So, we know that Tom Hiddleston shot scenes as Loki for "Avengers: Age of Ultron." We know that Joss Whedon and Marvel decided to cut the scenes, because they were already suffering from an "embarrassment of riches." But just how rich was the Loki scene, anyway? For fans of Hiddleston's mischievous villain, it sounds like we missed out on something wonderful.

During an appearance on the Empire podcast, Whedon revealed that Loki was set to appear in the second of Thor's two vision sequences. It would have featured both Idris Elba as Heimdall, as well as Hiddleston's Loki walking Thor through his dream. At one point, Hiddleston breaks out his best Anthony Hopkins impression, meant as "a tiny little reference to the fact that Loki's taken the throne."

"He does his Hopkins impression, and Thor says, 'Oh, that is uncanny,'" said Whedon. "And it was his subconscious telling him, 'That wasn't your father!' But he would never make that kind of connection."

Sounds like something Loki fans would have lost their minds over, so why didn't it make the final cut? According to Whedon, "[Marvel] thought it didn't work. They didn't want to introduce Loki so late."

In fact, they didn't want Loki at all, at least at first. Marvel was able to get Elba on board as Heimdall, but couldn't work out a deal with Hiddleston, according to Whedon. So the director called up his friend and said, "'Just so you know, I feel bad telling you, and I would never pressure you, but, I really feel like it would be great if you could do this.' And he was like, 'Sure!' But Marvel was like, 'But we already have Idris!' And, again, I said, 'I have no problem here! Everybody's in!'"

But the conflict goes beyond wanting Hiddleston in the movie. According to Whedon, Marvel wasn't in love with the dream sequence to begin with, Loki be damned — and they weren't fans of Hawkeye's farm scenes, either. But they very much wanted Thor's cave scene, in order to help set up future Marvel events. "With the cave, it really turned into them pointing a gun at the farm's head and saying, 'Give us the cave or we'll take out the farm,' in a civilized way," he said. "I respect these guys. They're artists. But that's when it got really unpleasant."

If losing Loki means we were able to meet Hawkeye's family and see Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter at that fabled dance, then perhaps it was a worthy trade. Besides, you and I both know the Loki scene will totally be on the "Age of Ultron" Blu-ray.

"Age of Ultron" is in theaters now.