With the debut of WandaVision last week, the first 2 episodes certainly left viewers with a lot more questions than answers. Why is everything in black and white? Why are we in the past? Why is there a laugh track? How did Wanda rewind the tape? All very valid questions. But perhaps one of the most important ones being asked is, Who is Dottie? There have been a number of theories popping up here and there. Some believe Dottie is the leader of her own cult or coven of witches in Westview. Others believe she is the sorceress Clea. Others think she may actually be the supernatural being known as Mephisto. I actually have another interesting idea in regards to who Dottie may be. But for this character, we’re going to have to dig deep into the Marvel Comics lore.
Dottie is…Arcanna Jones
Arcanna Jones is a very classic Marvel Comics character, dating back to her debut in the 1980s, as part of the Squadron Supreme. While very little of her personal history is known, she has 1 unique characteristic: Arcanna was born with magical abilities. And not only that, but she is a full-on sorceress. Arcanna has magical ability over the elements of nature, earth, air, fire, and water, as well as the ability to cast illusions. Perhaps her connection to nature is why her roses are “divine” and “grow under penalty of death.” But how did I come to this conclusion? There’s one key character that connects it all together.
Phil Jones looks more than meets the eye.
At first glance, Phil Jones looks like the stereotypical side character of the show. But I assure you, he’s far from it. In the comics, Phil Jones is actually Arcanna’s husband and in WandaVision, we know that Phil Jones is married to Dottie. So perhaps in this new reality inside WandaVision, Arcanna underwent a similar change to that of Kathryn Hann’s Agnes, whom many believe to be Agatha Harkness, and assumed a new identity as Dottie.
What do you guys think? Is Dottie Arcanna? Or someone else?
“Who’s doing this to you Wanda?” a voice crackles over the vintage 1950’s radio as Wanda gapes at it, shocked to hear someone speaking to her through it, and into her sitcom reality before it inexplicably smokes and blows up. Or more specifically, Wanda blows it up. Because in a twist not even the great detective Jimmy Woo, or S.W.O.R.D. saw coming: Wanda is doing this to Wanda.
Now, you may ask: “Why doesn’t S.W.O.R.D. or Woo know it’s her doing it all then?” A possible explanation is that they believe her to be one of the good ones again after that big half the universe at stake battle with Thanos, and they just naturally assume that this strange phenomena is another villain trying to hurt her. There is also the very strong possibility that they were not yet aware of the extent and true nature of Wanda’s powers, or that she was even remotely capable of changing the entire visual aesthetic of a suburban town, building that big red hex field around it, and taking control of all its citizens. While Wanda is super powerful, this is a significantly more complex and astonishing power than simply moving objects and blasting enemies. So from their point of view, it’s the most likely scenario that someone else is doing this to Wanda and the town. So they seek her out in an effort to figure out how to help.
Your next question might be: “But what about Agnes/Agatha?! What about Mephisto?! What about *insert villain here*?! One of them must be up to something!” Bear in mind, I’m not saying that at some point someone or something wicked won’t (this way) come into the picture to take advantage of Wanda and this whole situation. Because I definitely have strong suspicions that will happen. What I am saying is that for now, as far as episode one and two of WandaVision goes, I believe Wanda is in charge of and responsible for every stitch of this. For the time being anyway, Wanda is doing this to Wanda.
Let’s start with that ill-fated radio I mentioned earlier. Everything was sunshine and monochrome daisies, music was playing, she was getting some pointers laced with animosity from Dottie, (for the moment, posing as Westview’s resident Mean Girl), when the darn thing started buzzing and bursting Wanda’s alternate reality bubble by asking her what in the Sam Hill is going on?! So Wanda blew it up! It was messing with her vibe, it was breaking her fourth wall. Most importantly, it was taking her out of the fantasy that her beloved dreambot Vision is still alive and they are married and living happily ever after in TV land. Simply put, that gosh darn radio had it coming.
Further evidence that Wanda is in charge comes up in the first episode of WandaVision as well. Wanda is clearly trying to get her and Vision’s story straight pretty early on with Agnes, as she tries to think of a good reason the heart was marked on the calendar, among other details of their lives in this sitcom. Agnes runs through the possibilities as if Wanda is trying to think of it herself on the fly. At first, she’s simply playing out the fantasy and working on this week’s hilarity-filled storyline. A similar guessing game goes on between Vision and his co-worker about their job. It’s not long before, in typical “uh-oh these crazy mixed-up kids” sitcom fashion, Vision comes to a very different conclusion about the heart on their kitchen calendar than Wanda does. His conclusion being that it’s meant to remind them about a special dinner to impress his very demanding boss Mr. Hart and his wife, while Wanda deduces that it must be their anniversary.
