Before tackling the question of if Loki could still return to the main MCU timeline, we almost have to answer whether the main Loki is 100% dead. There has always been a running debate on if the main MCU Loki is actually still alive, not killed by Thanos. And as we just saw regarding his comic book counterpart, Loki is known for dying and being resurrected in different forms. However, for the sake of everyone’s sanity, I’m going to do something I don’t want to and say that the main MCU Loki is in fact dead. The 2012 variant that leads the ‘Loki’ Disney+ series is still from the main timeline but never lived out the full events of our Loki. Now that we established that as our base, let’s talk about TV Loki’s likelihood of finding his way back to the main timeline.

I actually do think we might still see Loki from the series return to the main timeline. His show has been the main focus of bringing Kang into the MCU and as the trailers have shown already for Season 2, Kang continues to be a plotline for the series. It’s also not a secret that we are heading towards a culminating point with Kang, as not only do we have Kang Dynasty coming up in the slate, but we also have all witnessed that end credit scene from Quantumania. As both of these storylines will likely come to a head, it actually does open the door for Loki returning.

Additionally, this is the Multiverse saga, which means we could really say anything is possible. How long did fans manifest Andrew, Tobey, and Tom on screen together? The Multiverse made it possible and therefore it could also make possible Loki’s return to our 616 timeline (if you agree that the main timeline is in fact 616). With the Multiverse open and the ‘Loki’ series jumping through time, there isn’t ever going to be a guarantee that Loki can’t make a return. Of course, he would still be out of time, but the ‘Loki’ series is starting to make that seem a little wonky of a rule as well.

Lastly, on a character relationship level, while 2012 Loki didn’t go through all the events our Loki did, especially with Thor, Thor is still very much his brother and alive. As Thor continues to be on the table, I think it bodes well that Loki’s character could come back. I know a lot of fans weren’t sure what would come of Thor after Love and Thunder, but as Marvel has confirmed his return, we can only continue to wish for a brotherly reunion.

While all of my points do seem to point positively towards Loki returning at least once to the main MCU timeline, I do have to play devil’s advocate for one moment. ‘Loki’ the series has established itself outside of time and quite frankly, as a super wonky show as far as where it fits among anything else we know in the MCU. Loki could be in a completely different place in time, in a different universe, now that the Multiverse is open. And as we’ve been taught, the Multiverse has infinite possibilities, meaning that mathematically, Loki finding his way back to 616 is like finding a needle in a haystack. This is also before factoring in that he could end up anywhere in time, so he might not make it to the current place in the MCU timeline.

All in all, the possibility still remains. If we see the Kang storyline come and go without Loki’s reappearance, the likelihood will drop. This is the same for when we see Thor’s character retire. As a huge Loki fan, I am putting my hat in the ring for the positive and that he will make his return. I’m also hoping for this so we can wrap the ‘Loki’ series more directly into MCU events. In the meantime, we will have to wait and see what ‘Loki’ Season 2 will bring, as Marvel just blew your mind, so let’s talk about it.