Loki season 2 episode 3 finally acknowledged Balder the Brave within the MCU. But who is he? How is he related to Thor, Loki, and Odin, and which actor plays him? Here’s all you need to know about Balder in the MCU.
Who is Balder the Brave in Loki season 2?
Balder is Thor and Loki’s secret half-brother in the MCU, based on “Baldr” from Norse mythology.
He is depicted as a powerful and likable Asgardian warrior who is known for his bravery, nobility, and unwavering loyalty to his people. Loki season 2 confirms that he does exist in the same timeline, possibly as the half-brother of Thor, Hela, and Loki.
As Loki and Mobius follow Ravonna Renslayer into the 1893 World Fair in Chicago, they end up in front of Thor, Odin, and Balder’s statues. Since this is the Sacred Timeline, the statues confirm that Balder also used to travel to Earth along with Thor and Odin in pre-MCU eras. After all, that’s how the people of Earth found out about the Asgardians and worshipped them in the past.
However, Balder’s reveal also makes his story more confusing since he has never been mentioned in the MCU before. While it makes sense for Odin to cover up Hela’s history, a lot of fans would be confused as to why Balder was kept a secret. But this could perhaps be explored in Thor 5, as Loki season 2 has now set up a potential reunion between Thor and Balder.
Which actor plays Balder the Brave in the MCU?
While no specific actor was officially cast, there was a chance for Daniel Craig to appear as Balder in Doctor Strange 2.
Craig himself denied his casting, but Wanda actor Elizabeth Olsen suggested that his cameo was expected to happen (via Josh Horowitz on YouTube). He could have appeared as the seventh missing member of the Illuminati on Earth-838.
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