LOKI: Director Kate Herron Inspired by Teletubbies
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the director of Marvel Studios’ Loki on Disney+, Kate Herron, revealed some of the biggest influences for the highly anticipated Marvel Cinematic Universe series starring the God of Mischief, including: speculative fiction classics like Jurassic Park, black comedy time travel sci-fi movies like Brazil, as well as colorful, music-filled children’s programming like Teletubbies?
Loki is Coming True BeLIEvers!!!
Director Herron was also joined by Loki head writer Michael Waldron, who said that he looked to the AMC drama Mad Men for character study inspiration, saying that the show is telling a “more complex, layered character-driven story than you’d get to do in a big blockbuster.”
Michael Waldron and Kate Herron attend D23 Disney Legends event at Anaheim Convention Center on August 23, 2019 in Anaheim, California. Photo: Getty Images North America
And Marvel Boss Kevin Feige says that one of the touchstones for Herron early on was Blade Runner, specially in the corollary between Mobius M. Mobius (Owen Wilson), who he says is “hard-boiled… in a nonplussed sort of way” and serves as a point of perspective for the show’s tone.
More Influences
It isn’t just movies and television shows that had an influence on Loki. According to the article, Herron also drew on her experiences working in administrative offices for the show, including the sort of details that you’re only privy to after working as temp in the cubicle trenches.
TVA in Fantastic Four Annual #24 by Al Milgrom, Kevin Tinsley, Suzanne DellOrto, Renee Witterstaetter, and Tim Dzon. Photo: Marvel Comics
Plus, you’ll be un-surprised to learn that Marvel Comics are a huge influence on the show, with runs of both Fantastic Four and She-Hulk being cited by Herron as points of inspiration.
TVA in She-Hulk #100 by Dan Slott, Juan Bobillo, Marcelo Sosa, Dave Kemp, and Dave Sharpe. Photo: Marvel Comics
Is Loki here yet?
We just can’t wait until Loki finally arrives! The first episode of the series will be available for streaming on Disney+ beginning Wednesday, June 9th, 2021 (that’s right, Untrue Believers, it’s Wednesday, not Friday, and certainly not that stinky Thor’s Day)!
Photo: imgflip.com
In the meantime, you can keep yourself occupied by catching up on all the reading for the course listings at Loki Academy – just don’t let the notorious trickster, Loki, distract you!
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Plus, there’s still time to take part in two more Watch-Along Wednesdays, during which you can use the hashtag #LokiWednesdays to take part in group viewings of the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies that feature your favorite God of Mischief!
Featured Image: Marvel/CBBC
