phenomenon has been described by many an actor as 'A one for them [big tentpole popcorn flicks for the studio] and then one for me [small indy films that interest the actor]'. Tom Hiddleston is also another actor who can attribute his recent rise to super-stardom to a role in a comic book movie, as he received rave reviews for his performance in Thor as the villainous Loki, which he'll reprise in next years Avengers and has dropped hints that he may show up in Thor 2. In an recent interview with Mike Rayn of
Moviefone to promote his latest film, War Horse, Hiddleston discussed a number of topics including "super hero" fatigue, which director he'd like to work with again between
Kenneth Branagh,
Woody Allen or
Steven Spielberg and his popularity with the comic book community.
Mike Ryan: OK, I'm putting you on the spot: You can only do one more movie and you have to pick between Kenneth Branagh, Woody Allen or Steven Spielberg. Who do you pick? Tom Hiddleston: Oh my God.
Mike Ryan: And you're not saying, "This is the best guy"; it's just more who you would like to have another experience with. Tom Hiddleston: Do I have to pick one?
Mike Ryan: Yes. Tom Hiddleston: I have to?
Mike Ryan: Yes. Tom Hiddleston: Oh, gosh. [Long pause] They're all great. They truly were. This is like a terrible, tough question. I don't know if I can pick because they all taught me such different things. And I really feel like each of them...
Mike Ryan: What did Woody Allen teach you? Tom Hiddleston: Woody Allen taught me that the magic happens if you show up. Half the job is showing up, in a way. Because he works so quickly and so fast that there's no time for over-thinking it, really. You just do a couple of takes and move on. But there's a magic that happens in the chemistry of it, I guess, that I perhaps didn't trust before I met him.
Mike Ryan: I find it interesting you're taking on Henry V, considering your relationship with Branagh. [*Note Branagh is also a fabulous, classicly trained actor who has also portrayed Henry V]
Tom Hiddleston: [Laughs] I have his blessing. Let me go back to your last question, I suppose I would love to work with Steven [Spielberg] again.
Mike Ryan: Why? Tom Hiddleston: Just because he's the master. I honestly think he's ... it's hard to put into words. The thing is, I would have forgiven him grandeur. It's very strange when you meet someone who's essentially the architect of your childhood imagination. I grew up watching his films: 'E.T.,' 'Jaws,' 'Raiders of the Lost Ark,' 'Close Encounters,' 'Jurassic Park, 'Schindler's List,' 'Saving Private Ryan.' And I couldn't believe I was allowed to spend time, not just in his company, but collaborating with him, creatively, on a motion picture. And, secondarily, how kind he was. He's the kindest, sweetest, most humble man I've ever met in this business. Still passionate, still nervous, still gets excited like a child on set. And then, thirdly, he's so unbelievably good at his job. And it's not just celebrity, and it's not just the accruing of credits -- he's basically an extraordinary craftsman. His ability to see a shot, to see something on a set ... amazing.
As for Henry V, I'm hoping that Ken has hopes that I'm not trying to knock him of his Shakespearean perch. If I love Shakespeare, he's part of the reason I love it. And I think Shakespeare is like an Olympic torch that you have to pass on from generation to generation.
Mike Ryan: So, I saw the tail end of you signing that 'Avengers' poster when I walked in. Is that aspect of it getting old? Tom Hiddleston: Nah, man.
Mike Ryan: Chris Evans didn't seem to have the best of times on 'Captain America,' though he did enjoy 'The Avengers.' But I kind of got the sense that he was kind of over that aspect of it. [*Note: I have to agree with Mike here, while Chris seemed to enjoy filming, he definitely did not seem to enjoy all the attention and promotion events]
Tom Hiddleston: Really? [Laughs] I think it's great, man. I think it's a high-class problem, you know.
Mike Ryan: That's true. You don't want to be that asshole. Tom Hiddleston: Yeah! "Oh, there's so many people who really appreciate the work that I've done. Ooooh nooo." Yeah, I've been in the opposite situation where you've worked really hard on something and nobody wants your signature and nobody wants a poster of you. So, yeah, I should be so lucky.
Mike Ryan: Were you the rabble-rouser on 'The Avengers' set? Tom Hiddleston: Was I? I don't know?
Mike Ryan: I think you were. Tom Hiddleston: Maybe I was. Yeah. I'm a mischievous prankster. Mind you, all of the Avengers are. I said this at New York Comic-Con a couple of weeks ago...
Mike Ryan: I was there. You were very popular with the audience.Considering your history together, do you wish that Kenneth Branagh had come back for the second 'Thor' movie? Tom Hiddleston: You know, initially, I was mad that he wasn't coming back. But, initially, when I had heard that he had chosen not to come, I was very sad because I'm so proud his achievements in directing that film. But, then, I understand why. He's very busy and he's got other things that he wants to do as an artist. As a director and as an actor.
And Marvel is so clever. They know their own metal. They know how to do the comic book stuff. Car explosions and all the CGI and stuff, but they need someone who has a really great handle on story and actors and the muscularity of performance.
Mike Ryan: And I assume he told you first before it was in the press. Tom Hiddleston: Yeah, he did. He called and said, "This has nothing to do with you or Chris or anyone at Marvel, I love them. I had a great time." But there's just other things that he wants to do.
Thomas William "Tom" Hiddleston (born 9 February 1981) is an English actor. He is perhaps best known for playing Loki in the 2011 Marvel Studios film Thor.
His TV credits include Magnus Martinsson in the BBC detective drama Wallander, Bill Hazledine in Suburban Shootout, John Plumptre in the BBC costume drama TV film Miss Austen Regrets and William Buxton in the Christmas edition of BBC costume drama series Cranford.
He portrayed Loki in the 2011 Marvel Studios feature film Thor directed by Kenneth Branagh, whom he has worked with before on Ivanov and Wallander. He also auditioned and screen-tested for the role of Thor (even going on a strict diet and gaining fifty pounds in muscle) but Branagh decided he was more suitable for the role of Loki, Thor's adopted brother.
In 2011, he portrayed F. Scott Fitzgerald in Midnight in Paris, written and directed by Woody Allen, and is set to appear in War Horse, a film based on the 1982 novel by Michael Morpurgo, and directed by Steven Spielberg. and is also due to star in upcoming movie The Deep Blue Sea, based on the 1952 play by Terence Rattigan, alongside Rachel Weisz and Simon Russell Beale. He will reprise his role as Loki in The Avengers, to be released 4 May 2012 in 3-D. On May 13, it was announced that Hiddleston would star in Henry V as the title character, in a BBC film version of the play by William Shakespeare.
Along with a successful acting career Hiddleston has also narrated the audio book for The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner.