Navigating the Workshop Stage
Dan Deleeuw, the director behind the gripping second episode of Loki’s latest season, has let us in on a little secret. Far from being mere puppets to a prewritten script, the show’s stars Tom Hiddleston and Owen Wilson have a say in the narrative direction. In an exclusive interview with us, Deleeuw gave us an insider’s look at the process.
“A lot of the process in the show is, as the scripts were completed or got to a certain point, we would all get in a room together with the actors and workshop the scenes,” Deleeuw elaborated.
In the room, Rafael Casal joined the all-star lineup of Hiddleston and Wilson. Together, they hashed out the dialogue, tweaked the characters, and made sure everything “felt like it was an honest line.”
“So in that room, there was complete freedom to improvise, improve, so we were able to find – especially with Tom and his understanding of Loki over all the films – what buttons to actually push that would put Loki in a place where he might do something, go back to his former self a bit there,” Deleeuw added.
Tom Hiddleston: The Loki Encyclopedia
When you have an actor who has been portraying a character for nearly 15 years, you know you’re in for a detailed performance. Tom Hiddleston’s exhaustive knowledge of Loki is a powerhouse asset to the show.
“Tom’s like a Loki encyclopedia, it’s like Loki 101,” says Deleeuw. “His deep understanding and deep love for the character and his story is brilliant in terms of what Loki would do and different situations.”
Owen Wilson’s Writerly Contributions
Owen Wilson is not just an actor on set but also brings in his writing chops to help refine the script. According to Deleeuw, even on set, Wilson’s creative juices were flowing.
“Once they got to the set, there was still some improvisation, but we pretty much had it. A lot of the emotional rhythm with Owen – the takes, as he got more into it and got spun up a little bit, you get a bit more of the energy with him and you start getting the ad-libs and the jokes, like the knock-knock joke came from Owen,” Deleeuw shared.
The Bigger Picture: Seasons and Future Storytelling
We’re only two episodes into the second season, but the show’s producers have hinted that this won’t be the last we see of Loki or his multiverse antics. Producer Kevin Wright drops the big one on us, saying that seasons 1 and 2 are merely “two chapters of the same book.”
“Now there’s other books on the shelf we can tell stories from,” Wright points out.
This leaves the door open for further adventures, whether it’s Loki stirring the pot in other realms or new characters taking the spotlight.
What’s Next?
As Loki Season 2 unfolds, it’s clear that it’s not just a one-man (or God) show. With the combined talents of Hiddleston, Wilson, and the creative team, the series is shaping up to be one of the most collaborative and organic projects in the MCU lineup.
So buckle up, Marvel fans. This time-traveling, dimension-hopping ride is far from over.