The interesting question here to me, is whether or not Wanda is “writing” this part of Vision alone within her fantasy, perhaps whilst sitting on the couch staring at the boob tube, trying to think of the types of stories she was used to seeing in these classic shows. But is she working out everything in her head almost like a fan fiction writer might about their favorite shows and characters, or has she has actually given Vision enough life and free will within the fantasy to act for himself some of the time? And what about his body? Has she reanimated him somehow or is he completely an imaginary figure within this world? What about the other characters? Real and controlled or completely imaginary?
Certain sneak peeks in the trailers and other clues within both episodes seem to indicate that the cast of characters within Westview, are real people but controlled, with some degree of consciousness about their plight, and that they are being largely controlled by Wanda for the purposes of her fantasy. Yes, I would argue, even Dottie and Agnes are being controlled by Wanda for the sake of her story, at least at this point in the series. For instance, you will notice that just prior to the radio blowing up, Dottie asks Wanda, in a much more frightened and confused tone than the confident and kind of bitchy one she had before, “Who is that? Who are you?” It’s as if Dottie momentarily breaks out of the control Wanda had, due to the radio interruption, and reverted to her true self. There are also moments within the trailer where a woman putting up clothing on a line is crying, as if she’s trapped in the moment, and another where Agnes is asking, with a bit more fragility in her voice, “Are you here to help us?” All are indicators the characters are being forced to do things against their wills.
Only time will tell the degree to which Vision has life and power over his own actions within this fantasy. I will say though, that Vision’s free will seems limited within the context of this first episode at least. And if Vision has not actually been given at least a degree of life and free-thinking, through Wanda’s imagination and machinations, it seems from previews of future episodes that he does gain more free will later on as he realizes something strange is going on and goes to investigate.
One reason I question the degree of Vision’s free will early on lies within the first episode, during dinner with the Harts. A few months ago, Edward (@superherotheor1) and I had a conversation in prep for one of his articles about the Harts’ dinner date with Vision and Wanda. In our discussion, I brought up the idea that Wanda is the author of the story of this 1950’s show. Anyone who has ever written fictional stories themselves knows, it doesn’t just come spilling out onto the page, you have to plan it, and sort out details and build worlds. Our lovely Ms. Maximoff has a distinct advantage over pretty much all writers of this world, in that she can change her own reality around her, rather than having to just picture it in her head. Wanda’s world she’s building is based on sitcoms and her love of Vision, but the devil is in the details. Coming up with just the right details, that make sense for a story, can be frustrating at times, and cause you to stop and start and stop again with a story. So when the Harts start to ask too many questions, this flusters Wanda quite a bit and starts to break her out of her fantasy. She takes out her frustrations almost on herself, at first, through Arthur Hart. Because she has control over both the citizens and the fantasy within the world, Arthur’s anger, pounding the table, and demanding answers of her is more like an extension of her own frustration with not knowing all the right answers to best continue the fantasy. But Wanda does not want to be taken out of this world of make-believe by the frustration of all these unanswered questions, so she changes the subject by causing him to choke on his dinner.
Wanda goes a little Darth Vader on Mr. Hart in this story and for a moment changes the storyline to get out of answering questions she hasn’t fully worked out. The reason it’s so very clear to me that it is her doing it, is the faces of the other two actors in the scene. This scene is also the main reason I question the degree of Vision’s free will within the first episode. As Mr. Hart is on the floor choking and clearly in distress, Vision looks at her obediently, and yet, concerned. If he were fully in control, the Vision we all know and love would most certainly immediately save the man. But it’s all up to the little Mrs. here. So he sits and watches her, and waits, as he pleads to her with his eyes. On the other side of the table, Mrs. Hart repeats the words “stop it, stop it, stop it.” At first, she says it as if it’s a joke being played by her cantankerous husband, but then her attention shifts to Wanda. Debra Jo Rupp does something special here, a layering of emotion that creeps across her face and seeps into her voice. I take note of this bit of acting because I can really see there how her character is being forced to play a part, to paste on a smile and get behind the whole charade. As the scene turns more ominous and possibly deadly, there is a look of terror growing in her eyes and her voice combined with the forced facade of continuing to act as Wanda wants her. Then you see that Mrs. Hart has turned from saying “stop it” to her husband as if he’s joking to begging Wanda specifically to stop it, stop it before her husband chokes to death. It certainly gets real there for a moment. Thankfully Wanda comes back from the “dark side” and she allows Vision to save Arthur. Inexplicably, Mr. Hart gets up, Mrs. Hart too, and heads out as if nothing terrible had very nearly happened. Arthur even suggests they talk about a promotion for Vision which causes the studio audience to cheer. While this successfully changes the subject and the tone of the episode back to the lighter-hearted tone it had begun with, there remains something more ominous lurking in the underbelly throughout the end of the second episode, as we now have to wonder how far Wanda will go to make her Wanda and Vision wedded bliss fantasy, her reality.
