WARNING: The following contains spoilers for the Loki Season 1 finale, "For All Time. Always." now streaming on Disney+.
While the initial three Marvel Studios TV series have each had a single director for the whole series, the only one to get a second season so far won't be continuing that trend.
Along with executive producing the series, Kate Herron, best known for directing several episodes of Sex Education's first season, helmed all six episodes of Loki. Together with head writer Michael Waldron, she helped to craft the look and feel of the show. But she won't be coming back for the announced Season 2 to continue shaping it.
"I’m not returning," Herron told Deadline. "I always planned to be just on for this and, to be honest, Season 2 wasn’t in the — that’s something that just came out and I’m so excited. I’m really happy to watch it as a fan next season, but I just think I’m proud of what we did here and I’ve given it my all. I’m working on some other stuff yet to be announced."
Typically, a television series features numerous directors. But the Marvel Disney+ shows have functioned more like films, fitting as they're extensions of the existing MCU. As a result, directing an entire season is a tall order for a single director. Even for the writing, Waldron didn't pen the script for each episode. Instead, he oversaw the writers and split traditional showrunner duties with Herron. There's been no word if Waldron will return for Season 2, but Herron is ready to move onto other projects.
Of course, Herron could jump to the movies. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier creator and head writer Malcolm Spellman will be writing Captain America 4 along with series writer Dalan Musson. Similarly, Waldron actually left Loki production early to pen the script for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness -- a film that Loki is rumored to appear in. So, is Herron gearing up to direct an MCU film?
"No, I’m just focused on my own stuff at the moment," Herron said. "I love Marvel and I’d love to work with them again, but my outing with Loki is what I’ve done with them."
Season 1 of Loki wrapped this week with an episode that introduced Kang, broke open the multiverse, and set up a second season along with several future storylines for the MCU.
Source: Deadline