‘Thor: Love and Thunder’: Matt Damon’s ‘Actor Loki’ to Return Alongside New ‘Actor Hela’
Matt Damon’s ‘Actor Loki’ returns in Thor: Love and Thunder along with Luke Hemsworth’s ‘Actor Thor.’ Joining them this time is a new Asgardian actress played by Melissa McCarthy as ‘Actor Hela.’ Rumors of the actors flying to the Australian set caused speculation, but behind-the-scenes photos confirmed it.
A surprise cameo that demanded more
The initial gag originated in Thor: Ragnarok when Tom Hiddleston’s Loki took over Asgard, disguised as Anthony Hopkins’ Odin. Watching a play recounting Loki’s “death” in Thor: The Dark World, Actor Loki was surprisingly played by Damon.
What’s more, Chris Hemsworth’s real-life brother played Actor Thor.
While some theories speculated wildly about how the unexpected cameos came about, the real explanation boiled down to the existing friendship between Director Taika Watiti and Damon.
“Chris just called me up, and Taika called me up, and I’m friends with those guys,” Damon said in an interview with Collider. “They pitched me the idea and I just thought it was hysterical, the idea of basically an intergalactic community theater actor kind of living out Tom Hiddleston’s character’s fantasy.”
And audiences loved it. Before Chris Hemsworth’s Thor and Hiddleston’s Loki dealt with their villainous sister Hela, played by Cate Blanchett, Hiddleston’s Loki enjoyed a play about himself.
Damon performed a dramatized death scene in Luke Hemsworth’s arms. It left such an impact, news articles popped up whether or not the Asgard actors survived the infamous snap in Avengers: Infinity War.
Watiti looks to bring these characters back in an even bigger way, this time with McCarthy as Actor Hela.
McCarthy as Actor Hela in New Asgard
For Thor: Love and Thunder, there still was not much convincing involved. Insider reported that Damon revealed details on SiriusXM’s ‘The Jess Cagle Show’ via Insider.
“I went down there [to Australia] to shoot,” Damon said. Watiti wanted to “run that joke back and upgrade it a little bit.”
And it looks like that upgrade will be McCarthy’s Actor Hela.
While there’s no word on how they roped McCarthy into the increasingly elaborate cameo subplot, photos of McCarthy sporting Hela’s green and black armor from Thor: Ragnarok have already excited fans.
Actor Hela, the Asgardian actors and beyond
Following the gag in Thor: The Dark World, the three actor characters will likely recreate the events of Thor: Ragnarok in a brief light-hearted scene. Depending on which stage play scene, who knows if a surprise Surtur cameo waits for fans.
However, with the acting troupe returning at all, will they have bigger roles outside of actors acting as other actors?
Perhaps, but don’t expect a Luke Hemsworth, Damon, and McCarthy Disney+ spinoff.
Marvel is no stranger to making sure their most popular characters get in front of audiences. Hiddleston’s performance as the God of Mischief led to him being featured more prominently in the MCU as a whole.
Even earning his own Disney+ show that is absolutely vital to the franchise going forward.
If fans want more Actor Loki, Actor Thor, and Actor Hela, Marvel will make certain that they are seen again. Especially if it’s as easy as phoning in favors to friends and family.
Related: 2 Hemsworth Brothers Have Played Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe
