Fans of Tom Hiddleston are always on the lookout for more Tom Hiddleston but, outside promoting a few projects now and then, the somewhat reclusive actor is mostly radio silent across social media.
So when the Avengers star posted a cryptic tweet on Wednesday featuring a teaser trailer for a new project, it created exactly the type of mayhem one might expect from a trickster god.
— Tom Hiddleston (@twhiddleston) November 14, 2018
In the trailer, Hiddleston is seen walking down a neon-lit underpass with a look of painful longing in his eyes as he stares off into the distance. The teary-eyed Hiddleston then looks down as the word “betrayal” flashes on the screen.
Hiddleston didn’t caption the tweet, so fans were left clueless as to what it was. Most did not like being left in the dark.
A new trailer has just been dropped for something called Betrayal with Tom Hiddleston and I need to know when and I need it now! #TomHiddleston pic.twitter.com/VUpcTNGYxR
— Linzi Kipling (@L_Kipperoo) November 14, 2018
WHO? WHAT? WHEN? WHERE? WHY? pic.twitter.com/K3LYgN7HMW
— Hiddles Fashion (@HiddlesFashion) November 14, 2018
— 𝖘𝖔𝖋𝖎𝖆 (@sofieorloki) November 14, 2018
This is simultaneously so emotional and confusing pic.twitter.com/y07YRAD2Ms
— Echo ︽✵︽ ☀️ (@pirateangelbaby) November 14, 2018
The minute-long trailer was only the second tweet from Tom this year. The other, posted just a few days earlier, got fans talking when it teased a possible upcoming project featuring his MCU character, Loki.
Though he is mostly inactive, some fans slowly realized Hiddleston might just be an evil genius when it comes to social media.
Tom tweeting for the second time this year: pic.twitter.com/NEFKIqy12x
— nicole~ (@xoxonicoles) November 14, 2018
Tom seeing the fans freaking out everytime he posts something: pic.twitter.com/Mve6RPGrco
— melody (@Septic_Melody) November 14, 2018
He knows his effect on us 💀
— nicole~ (@xoxonicoles) November 14, 2018
This is Betrayal, James. Tom Hiddleston has betrayed us all. How? I'm not sure, but he did
— Timmy Holt (@AvatarOdin) November 15, 2018
Eventually, fans started speculating as to what Hiddleston’s “Betrayal” teaser could be for.
"BETRAYAL" the new eau de parfum by Loki.
— bookaholic (@Huskykatze) November 14, 2018
Wait wait wait… are u dropping a new single called Betrayal?
— ashlot🦸🏼♀️ (@ashllove) November 14, 2018
GOSH is it Harold Pinter’s Betrayal?
— Henley (@henleycielo) November 14, 2018
The piece Tom read at the Pinter gala was called Betrayal…….my guess is that maybe he’s doing the whole play in the theatre.#TomHiddleston
— 💕NOORA💕 (@NouraPublinet) November 14, 2018
It was soon confirmed that Hiddleston would return to his stage roots, starring in a West End revival of Harold Pinter’s 1978 play Betrayal.
Confirmed: Tom Hiddleston to star in Betrayal in the West End https://t.co/alVPQVBDXt pic.twitter.com/jhLSkSCjUy
— WhatsOnStage (@WhatsOnStage) November 15, 2018
Betrayal tells the story of a seven-year-long extramarital affair between two married people based on Pinter’s own affair with English journalist Joan Bakewell in the 1960s.
The play will round out stage director Jamie Lloyd’s season-long “Pinter at the Pinter,” a series of the playwright’s one-act plays marking the tenth anniversary of his death.
The mystery finally solved, fans were ecstatic to hear Hiddleston would be starring in the play, and some were already planning to see it.
I can't wait for this!
— 4ever Batgirl (@4everBatgirl) November 15, 2018
— Seema (@sl2016_sl) November 15, 2018
First time to London in March. Alarm will be set for 4 am Nov 30. Can’t miss this opportunity!!
— Carolyn (@lyns1229) November 15, 2018
— Bianca 🌻 ShinyLife (@shinylifeforme) November 15, 2018
But good luck getting tickets for what is likely to be one of the hottest shows in London.
I need to go.. I do not Care if I have to rob a bank and hi-jack a plane.. but I am going
— Signe Larsen 🍍 (@gizmomis) November 15, 2018
H/T – Mashable, The Guardian