Tom Hiddleston has been playing Loki in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since his first appearance in 2011’s Thor. Even though his original character was killed by Thanos at the start of Avengers: Infinity War, he continued playing a different version of Loki who now oversees the endless branches of the MCU’s multiverse. Given his long history with Marvel, it’s interesting that he credits a classic DC movie as inspiration for landing the role of the God of Mischief.
During a recent appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Hiddleston talked about his favorite superhero films. He mentioned that Tom Holland is his favorite Spider-Man actor, but also recognized that “we’re all kind of here because of Tobey Maguire, in a way,” highlighting how the 2002 Spider Man film helped establish superhero movies as a major force in Hollywood. When host Josh Horowitz asked him to name the best superhero film of all time, his response was immediate:
“Batman, directed by Tim Burton, starring Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson. That’s my first instinct. That’s what comes to mind.”
Tim Burton’s Batman was released more than ten years before superhero films became a regular part of cinema. However, it made waves in pop culture by presenting Gotham City’s Dark Knight, and superhero stories in general, in a much more serious light. Michael Keaton wore the iconic costume about twenty years after the lighthearted and humorous Batman television show ended its three-season run. His version of Bruce Wayne faced off against Jack Nicholson’s memorable Joker. The film’s significance is so great that author John Jackson Miller, who wrote tie-in novels Batman: Resurrection and Batman: Revolution, called Tim Burton’s Batman “the most important comic book movie ever made” in an interview last October.
The 1989 film marked a turning point in how comic book characters were portrayed on screen. It proved that these stories could be taken seriously and attract adult audiences, paving the way for the superhero movie boom that would follow in the 2000s and beyond. The dark, gothic atmosphere that Burton created was unlike anything audiences had seen before in a superhero film, setting a new standard for the genre.
Hiddleston was particularly taken with Jack Nicholson’s interpretation of the Joker. In the film, audiences first encounter him as criminal Jack Napier before discovering he’s the person who murdered Bruce Wayne’s parents. This version of the character left a lasting impression on Hiddleston that influenced how he approached playing Loki:
“Truthfully, I don’t think I would’ve played Loki without that film. The way Jack Nicholson played the Joker was so at the time in my life when I saw it, It made such an impact on my imagination. I understood he was the villain, but he was having such a good time. That could describe somebody else I know. And he was so charismatic, and he was so inventive, and so free. But I also loved Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne and Batman, and I loved their dynamic. And I think, probably, when I came to play Loki for the first time, I consciously carried Jack Nicholson in my mind.“
This revelation shows how Nicholson’s charismatic, playful approach to villainy directly shaped Hiddleston’s own performance. Loki, like Nicholson’s Joker, is a villain who clearly enjoys causing mischief and chaos. Both characters possess charm and wit that make them compelling despite their antagonistic roles. The ability to make audiences simultaneously root for and against these villains is what makes them so memorable and engaging.
No matter where you personally rank Tim Burton’s Batman among other live-action Batman films, it’s undeniable that it stands as one of the most influential comic book movies ever made. Jack Nicholson’s Joker continues to be regarded as one of the most beloved versions of DC Comics’ infamous Clown Prince of Crime, even decades later. His performance combined menace with dark humor, creating a character that was both terrifying and entertaining.
Burton and Keaton worked together again on 1992’s Batman Returns, creating another dark and stylized take on the Batman mythos. However, both left the franchise after that film, leading to Batman Forever, where Joel Schumacher took over as director and Val Kilmer stepped into the lead role. The franchise would continue through the 1990s with a progressively lighter tone before eventually being rebooted in the 2000s with Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy.
Many years later, Keaton brought his version of Batman back to life in The Flash and also filmed scenes for the cancelled Batgirl movie, giving fans a nostalgic return to his interpretation of the character. His return was met with enthusiasm from fans who grew up watching his darker, more mysterious portrayal of the Caped Crusader.
Currently, Robert Pattinson carries the torch as the Dark Knight in The Batman film series, which launched in 2022 with a grounded, detective-focused take on the character. Additionally, a completely different Batman is planned for introduction in the DC Universe’s shared continuity through the upcoming film The Brave and the Bold, which will feature Bruce Wayne and his son Damian Wayne working together as a crime-fighting duo.
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Tom Hiddleston will bring Loki back to the big screen when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18, 2026. Fans are eager to see how his character, who has evolved significantly since his villainous debut, will fit into the next major chapter of the MCU. The connection between Nicholson’s Joker and Hiddleston’s Loki serves as a reminder of how great performances transcend comic book rivalries. Even though the characters belong to competing publishers, the artistry and creativity involved in bringing these iconic villains to life creates inspiration that crosses boundaries and influences future generations of actors and filmmakers.
