Just in case you’ve managed to avoid every possible media outlet imaginable, The Avengers hit theaters today. Tom Hiddleston returns as the chief antagonist and Norse god Loki, giving a villainous turn more like Alfred Molina in Spider-Man 2 or Gene Hackman in Superman, but not so much Kevin Spacey in Superman Returns. Like his Thor director Kenneth Branagh, Hiddleston is an accomplished thespian and Shakespearean actor. His first post-Avengers role will be as Prince Hal/King Henry V in a new BBC adaptation of Henry IV and Henry V. As a guest on Mark Hoppus’ talk show Hoppus On Music on Fuse, Hiddleston brought out the big guns and delivered the “Once more unto the breach, dear friends,” monologue from the beginning of Act III of Henry V. From the look of things, it’s a much different take than his old director, but no less forceful or inspiring.

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