‘WandaVision,’ created by Jac Schaeffer and starring Avengers Paul Bettany (Vision) and Elizabeth Olsen (Wanda Maximoff), is by far the strangest addition to the MCU. Warning, spoilers for the new series.
Debuting on January 15 at Disney Plus, this “Twilight Zone” channel miniseries jumps from decade to decade, with the stars apparently trapped within their own sitcoms (appropriate to the period). Each episode is a new decade and a new collection of TV troops for the audience to go through.
At a press conference on Sunday moderated by Jaleel White of “Family Matters” fame, a perfect nod to the many great sitcoms of the past “WandaVision” was inspired, the show’s stars and creators answered burning questions, including how Hydra influences the show and which sitcoms were used as inspiration. Schaeffer, Bettany, Olsen, director Matt Shakman, Kathryn Hahn, Teyonah Parris and Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige were present. Read on to find out everything we know so far about the series.
‘WandaVision’ was recorded in front of a live studio audience
To add that authentic sitcom feel, the first episode of “WandaVision” (set in the 1950s) was filmed in front of a live studio audience. Although it was the norm at that time – as White pointed out, all episodes of “Family Matters” were recorded live – the method took Olsen a little getting used to. “It was so stressful,” said Olsen. “There was a lot of adrenaline, a lot of quick changes, and it totally confused my brain … The idea of not playing for the audience, but feeding the audience and having a camera. I was very grateful when we added the fourth wall. “
Meeting with Dick Van Dyke and sitcom training camp
To remain as authentic as possible, director Shakman and Feige met with the great sitcom Dick Van Dyke, who shared his wisdom. “I remember that Kevin and I had an amazing lunch with Dick Van Dyke that remains one of the great afternoons of my life. And we asked him, ‘What was the governing principle behind’ The Dick Van Dyke Show ‘? Why did it work so well? ‘And he said,’ If it couldn’t happen in real life, it can’t happen on the show, ‘”said Shakman.
Other aspects of production were also important for the show’s authenticity, such as production design, cinematography and costume design. But more than anything, Shakman said he and the cast had done research by watching as many sitcoms as possible over the decades.
“We watched a lot of old episodes on television and talked about how comedy changes, because it really does. The approach to comedy in the 50s, 60s and 70s is very different. And, as Lizzie said, doing this in front of a live studio audience, which is almost like a theater TV, really adds to that, ”said Shakman. “Lucille Ball, ‘I Love Lucy’, Dick Van Dyke – you can feel the energy of this theatrical performance, working with the audience. And then, when you go into ’60s shows like “Bewitched” or “I Dream of Jeannie”, it’s a fourth wall and suddenly, it’s more like making a movie today and the laugh track is recorded and brought, which changes the energy, the approach, the style, everything. “
Yes, ‘Full House’ is an influence for the 90’s sitcom episode
More than anything, the creators of “WandaVision” turned to historic family sitcoms like “The Brady Bunch” and the aforementioned “Dick Van Dyke Show” for inspiration. This means that TV greats from the past like “Taxi” will not be transformed into “WandaVision,” the focus here is on the family.
But will Olsen’s family connection to “Full House” starring his sisters Ashley and Mary-Kate open the door to a Tanner family reunion? It’s not clear, but the sitcom’s steamroller was definitely an influence. That said, it was important for the creators of the series to maintain authentic influences, they wanted to focus on the comfort factor of these programs. It was important that “WandaVision” did not come out as a satire.
“[Family sitcoms] has meant a lot to us, old-fashioned and foolish as it may seem, there is a comfort factor in that. That was the main factor behind the comic inspiration versus what led us to put these ideas together, ”said Feige. “There is a wonderful thing that happened with Matt’s training [as a child actor] as he said, which is incredible. Lizzie’s experience with her sisters [Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen], which didn’t even occur to me until I think we were in the writers’ room with pictures of ‘Full House’ on the wall and I said ‘Ah, right’ ”.
How did they keep ‘WandaVision’ up to date, despite using old programs as troops?
Shakman explained that, as family sitcoms were the main influences for “WandaVision”, it was not difficult to bring these ideals to modern day. “There are important points of reference about this idea of family, and I think it often ages very well,” said Shakman. “And I think that the key references we were looking at are those miraculous shows that managed to be timely and timeless. They resonated at the time, and somehow, you watch ‘The Dick Van Dyke Show’ today and it’s just as good as it was back then. “
Schaeffer agreed, adding that it was on the writers’ radar to avoid programs that featured “disappointing” troops. “When we looked back and we were doing research and looking at these old programs, there were programs that were a little bit disappointing and that were not acceptable for today, ”said Schaeffer. “We had a really amazing newsroom, full of people that part of our job was to keep an eye on these things. And as Matt said, we quickly focused on familiar sitcoms. There are a number of different sitcoms in the workplace and other types of sitcoms, but the family part has kind of kept us very focused. “
How does Hydra influence ‘WandaVision’?
Although it looks like a repeat of “I Love Lucy”, “WandaVision” is firmly defined in the MCU. And if you’re looking for Easter eggs, pay attention to the commercials. Yes, despite debuting on the streaming platform, Marvel Studios inserted its own ads, a little nefarious, with brief hints of an evil presence. “Other truths in the program are beginning to leak, and the commercials were an initial idea for that,” says Feige. “And if this is the first Marvel MCU you’re watching, it’s just a weird version of a 50’s or 60’s commercial that you’ll have to keep watching the series to understand. If you’ve been watching movies, you can start connecting what those things mean to the past. “
Where ‘Captain Marvel’ character Monica Rambeau was before ‘WandaVision’
The last time we saw the character Monica Rambeau, she was just a little girl in the 1995 film, “Captain Marvel”. That little girl is now grown up (played by Parris) and somehow entangled in the “WandaVision” world. “Throughout the show, we found out what she’s been up to, what happened to her between that gap in the years,” Parris said suggesting something more nefarious. “And how it grew and evolved or … or not.”
When pressed whether Rambeau experienced decades of MCU horrors (a global alien attack, half of the planet’s population disappearing) and how it impacted her emotionally, Parris didn’t want to reveal much. “We really learned, especially what are these things that Monica saw and will through and how they shaped your life. “
“WandaVision” is not the last place where we will see Rambeau as she joins Carol Danvers, Captain Marvel and Mrs. Marvel in the film “Captain Marvel 2.”
Who is the character of Kathryn Hahn?
Similar to Rambeau, Kathryn Hahn’s character, Agnes – the nosy neighbor on the side – also has a mysterious past. Hahn says the show leans towards this mystery.
“In all these classic comedies, there is always that person who walks through the doors and sits on the couch, but never learns about it,” said Hahn. “In that classic way, I was able to come in like Agnes with all those beautiful tropes set up behind me just to continue.”
How did ‘WandaVision’ set up the expanding MCU Universe on Disney Plus?
“I hope you say get ready for the new and the different,” explained Feige. “I hope all of our films have said that, but certainly with the Disney Plus opportunities, it has allowed us to creatively expand what we do. The original plan was that ‘Falcon Winter Soldier’ would debut last year, followed closely behind with ‘WandaVision’. So creatively it hasn’t changed. Part of having a long-term plan is having the skill and ideas for how to shuffle if necessary. I’m not saying that we were prepared for a global pandemic, we weren’t … The unexpected has often served Marvel Studios well. And it has served us well in this case, because this show being our first one, I love how bold it is, I love how different it is. And I love it as I said before, it’s something that you can only see on a Disney Plus. We have things that you will only be able to see initially in theaters. We have things that can end and are done for that. And this is very much done to be seen week after week on television, which is very different for us. “