The first season of Marvel’s “Loki,” starring Tom Hiddleston, took fans on a whirlwind of unexpected twists and revelations, culminating in a finale that significantly altered the course of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). However, recent insights from the show’s creators have revealed that the series was initially poised to conclude quite differently.
In an interview, Loki writer Michael Waldron disclosed the existence of multiple versions of the finale’s ending. The chosen conclusion ultimately set the stage for subsequent MCU Phase 4 events, including major films like “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” This ending sees a major fallout between Loki and Sylvie, leading to Loki being sent back to a drastically altered Time Variance Authority (TVA), now under the control of Kang the Conqueror. This twist leaves Mobius with no memory of Loki, signifying a profound shift in the series’ reality.
An Alternate Reality: Loki’s Happy Ending That Never Was
The alternate ending, as revealed in “Marvel’s Loki: The Art of the Series,” painted a different picture. Concept Illustrator Wesley Burt detailed a more uplifting sendoff for Loki, where the character, having undergone significant growth and change, would embark on solo adventures in a different realm. This ending was symbolized by a change in Loki’s attire, with designs incorporating elements of the TVA uniform and reflecting various iterations of Loki from the comics, including versions resembling an “enlightened, yoga-practicing” character and a “swashbuckler”.
This alternate conclusion would have steered clear of the dramatic introduction of Kang the Conqueror and the subsequent upheaval in the TVA, offering a more isolated and character-centric ending for Loki. The revelation of this scrapped ending suggests that Marvel Studios may not have initially planned to extend the series with additional seasons. It raises questions about the character’s future and whether this ending would have meant the conclusion of Loki’s journey or just the Disney+ series.
In summary, “Loki” was envisioned to end in starkly different ways, each with its implications for the character and the broader MCU narrative. The chosen path led to a more interconnected and dynamic MCU, setting up significant future storylines, while the alternate ending offered a more self-contained and possibly more optimistic conclusion for Loki’s character arc.
