Supernatural fans are rejoicing following news that actor Richard Speight Jr. will be reprising his role of the Norse god Loki in the show’s prequel series The Winchesters. Speight played Loki, or “The Trickster” as he was first known, for several episodes of Supernatural beginning in the season two installment entitled “Tall Tales.” The show eventually revealed that Loki was actually the archangel Gabriel in disguise and that he had assumed the identity of Loki in an effort to remain neutral in the war between his brother archangels Michael and Lucifer. It remains to be seen whether Speight will be portraying the true Loki on The Winchesters or if the character will once again be Gabriel in disguise.
In a press release detailing the casting, the show described Loki as a dangerous but wily demigod. Intent on sowing chaos behind an allure of eccentricity, the network says that hunters like series leads Mary and John are a favorite target of Loki. Robbie Thompson, The Winchesters’ showrunner, says that Speight is a personal friend and he always considered bring him into the series. Thompson nevertheless credited the show’s team of writers for coming up with a plausible way for introducing the character into the lore of the series. While not revealing any details on Speight’s return to the character, Thompson promised that fans of the franchise will be surprised by how the character arrives on the show. Prior to being cast as Loki, Speight was already working on The Winchesters as an episode director.
Along with Jensen Ackles’ Dean Winchester, Speight is the second Supernatural actor to come back for The Winchesters. Earlier this month at New York Comic Con, Thompson promised that eventually, several characters from the mothership series would make appearances on The Winchesters. According to Thompson, future appearances of classic characters would be driven by fan response to the series and if the show is renewed for further seasons. While not promising anything for certain, Thompson further hinted at an eventual appearance of Castiel on The Winchesters. A fan favorite, Castiel was played by Misha Collins on Supernatural.
The Winchesters airs on Tuesdays on The CW.