WandaVision has finally premiered on Disney+, which means we’ve finally got our first real showcase of the way the cast and crew incorporated various sitcoms into the story. Each of the first two episodes was not only rooted in a different decade, but a specific show from that decade…well, sort of.
The 1950s
Episode 1 begins the series in the era which marked the dawn of television sitcoms: the 1950s. I was expecting a lot more imagery and references to the most iconic of 1950’s sitcoms, I Love Lucy, and that it would be the main inspiration behind the episode, but that show has been parodied and referenced so much that it seems almost like a cliche at this point and to do too much of that would have probably felt cartoonish.
So I was totally game to see different way of taking on the era. But it was odd that the main overall inspiration for the 1950’s set episode is clearly The Dick Van Dyke Show…which first aired in 1961.
Thankfully, the clothing, manner of speech, and music (“Yakety Yak” came out in 1959) are all grounded in the intended decade. The main things inspired from The Dick Van Dyke Show are the house set and the episode’s plot. While the storyline isn’t directly lifted from the series, the very first episode of Dick Van Dyke sees the show’s central couple attend a dinner party in order to impress the main character’s boss and being coerced into entertaining the guests at the event.
The other element of the episode that is reminiscent Dick Van Dyke’s is the theme song, from the similar music and tune to the imagery, specifically the moment with Vision trying to carry Wanda into the house bridal-style but dropping her as he walks through the door without opening it. (On Dick Van Dyke the bridal carrying is ruined by tripping upon entering the house).
The 1960s
The creators of WandaVision probably elected to pass off The Dick Van Dyke Show as a 1950’s series so they could reserve the 1960’s episode for the show most obviously suited to a show about Scarlet Witch, Bewitched.
The references to Bewitched in this episode are similar to that of The Dick Van Dyke Show in the previous one. The set is very similar to the one seen on the classic sitcom, and the theme song for this era of WandaVision is mostly instrumental and the video for it is entirely animated. While Bewitched is the show most famous for this theme song format, several others of this era used it as well, including I Dream of Jeannie and Angel.
Like the first, this episode’s plot also takes inspiration from the show it’s emulating; the Bewitched episode “It’s Magic” sees Samantha, the “witch” referenced in the show’s title, subbing in for a magician’s assistant at a charity show and secretly using magic in order to help him perform successfully despite his drunkenness.
Another aspect of this episode’s storyline that also references Bewitched (and many other shows that were produced during the 1960s) is the change from black-and-white to color; Bewitched similarly began its run in black-and-white, but switched to color a few seasons into its run in 1966.
Not a Crutch, But a Tool
What I’m finding interesting about the sitcom elements of WandaVision is that some of the more minor references aren’t necessarily from shows that were on the air during the episode’s set time period. At one point in the first episode, Agnes brings a pineapple over for Wanda to use in the dinner party’s dessert, which some have speculated to be a reference to “The Pineapple Incident” on How I Met Your Mother (2005-2014). Later in the episode, a lobster appears as a door-knocker (which was not on the door when it was opened earlier in the show) which could be a reference to the famous lobster/soulmate comparison on Friends (1994-2004).
So far it appears that WandaVision isn’t necessarily trying to make a lot of specific references to a bunch of famous sitcoms (other than the one inspiring the episode’s overall aesthetic and tone) but incorporating various tropes and using the style of the genre to tell its own story, which is ultimately the wisest decision for a show that will ultimately help propel the MCU forward.
Stories get told through many mediums, such as movies, television, video games, and so on. There is, however, a large misconception that stories are merely just words one character says to another or the overall plot. In reality, that is far from the truth. Many different things go into making a story happen, especially when it comes to mediums like film or television. There’s the cinematography, sound design, set design, character interactions, and so much more. WandaVision‘s first two episodes provided something rare in terms of cinematography. Their attention to detail is outstanding, so why don’t we take a closer look at how far Marvel Studios went with this series.
Here is a spoiler warning for WandaVision’s first two episodes. If you haven’t watched the show yet, then only continue at your own risk.
