With Reporting by Josh Horowitz

While Earth's mightiest heroes are busy battling an evil android in "Avengers: Age of Ultron," there's still plenty of attention paid to their first foe: Loki, the mischief maker played by Tom Hiddleston.

The Asgardian villain's scepter plays a huge role in the "Avengers" sequel, for instance, fueling much of the action we see once Ultron hits the scene. There's even a sequence in which Thor sees terrible visions of the future, apocalyptic events occurring in Asgard.

But as for an actual Loki appearance? Sorry, Hiddlestoners. Tom's not in this one, despite rumors to the contrary. The British actor's presence is felt in many areas of "Age of Ultron," but you won't see that wicked grin anywhere on the screen.

Not that Loki was always missing from the movie, mind you. Director Joss Whedon told us that he shot scenes with Hiddleston, but they ultimately did not fit into the picture.

"We did shoot something, but it didn't play," he said. "The movie has so much. It's so filled. We didn't want it to feel overstuffed. I really wanted to have Loki in it, but I understood the decision that there were now too many voices in the chorus."

"At some point the embarrassment of riches is actually embarrassing," he added with a laugh.

So, no Loki. Not this time. But there's plenty of Loki to look forward to in the future, what with his place on Asgard's throne, posing as Odin. We're going to see him in "Thor: Ragnarok." Beyond that? Given the cosmic consequences of "Age of Ultron," and the ensuing two-part sequel "Infinity War," perhaps we won't have to sit through another "Avengers" movie without a Hiddleston sighting.