Loki’s New Deleted Scene Sets Up A Perfect Villain For Daredevil: Born Again

A new deleted scene from Loki season 2 has surfaced, and the mention of one new MCU character could prove pivotal to Matt Murdock's continued development in Marvel Television's upcoming Daredevil: Born Again. Loki season 2 concluded in November 2023, ending with Tom Hiddleston's former God of Mischief becoming the lone protector of the entire multiverse and perhaps the MCU's most powerful character. Loki hasn't always been a hero, however, and a new deleted scene from Loki season 2 confirms just how many people he's fought over the years.

Loki season 2 picked up immediately after the finale of season 1, which saw Sylvie kill He Who Remains and throw Loki back to the Time Variance Authority. This provides Loki and Owen Wilson's Mobius with more bonding opportunities, which is put on full display in a new deleted scene revealed by Variety in November 2024. This scene showcases a brilliant moment between the pair, but underlines just how villainous Loki had been, as he lists several individuals he's wronged, including one character who has age-old connections to Matt Murdock's Daredevil.

Loki Mentions The Absorbing Man In A New Loki Season 2 Deleted Scene

Carl Creel Is The Absorbing Man In Marvel Comics

Among the several names mentioned by Loki as people he's wronged over the years is the Absorbing Man. Initially, this was a surprising inclusion in this list, though given Loki and Carl Creel's history in Marvel Comics, it makes sense that he'd be included. Way back in 1965's Journey Into Mystery #114, Loki gave Carl Creel a drink laced with a mystical potion that gifted Creel his ability to transform parts of his body into any material he touches. He uses this newfound ability to battle Thor, even being able to absorb the properties of Mjolnir and Thor himself.

Originally depicted as a supervillain, Carl Creel's Absorbing Man has more recently become an antihero in Marvel Comics, so his possible appearance in the MCU could be very exciting. He could be used to flesh out the upcoming Thunderbolts or Avengers teams, though will more likely be depicted as a villain should he make an appearance in the MCU's Phase 5. It's very possible this could happen, despite this scene from Loki season 2 being cut, as the Absorbing Man has a rich history with the Devil of Hell's Kitchen in Marvel Comics and in live-action.

Carl Creel’s Absorbing Man Already Has A Rich Live-Action History

Brian Patrick Wade Played Carl Creel's Absorbing Man In Agents Of SHIELD

Many die-hard fans of Marvel's live-action projects, namely those who've watched Marvel Television's Agents of SHIELD, will already be familiar with the Absorbing Man. Brian Patrick Wade portrayed Carl Creel in seasons 2, 3 and 5 of Agents of SHIELD, first appearing in season 2's premiere, "Shadows." In Agents of SHIELD, Carl Creel is a HYDRA operative who later defected to the United States and became Glenn Talbot's bodyguard. He shares the same absorbing abilities as his Marvel Comics counterpart, though his backstory wasn't explored.

Netflix's Daredevil series, which was recently integrated into the MCU's official timeline and confirmed to be canon, also put some focus on Carl Creel, though he never made a physical appearance. Mirroring the character's Marvel Comics backstory, Carl "Crusher" Creel is the boxer who "Battlin' Jack" Murdock is tasked with fighting, with the latter being killed when he refused to throw the fight, leaving the young Matt Murdock alone. The canonization of this backstory means that the Absorbing Man could easily pop up in Daredevil: Born Again after Loki's deleted scene gave him a shout-out.

The Absorbing Man Would Be The Perfect Villain For Daredevil: Born Again

Daredevil: Born Again Already Has A Number Of Villains

Scheduled to premiere on Disney+ in March 2025, Daredevil: Born Again will bring Charlie Cox's Matt Murdock, a.k.a. the titular Daredevil, back to the MCU following appearances in Spider-Man: No Way Home, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and Echo. Born Again is continuing the story of Netflix's Daredevil series, so Carl Creel will officially be brought into the MCU's canon, meaning it's possible the Absorbing Man (likely a different version to Brian Patrick Wade's Agents of SHIELD character) could appear in the series. Carl Creel would be the perfect villain for Daredevil, but there's one slight issue.

Daredevil: Born Again is already full to bursting with villains and antiheroes, meaning the series may become oversaturated if the Absorbing Man also decides to make his return in the upcoming series. Kingpin, Bullseye, Muse, the Punisher and more are expected to go up against the Man Without Fear, leaving little room for Carl Creel's Absorbing Man. However, it's possible Creel could be introduced as a minor antagonist, perhaps setting up a larger conflict in the already-confirmed Daredevil: Born Again season 2, which would offer him his own time to shine.

Loki’s Deleted Scene Teased Other New MCU Characters

Loki Also Mentioned Hercules & Amora In Season 2's Deleted Scene

While the possible appearance of the Absorbing Man in the MCU is very exciting, Loki also mentioned other new characters in the deleted scene from Loki season 2, including Hercules and Amora. Brett Goldstein made his MCU debut as Hercules, the son of Zeus, in Thor: Love and Thunder's post-credits scene, setting him up for a bigger role in the as-yet-unannounced Thor 5. Zeus tasked his son with bringing Thor to his knees - something that the god felt rather comfortable with, so, hopefully, Hercules returns to the MCU soon.

Amora, on the other hand, has never made an appearance in the MCU, at least not the original. In Marvel Comics, Amora became the Enchantress, a significant Asgardian villain who opposed Thor as one of his strongest adversaries. The second Enchantress, Sylvie Lushton, formed the inspiration behind Sophia Di Martino's Sylvie in the Loki series. Amora herself has never been seen, however, but this deleted scene from Loki season 2 provides some sort of confirmation that she does exist in the MCU, which means she could battle Thor or Loki in the future.