After their debut in the post-credits scene of Episode 4, Loki episode 5 properly introduced a bunch of Loki variants. Tom Hiddleston’s trickster joined forces with a quartet of Gods of Mischief from across the multiverse – namely, there was Classic Loki (Richard E. Grant), Kid Loki (Jack Veal), Boastful Loki (DeObia Oparei) and Alligator Loki (himself). Though Grant’s version heroically sacrificed himself by the end of the ep, the other three are still around, so the door is open for them to return elsewhere in the MCU.
And one of the Loki variant stars is definitely up for more. Oparei spoke with The Direct and revealed that he would “for sure” be up for playing Boastful Loki again. His main reason why appears to be because he knows how much it means to the fans for the MCU to continuing increasing its diversity, in terms of both prominent characters of color and LGBTQ+ representation.
“For sure,” Oparei responded. “Just in terms of the outpouring that I’ve received from people who have been messaging me and saying, ‘Wow you know, I suddenly feel seen…’ Black and brown MCU fans [saying], ‘I suddenly feel seen or suddenly feel validated, I suddenly have a costume that I can cosplay…'”
As someone who identifies as openly queer and non-binary, Oparei playing a variant of a canonically gender-fluid character is a pretty big deal for this franchise, and the actor went on to speak about he’s been contacted by fans who’ve been touched by his casting in the hit Disney Plus series.
“LGBTQIA people, you know messaging me by the hundreds and just saying, ‘It’s so great that somebody who identifies as queer, who expresses themselves in a gender fluid way, is a Loki Variant. You can’t imagine how amazing we feel, see you, and you’re out.'”
With his beard, big personality and golden hammer, Boastful Loki initially appeared to have more in common with Thor than Hiddleston’s Laufeyson, though it became clear that he was a Loki through and through as the episode drew on. His boasts about defeating Captain America and Iron Man in battle were revealed to be a lie and he was ultimately revealed to have betrayed the location of the Loki variants to President Loki. As he didn’t ally with Loki and Sylvie like the rest, his fate was left ambiguous but presumably he’s still out there.
Maybe there’s room for Oparei’s return in the season 2 we believe is on the way. For now, Loki reaches its season finale this Wednesday on Disney Plus.
