We've only seen two episodes of Loki, but it's a series that has already taken us to some pretty crazy places. Following last Wednesday's cliffhanger ending, something tells us the best is yet to come, and it seems inevitable that we'll meet more "Variants" in future instalments.
With that in mind, we're now taking a look at the alternate versions of the God of Mischief we think could appear in Loki (five of them, to be precise). There are some compelling reasons to believe they might show up, and we've thought of some ways they could factor into this story.
In addition, we have some suggestions for a few different takes on Thor who will potentially join Loki, especially if the villain is about to take a trip through the Multiverse.
Some possible spoilers do follow, but you check out this feature by hitting the "Next" button below!
8. Hulk Loki
This beefed-up version of Loki doesn't have much in the way of comic book history, but it would definitely be a lot of fun to see a God of Mischief who has more brawn than brains.
After all, Loki prides himself on being smarter than, well, everyone, so a Variant who just smashes things would be quite the departure. In a way, it would almost be a little tragic to see what could have happened to turn Loki into a hulking brute, especially if he's being controlled or manipulated by a much smarter Variant (we'll get to that possibility soon).
After what happened when Loki last crossed paths with The Hulk himself, it might just be fun to see what happens when the two characters are combined. Unfortunately, it sounds like this Variant has already been pruned from the Sacred Timeline, but even a quick flashback would work!
7. King Loki
Unless this is Doctor Strange in WandaVision all over again, we're still anticipating Richard E. Grant making an appearance in an upcoming episode of Loki.
Short of him playing someone completely unexpected, we have to believe that Grant is going to be the show's true big bad: King Loki. This version of the God of Mischief was introduced during Jason Aaron's Thor run and fell into his old, evil ways when those around him constantly doubting that he really had turned over a new leaf pushed Loki over the edge.
He'd later wipe out all life on Earth as a way to spit his brother, Thor, and he's even travelled through time to cause chaos in the God of Thunder's life. Ultimately, he'd sacrifice himself in a battle with Gorr the God Butcher to help Thor, and there are lots of ways this Variant could work in the MCU and be outed as the true villain the TVA is hunting for.
6. Catface Loki
In the pages of The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl in 2015, Loki transformed himself into a cat and dubbed himself "Cat Thor." It was all a bit weird, but just another way the God of Mischief toyed with the Odinson.
This certainly doesn't need to be a major part of an upcoming episode, but after Loki's unexpected meeting with that TVA cat in the premiere, this could be a really wacky, Rick and Morty-esque moment in the series. Plus, it could tie in nicely with a certain amphibian expected to appear in the coming weeks (that's also something we'll get to a little later).
An appearance from "Catface Loki" would by no means be a huge moment in the series, but it's definitely still something many fans out there would love to see happen in live-action. Plus, the comic books have already confirmed that The Avengers villain is, in fact, a cat person!
5. Kid Loki
Kid Loki is probably one of the best versions of this character we've seen in the comics, and his story ended in tragedy when it was revealed that his old self had been manipulating him and wanted his body so he could return from the dead (well, his soul was basically trapped in a crow called Ikol).
We definitely aren't expecting this series to get anywhere near as convoluted, but there's still room for a character like this one. It could be a case of picking up with Loki when he was a child or just a reborn version who doesn't have the same baggage as the God of Mischief taking centre stage here.
Either way, this is a character with potential, and it could be fun to see what happens when Tom Hiddleston's Loki meets his younger self and the two clash over what's become of him as he's grown.
4. Lady Loki
We've now established that Sophia Di Martino appears to be playing Sylvie Lushton, a.k.a. Enchantress, rather than Lady Loki. It is, of course, possible that we're getting an amalgamation of the characters, but the Lady Loki - the God of Mischief's spirit in the stolen body of Sif - could still be on the way.
That character vanished after the events of Thor: The Dark World, so what if King Loki plucked her out of the timeline and now returns to the present day MCU as a new big bad? Rumour has it Jaimie Alexander will appear in Thor: Love and Thunder, but there's nothing to say that it will be as the old Sif.
This would be one heck of a twist and could mean this story plays out across this series, the next Thor movie, and perhaps even a second season of Loki that sees him intervene to put an end to "King Loki" once and for all. Who knows how it might all play out, but you'd best believe it would be fun to watch.
3. Ultimate Thor
The Phase 1 Marvel Studios movies were heavily influenced by Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch's The Ultimates, and so paying homage to those comics in Loki could be a really fun concept.
In the Ultimate Universe, Loki managed to fool everyone into thinking that Thor was an escaped mental patient who had stolen technology he'd created (in his human guise), and that led to the Asgardian being place behind bars. Ultimately, the truth was revealed, but visiting a world where the God of Mischief managed to get the last laugh on his brother? That could be a blast.
Whether this series could or would acknowledge this reality as the "Ultimate" Marvel Universe is hard to say, but the costumes and ideas could still be used to put a fresh spin on Thor (with a different actor seeing as we're willing to bet Chris Hemsworth won't be making a cameo appearance).
2. Storm Thor
If Loki does cross paths with some different versions of Thor, then this would be a badass Easter Egg for Marvel Comics fans and one that could nicely tease mutants being part of the MCU's future.
Storm Thor debuted in the 2015 Secret Wars event and fans immediately fell in love with the idea of this Omega-level mutant being able to wield Mjolnir as a member of the Thor Corps. Even if this is as throwaway as what we saw from those Variant Lokis in episode two, just a glimpse of a Black woman suited up as Thor would mean a lot to many fans and nicely teases Storm's eventual arrival.
Not doing this would be a major missed opportunity, but then it's possible that the Thor Corps are being saved for a bigger storyline later in Phase 4 or beyond (which, honestly, would be no bad thing).
1. Throg
According to leaked listings for an upcoming series of LEGO Minifigures, Throg will indeed be part of Loki. We have no idea how that will work, but Enchantress is reportedly going to be joined by a crocodile sidekick at some point, so perhaps the God of Mischief finds an animal ally of his own?
In the comic books, Simon Walterson lost his wife and unborn child, turning to mystics, mediums, psychics, and fortune tellers in an effort to communicate with her one final time. Unfortunately, when a witch did help Simon, he couldn't pay and was transformed into a frog for his troubles. Later, he'd come across a sliver of Mjolnir and was transformed into the Mighty Throg.
This is the sort of wacky concept that only a series about the Multiverse can get away with, and introducing a version of Thor who is, in fact, a frog...well, it's easy to imagine that breaking the internet!