‘Loki’ Episode 5: Who Plays Classic Loki and What Else Has He Been In?
There was a lot of excitement to unpack in Loki episode 5. But there’s no doubt that Classic Loki ended up stealing the show. Here’s what we know about Richard E. Grant, the actor who plays Classic Loki in the Marvel series, and why he may look familiar.
Richard E. Grant has been acting for nearly four decades
Grant is a Liswati-English actor who started his career in British television in the early ‘80s, appearing on shows like Screen Two and Codename: Kyril. And in recent years, he’s been featured in several award-winning series, including Girls, Downton Abbey, and Game of Thrones.
Grant also has an impressive list of film credits under his belt. The actor starred in dozens of popular movies over the years and was most recently seen in Logan, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, and Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard.
In 2018, Grant portrayed Jack Hock in Can You Ever Forgive Me? opposite Melisssa McCarthy. The actor was nominated for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a British Academy Film Award for the supporting role.
Richard E. Grant is Classic Loki in Marvel’s ‘Loki’
Grant made his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut as Classic Loki in Episode 4 post-credits scene. In the fifth episode, he’s revealed as an older Loki variant who banished himself when he realized he wasn’t living the life he should. But upon leaving his self-banishment, he created a Nexus event and was arrested and pruned to the Void by the Time Variance Authority.
In a recent interview with Marvel, Loki head writer Michael Waldron talked about Classic Loki. And he suggested that he wrote the character in as a reference to what a Loki who survived Avengers: Infinity War would be like.
“And I thought, ‘Well, what if that did happen?” Waldron said. “And if it did, in fact, how could he have aged up? How could he have lived out his years in a way that the TVA would never come find him?”
“It was that tragic thing where he finally realizes ‘I’m meant to be alone,’” the writer added. “It is just so sad. There’s a real lesson there for our Loki in that he’s going to reject that notion– that this tiger can change his stripes, and he refuses to be alone. [Loki] wants to do the right thing. [He] wants to see if he can have real companionship in his life.”
The actor is thrilled with all the love he’s getting for ‘Loki’
Upon joining the MCU as Classic Loki and giving a brilliant performance in Episode 5, Grant is receiving lots of love from fans. And in a recent tweet, the actor shared his appreciation for the director, his co-stars, and the Marvel fandom.
“Blown away by the amazing response to @OfficialLoki,” he wrote. “Congratulations to @twhiddleston & @iamkateherron. Channeling Kermit!”
It’s unclear if Grant will return as Classic Loki in episode 6, as the character was consumed by Alioth and the end of the fifth installment. But if he does, it will surely be another treat for fans.
