Dressing a god of mischief
Anthony explains the design decision behind the new-look Loki in Thor: Ragnarok… and the unlikely influence that Mr T from the A-Team had on the character’s look
“This is the design journey I had based on what Loki was going to do in the third Thor film. Story is really important to me. His costume is asymmetrical because he’s unbalanced by the death of his father Odin, and he doesn’t know if he’s good or bad, but he’s trying be good, so all the diagonal lines reflect this inner turmoil.
I wanted to use my own ideas and sensibility to new costumes that feel like they belong on the trash planet of Sakaar. Loki had to look tougher, more regal, like a warrior, and not so androgynous, with his armour also echoing Asgardian motifs.
Initially, the little pendant was a lot bigger, like a chain worn by a rapper, a big L for Loki, something that would be a big centrepiece. Then I was thinking he could have jewellery all over like Mr T – to me, Mr T is iconic. Obviously it didn’t end up looking anything like Mr T, but that’s how my mind works sometimes.
The helmet is my favourite style of helmet from the comic books, that’s open at the top so you can see the hair. This looked more Norse at one point, but I decided he still had to feel like the Loki from first two movies.
For Loki’s Sakaar look I did a bunch of colour passes before we settled on the blue and yellow version. I also did turnarounds so the costume designer had clear direction. People think we don’t think of design all the way round to the back, but we do!”