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A shapeshifter would have a bit of a complex gender identity.

A well-known element of Loki’s character, as far as his Marvel incarnation goes, is that he is a shapeshifter. Loki has been known to take on a myriad of forms, both male and female, and likely many states between and beyond the two. In the Norse mythology on which Loki is based, the God of Mischief has even served as both a father and a mother to multiple children. It’s not something that has ever really come up in the MCU, but we did get a small nod to the fact from Disney+’s new Loki series.

Earlier in the week, right before the premiere of Loki, a teaser showed a glimpse of his Time Variance Authority file marking his sex as “Fluid.” According to series director Kate Herron, this was a deliberate choice.

“I would say that details are marked in but it is something acknowledged,” Herron told Insider. “He’s gender fluid in the Norse mythology and the comics and it felt like an important thing to, as you say, make sure it’s canon.”

“I know how many people identify with Loki in particular and are eager for that representation, especially with this character,” head writer Michael Waldron told Inverse. “We worked really hard.”

POV: You've just arrived at the TVA 🕰 Marvel Studios' #Loki starts streaming Wednesday on @DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/mZvuDUjbMy

— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) June 6, 2021

According to Loki himself, Tom Hiddleston, this inclusion isn’t just a cheap ploy at seeming “woke.”

“It’s always been there in the comics for some time and in the history of the character for hundreds, if not thousands of years,” Hiddleston said.

“Breadth and range of identity contained in the character has been emphasized and is something I was always aware of when I was first cast 10 years ago.

“I know it was important to Kate Herron and Michael Waldron and to the whole team. And we were very aware, this is something we felt responsible for.”

Loki is streaming now on Disney+, with new episodes coming every Wednesday. You should watch the first episode if you haven’t yet, it’s pretty great.