Tom Hiddleston Confirmed To Be Coming Back As Loki
That was quick. Just two days ago we were discussing the new frontrunners for the role that turns out to be SHIELD Agent Maria Hill, the sidekick for Samuel L. Jackson‘s Nick Fury character in Marvel‘s “The Avengers” film (for a second there we were thinking they’d turn this character into the Wasp). Names included Mary Elizabeth Winstead (”Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World”), “V” star Morena Baccarin (who also starred in ‘Avengers’ director Joss Whedon‘s “Firefly” and the film “Serenity”), Jessica Lucas (”Cloverfield”) and Cobie Smulders.
But it turns out the latter ”How I Met Your Mother” star, Smulders, is in negotiations to take the role after emerging victorious from screen tests that took place this week.
Deadline reports that helmer Joss Whedon has had his eye on Smulders for some time and even considered her for “Wonder Woman” back when the filmmaker was developing that project (one assumes if “The Avengers” goes well, he likely could get another shot at reviving that troubled Amazonian superhero project). The trade also confirms what has been hinted at and rumored for some time now: Tom Hiddleston who plays Loki in “Thor,” will also appear in the film setting him up to play — presumably only — one of the villains in the picture (Loki is the main villain in the Avengers #1 comic, but we assume Marvel will have a few other tricks up their sleeve).
The all-star cast includes Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Chris Hemsworth taking on the role of Thor, Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner/The Hulk, Chris Evans as Captain America, Jeremy Renner playing Hawkeye, Scarlett Johansson returning as Black Widow, Hiddleston as Loki and Clark Gregg returns as the SHIELD agent Phil Coulson (plus Jackson and Smulders). Now a Disney picture, the superhero team-up picture will arrive in theaters May 4, 2012.