While we're only halfway through The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, the hype for Marvel Studios' next Disney+ series, Loki, is already starting to build. A new trailer was released yesterday, and that dropped plenty of fresh hints about what we can expect from the God of Mischief's MCU return.
Now, we're taking a closer look at those big reveals and all the key moments in this sneak peek.
It's clear that Loki is going to be unlike anything else we've seen from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (well, since WandaVision, at least), and it promises to take us on a crazy trip through the Multiverse...which could have major consequences for this shared world over the years to come.
So, to take a look through this breakdown, all you guys need to do is click on the "Next" button!
10. The MCU Has At Least Thirteen Alternate Timelines
We're still not entirely sure how the Marvel Cinematic Universe's version of the Multiverse works, but Avengers: Endgame did a decent job of explaining the consequence of time travel on that.
By removing the Mind Stone from the timeline, it would create a new, divergent timeline, but putting it back at the exact moment it was taken...well, that would fix things. Chances are Loki will eventually have to return to his rightful place in 2012, but the TVA needs his help in setting things right, and based on what we see here, that includes fixing the creation of thirteen different realities.
It appears the God of Mischief's escape with the Tessaract created those, but can they actually be repaired? Loki could be the start of the Multiverse we'll be taking a deep dive into in the Doctor Strange sequel, and both this and previous trailers have pointed to weird alternate timelines.
9. Hiding In Plain Sight
As Loki is led through the TVA Headquarters, we see a Skrull as plain as day among the other Time-Keepers.
It's hard to say whether he's also been captured by them or is one of their operatives, but this is an interesting decision, especially after WandaVision's post-credits scene and the plans we know Marvel Studios has for the shape-shifters in Captain Marvel 2 and Disney+'s Secret Invasion series.
Not everyone who works for the TVA has to be humanoid in appearance, so we're willing to bet that this Skrull is working with them...unless, of course, he's been plucked out of the timeline for impersonating someone he shouldn't? That would be a pretty cool way of teasing what's to come in the MCU.
8. Loki's Escape Doesn't Last Long
In Avengers: Endgame, the present-day version of Earth's Mightiest Heroes travelled back in time and inadvertently helped Loki escape with the Tesseract when he should have been taken back to Asgard with Thor. His disappearance would change a lot, including the events of Thor: The Dark World and Thor: Ragnarok (plus, would Thanos have been able to track it down now?).
The first teaser for Loki hinted that the God of Mischief ends up in the desert, but this trailer makes it clear he's not on the run for long as he can be seen wearing his costume from The Avengers here.
Interestingly, while Owen Wilson's Mobius M. Mobius clearly needs Loki's help to repair the damage he's done (it seems like he's spent his career tasked with watching over the villain), there's no mention of the Tesseract. Has it gone missing? We have a theory on that which we'll get to later.
7. What Is A "Variant" Anyway?
Comic book fans will know that a "variant" is a name for a comic book with a different cover. However, it's also what this Loki is described as after originating from one of those branching timelines.
The Thanos who travelled to the present day from 2014 was likely another variant but defeated by the Avengers before the TVA could intervene (him being wiped from reality likely caused some issues too because that 2014 timeline no longer has a Thanos and Gamora is also a very much alive "variant").
So, this Loki has been dubbed a "variant" too, but that surely means there are others, right? Something tells us we'll definitely end up seeing multiple versions of the God of Mischief in the series.
6. Is That Black Widow?
This familiar shot - it was also in Loki's teaser trailer - seemingly shows Black Widow on Vormir. The God of Mischief had a memorable exchange with Natasha Romanoff in The Avengers, so this series could certainly touch on that. However, this scene doesn't exactly match what we saw in Endgame...unless it's a timeline where Hawkeye took the leap instead of his fellow Avenger.
However, we're confident this is a misdirect as that actually looks a lot like Sophia Di Martino to us!
Whether she's Lady Loki or Enchantress, it would make sense for Hiddleston's Loki to match wits with her. As for what she's up to, perhaps she hopes to get her hands on the Infinity Stones which have been left unprotected in the timeline which no longer has a Thanos in it? That's one idea, anyway.
5. A Mysterious Hooded Figure
Again, this isn't the first time we've seen this hooded figure, but they see a little more action here.
It's clear now that whatever they're up to will see them squaring off with the TVA's Time-Keepers, and we're pretty sure this isn't Loki (it could, however, be Lady Loki). While we all know the danger of getting excited about surprises that may never come after WandaVision, it feels like this could be this mystery character whose identity could be teased throughout the early episodes.
So, while our theory is Lady Loki, here's a crazy alternate idea for you: Gamora. Sure, we're expecting James Gunn to pick up with her in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, but she is a "variant."
4. Loki On The Throne Of Asgard
Loki has been through a lot since first trying to conquer the Earth, and that ultimately led to him making a heroic sacrifice when he died at the hands of Thanos in Avengers: Endgame. This God of Mischief hasn't been through any of that, though, and is likely still more villain than an anti-hero.
In 2012, Loki still wanted to sit on the throne of Asgard (he eventually did), and it looks like he achieves his goal here; what we don't know is whether this is the show's titular Loki or another "variant."
Either way, we know that ruling over his father's kingdom didn't really make Loki happy, so the God of Mischief might be surprised by what it feels like to achieve this goal. Whether this has anything to do with the whole "President Loki" thing we see remains to be seen, but perhaps that version rules over an Earth in which he and Thanos successfully conquered the planet?
3. Judge Renslayer
Gugu Mbatha-Raw is playing Judge Renslayer in Loki, and if you're familiar with the comic books, then you'll likely know that's a character with some strong ties to Kang the Conqueror.
That villain is set to be introduced in Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, and seeing as Renslayer was a love interest of his in the comic books, the groundwork for that could be laid here. Many fans are convinced that Jonathan Majors' Kang was once a member of the TVA, so perhaps he'll show up here?
Time travel is a weird thing, and Kang is a character who has multiple personas from different periods in history (he was Iron Lad once upon a time, for example). Either way, Renslayer's role here can't be a coincidence, and Kang's presence is bound to be felt in some way, shape, or form here.
2. Avengers Tower And Roxxon
Loki cares more about Asgard than Earth, but it looks like he may be tasked with saving the planet.
In this desolate timeline, New York City has been completely decimated, and the remains of Avengers Tower can be seen in this distance. Something major happened here, and given the state of the Big Apple, we wouldn't be surprised if the God of Mischief has travelled into the distant future here.
Also of note is another nod to Roxxon. We're not sure what the shady energy company has to do with a supermarket chain, but Roxxcart is clearly a play on Wall-Mart or Target. This feels like it must be a tease of something much bigger, and they could quite easily be a big bad in the series.
1. A Trip Through Time
The first piece of concept art for Loki (which still hasn't been officially released) showed the God of Mischief in what appeared to be 1970s New York City. However, it looks a lot like the villain will be heading even further back in time in his Disney+ series based on this moment, in particular.
As Mobius watches on, Loki channels his inner Tony Stark and poses as an explosion behind him closes in (which is similar to what we saw from him during the opening of 2008's Iron Man).
Look closely, though, and we're sure you'll agree this looks a lot like Pompeii; what is Loki doing there? Well, he could be trying to ditch Mobius, and attempting to leave him encased in volcanic ash is a pretty good way of doing so. Expect to visit more key events from history throughout the series.