Photo credits: Disney/Marvel Studios. All characters property of Marvel Comics.
The year 2020 took the entire world on an eerie wild ride. The momentum of the COVID-pandemic raised a lot of questions, as well our fears, about the unknown future. In hindsight, Disney Plus will do the same when it debut its reality-warped series’ ‘WandaVision’ to audiences hoping they will embrace an entirely different future—the conundrum of uncanny storytelling.
WandaVision spotlight the beloved Avengers, The Vision (played by Paul Bettany) and Scarlett Witch aka Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) love story taking spectators on a tumultuous journey polarized through the golden era of television. The 30-minute (and sometimes longer) weekly streaming series will mirror lifestyles similar to that of retro sitcoms such as Bewitched, The Brady Bunch and Full House. However, all is never what it seems when dealing with science fictional characters or the Marvel Cinematic Universe itself.
But we would have had to change a heck of a lot more in the build up to ‘Endgame‘ than we’ve had to now.
Kevin Feige, President of Marvel Studios
Kevin Feige, Marvel Studios’ head honcho, echoed that statement recently when discussing the MCU first installment series WandaVision during an online virtual interview with Screenrant.
“If this had happened a year or two before, we obviously wouldn’t have had [it so easy].” Feige said. “We always adapt, is the truth. That’s part of what storytelling and film making is adjusting and adapting. But we would have had to change a heck of a lot more in the build up to ‘Endgame‘ than we’ve had to now.”
WandaVision is also the first series (of three) in MCU Phase 4 rollout. And although it will definitely feature the best CGI and plenty of explosive action scenes (Marvel’s signature stamp), WandaVision true mission will tell a story of grief, loss and the aftermath –all while asking the question “What If?” (Marvel also has plans to release a series titled “What If” on Disney Plus early summer, but that’s a whole different story [and series] altogether.)
Based off of Marvel’s comics mini-series ‘House of M’, WandaVision is rumored to provide plenty of Easter Eggs for the common comic novice. In fact, even non-comic fans are expected to find lots of clues that will quench their entertainment appetite.
All throughout 2020, Disney’s marketing team barricaded platforms with short trailers that played well into the curious minds of its over 85 million subscribers—and counting. Each clip filled with an intriguing mystery throughout its sometime ‘less-than’ 30-second shorts [Trailers gained traction showcasing more and more each week]. It will be interesting to see how WandaVision writer’s collaboration [with other writers] will tie into other upcoming Disney+ releases Loki and The Falcon and the Winter Solder also premiering this year.
Another first to WandaVision has the MCU converting to a weekly streaming series and will also be a prelude to Marvel’s upcoming 2022 release, Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness. Simultaneously, comic pundits took to Twitter spreading rumors that WandaVision will likely adopt Fox Studios ‘ill-fated’ X-Men chronicles into the Disney household. (Note: Disney obtained the rights to X-Men from Fox Studio after a long court battle that ended in 2019).
Other noteworthy characters starring in the ‘Wanda‘ series include Darcy (Kat Dennings) from the Thor movie franchise; an adult Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Paris) from the movie, Captain Marvel; and actress Katherine Hahn, a perfect badinage to the series. And although Hahn’s character remains a mystery, she is said to play an important part in Wanda Maximoff’s alleged mental breakdown.
All in all, expect WandaVision to be something totally divergent from anything Marvel Studios have created in a very long time—if ever; something Disney/Marvel hope viewers will adapt too. Given the fact that we’re already witnessing a lot of weirdness in the real world, WandaVision will be a welcomed change.