Summary
Lokiseason 2 actor Ke Huy Quan revealed the ancient wisdom behind the name of his new MCU character and its relevance to his journey. Quan rose to stardom in the ’80s with films likeIndiana Jones and the Temple of DoomandThe Goonies,making his MCU debut inLokiseason 2.
Introduced as a new character inLokiseason 2’s aptly titled episode 1, “Ouroboros,” Quan’s character, O.B., for short, is a technician overseeing the TVA and maintaining smooth travel operations. O.B. is initially sought out tohelp Tom Hiddleston’s Loki with his time-slipping problemand eventually becomes imperative to the central mission of Loki and Morbius (Owen Wilson). Quan is no stranger to universe-hopping and was immediately brought on by Marvel after his success with the A24 hitEverything Everywhere All At Once.Given Quan’s career resurgence and seemingly endless audience appeal, he was the perfect choice for a character tasked with explaining the complex inner workings of the multiverse.
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But where did the name Ouroboros come from? In an interview withDeadline, Quan detailed his first time meeting Kevin Feige on the set ofX-Men, when Feige was an associate producer and Quan was an assistant action choreographer. “Little did I know, only 23 years later I get to work with him,” Quan said, explaining how landing the MCU role was his full circle moment. “That’s why I love the name Ouroboros. It’s a snake eating its own tail,” he revealed, referencing the ancient Graeco-Egyptian alchemical symbol for the eternal cycle of creation and destruction. The Ouroboros symbol also seemingly relates to the Time Variance Authority’s motto and the overarching theme of theLokiseries, “For All Time. Always.”
Lokiseason 2’s declining viewership aside, the name Ouroboros for Quan’s character is an example of the brilliance ofLokiand the creators' dedication to providing entertainment that reaches deeper than surface level. In addition to his connection with the ancient symbol, Quan cited the laugh-out-loud dialogue as a major draw to the role. “[Kevin Wright and Eric Martin] really beautifully created this character, Ouroboros,” Quan stated, after recollecting his emotional reaction to the call he received from Feige, who offered him the part. “Who is this guy that’s working in the basement of the TVA for more than 400 years with no friends?” Quan joked of his character, “Yet he still takes his job so seriously and so passionately.”
For Quan, a role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe was at the top of his wishlist, and his enthusiasm for the character and the MCU is infectious. Although there are currently no plans for a third season afterLokiseason 2’s ending, fans of Quan and his character remain optimistic about Ouroboros' return, the TVA Handyman.
Lokiseasons 1-2 are streaming now on Disney Plus.
Loki
Loki is the shapeshifting Norse god, traditionally associated with trickery. Loki is also a fictional character used by Marvel Comics, first appearing in Venus #6 (August 1949), his characterization is often credited to Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, and Jack Kirby starting in Journey into Mystery #85 (October 1962). While often portrayed as a supervillain and antihero, the character has come into popularity thanks to his appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe portrayed by Tom Hiddleston.