The Aspect Ratio
Aspect Ratio is defined as the ratio of an image’s width to its height. Simply put, it’s the way we see films when we’re either watching them on the television or an IMAX screen in cinemas. Most movies tend to have an aspect ratio of 2.35 nowadays, which many might recognize from their cinema visit. This ratio wasn’t always the case, as back in the day, aspect ratios actually would vary quite a lot. Back in the day, the standard was 4.3, which is that square image many might remember from their childhood. Marvel’s attention to detail already shows itself at the very beginning of WandaVision, when the Marvel Studios fanfare changes from a 2.35 ratio into black and white 4.3.
I find the use of the aspect ratio to have both a literal and symbolic meaning. The literal meaning is Marvel Studios’ commitment to recreating the various sitcom eras, so they opted to follow the aspect ratio dependent on the tribute. I do believe there’s also a symbolic meaning behind it. At the end of WandaVision‘s first episode, credits start to roll and reveal that someone is watching this sitcom reality. As such, the aspect ratio converts back from 4.3 to the standard 2.35 as it zooms out into a SWORD lab. It turns the 4.3 ratios into a figurative prison. That is why the real world is in familiar 2.35, which is a curious notion to ponder.
The Camera Work
Stories are only as good as the lens that conveys them. WandaVision does exemplary work at pulling it off. In their way to pay homage and recreate the different eras of television sitcoms, Matt Shakman went off to make something that felt authentic and natural to the times, and you can see that in several ways in these past two episodes. For example, in the first episodes, you’ll notice that the camera work followed the I Love Lucy and The Dick van Dyke Show 3-camera approach. Each camera has a deep focus, which means that everything from the background to the foreground remains in focus at all times. You won’t find any flashy or dramatic camera movements, as they only pan to the left or the right with some cuts in between.
The second episode’s Bewitched approach introduced a shallow focus with more close-ups of the actors. As the episode progresses, you’ll notice that the camera work modernizes the instant that the outside world seeps in. There is a glance in the first episode when Mr. Hart starts choking on his food. When he asks Wanda and Vision why they came to WestView, the camera is still in that immobile position, with all four people at the dinner table in frame. It’s not until Mrs. Hart tells Arthur to stop it for a second time that we see the camera angles come in with the slow zoom and the shallow focus. Even the lighting on set turns dark. Once Vision helps Mr. Hart, everything returns to the sitcom format as if nothing happened.
The Effects Work
It even shows in their approach to utilizing technology from the sitcom era they are exploring. In an age where CGI is so commonly used nowadays for even the simplest of things, Matt Shakman went out of his way to use strings and wires to prop all these set pieces up. It sold the authenticity of the first episode and could easily be mistaken for an episode of Bewitched. It makes the episode feel authentic, as they aren’t taking the easy way out. They are committed to recreating these sitcoms in a way that anyone would instantly recognize the inspiration. Everyone involved in this production did their homework and it shows. We’ve only got a glimpse with these first two episodes, so we can expect a lot more authenticity with each era we visit.
This week marks the official return for Marvel Studios and the beginning of Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. That means that the Marvel press machine has been nonstop pushing out articles, interviews and questions for what’s ahead.
In regards to whether Nova would be a film or a Disney+ series, and which one would take the mantle (Sam Alexander or Richard Rider), Feige only responded with a “yes and yes” answer.
In a 2018 interview with Davis, Feige mentioned that the character had “immediate potential”, something he clarified a bit more during their recent chat:
Timing is relative, right? I think I’d been talking about Doctor Strange eight years before that movie came out. So, ‘immediate potential’ is relative. But clearly, we are not shying away from the cosmic end of storytelling right in the sweet spot of the Nova Corps and Nova himself.
Of course, what does this all mean for Nova? Does this mean Nova is getting both a film and a series? And does it mean that we’re getting both iterations of Nova, with Richard Rider’s Nova already existing within the MCU and Sam Alexander rising up to also take up the mantle and serve under his tutelage? Only time will tell when Marvel Studios takes a deep dive into the cosmic side of the MCU.
We’re just hours away from the premiere of WandaVision on Disney+. With a star-studded cast of Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, Kat Dennings, Randall Park, Teyonah Parris, and Katheryn Hann, this show certainly set to be quite the spectacle. It seems like that cast is only going to get bigger, as, during an interview with Black Girl Nerds, Vision actor Paul Bettany teased the appearance of a surprise actor. He’s stated that this actor is someone Bettany has wanted to work with for a while. Now, one of the key elements of any sitcom is the incorporation of guest stars. From John Wayne appearing in I Love Lucy, Adam West in Bewitched, and Christopher Lloyd in Malcolm in the Middle, it is quite common to have an unexpected cameo from a recognizable face appear at least once. So, why don’t we explore who the mysterious guest might be?
1. A Former Sitcom Star
There have been hundreds of sitcoms over the course of television history. We know that WandaVision based itself on quite a number of these like The Dick Van Dyke Show, Bewitched, The Brady Bunch, Full House, and so on. So, it would make sense for one of these actors to appear as a resident of Westview. Imagine the likes of sitcom legends like Dick van Dyke, Erin Murphy from Bewitched, Maureen McCormick from The Brady Bunch, or someone from Full House. We know that Marvel already has included a few former sitcom stars, like Debra Jo Rupp from That 70’s Show, so there might be many more that haven’t gotten revealed yet.
2. James Spader as a Human Ultron
This theory has been something I have hypothesized for quite a while, and I hope it becomes a reality. James Spader was such a key piece in the MCU back in 2015. He had a considerable role in the development of Wanda and Vision in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Hell, he created the body that would eventually become Vision. Imagine someone knocks on Wanda and Vision’s door, and it turns out to be James Spader. He is in a human body and posing as Vision’s father. Perhaps some fans might not recognize him right away without his robotic form, but his voice is certainly something fans will remember. His appearance could even serve as a perfect representation of Wanda’s psyche and trauma. We see it starting to merge with her seemingly perfect suburban life. His appearance in this show, in my opinion, could bring the newly-wed couple’s story full circle.
3. Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange
Having Dr. Stephen Strange appear in WandaVision feels like it’s nearly a given due to the connection this show will have with the upcoming Doctor Strange film. If I had to take an educated guess as to how we might see Doctor Strange in the series, there are two possibilities. One way would be to take a page out of House of M by makingStrange the doctor who helps Wanda give birth to her twins. The other option would be near the end of the show, where he will try to help Wanda not fall into the madness that might befall her throughout the story.
4. A Former Avenger
Wanda’s connection with the Avengers has grown over the last couple of films. Should any of the original members of the Avengers appear in WandaVision, I would suspect it would be characters that have helped Wanda overcome her fears and traumas. My main choices would be Clint Barton and Natasha Romanoff. Clint helped Wanda find her inner courage through which he became a mentor figure. He was the one that dubbed her an Avenger during the events of Age of Ultron. And as for Natasha, she took Wanda under her wing and trained her to blend in as a spy, which we saw during Captain America: Civil War.
4. Hidden in Advertising
We know from an interview with TV Line that Kevin Feige teased that we should pay close attention to the various commercials. I suspect we might see ads from companies that have affected Wanda directly in her past. One notable company would be Stark Industries. Wanda had to witness her own parents’ death when a shell with Stark’s logo on it hit their apartment building. It was one of the reasons they took on the villainous roles in Age of Ultron. Not only that, but I suspect we might see Hydra showcase a commercial that’ll serve as a bit of backstory to how Wanda and Pietro got recruited into the ranks of Hydra before the events of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Just imagine Dominic Cooper or Thomas Kretschmann appearing in various commercials as Howard Stark and Baron von Strucker. They keep trying to sell their unique products to Wanda with empty promises. They could be giving cheesy, expositional commercials about their companies to represent the sitcoms era.
6.Evan Peters
Thanks to our very own Charles Murphy, we know that Evan Peters is joining the show in a mystery role. Now, I have several suspicions as to who Peters could be playing. No matter the way I look at it, Peter’s role will mess with Wanda’s psyche. His experience playing antagonistic characters in the American Horror Story series certainly would make him the perfect candidate. Many people suspect he could be portraying an interdimensional villain, who comic fans might know as Nightmare. Others claim he could be Marvel’s resident devil, Mephisto. Some have even mentioned the possibility of Evan taking on the mantle of Pietro Maximoff. The one thing that these characters have in common is the ability to convince others to do their bidding. And if he did end up portraying Wanda’s brother, it would be nice for him to pay homage to the House of M story arc by being the one that convinces Wanda into making a new reality, where everything can live their dream life.
It’s been over a year now since the last time fans got treated to some brand new MCU content. With the release of WandaVision, the wait is nearly over. So, we thought it might be a perfect time to catch up with our favorite characters before the premiere of the Disney+ series. We have a surprisingly extensive cast returning to the series, so we decided to focus on individual characters as we near the show’s release on Disney+. Today, we’ll explore the history of the MCU’s resident witch, Wanda Maximoff, or better known as the Scarlet Witch.
Wanda Maximoff entered the MCU during the post-credit scene of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. She and her brother, Pietro Maximoff, were the only survivors of Wolfgang Von Strucker’s experiments. They got imbued with the powers through Loki’s scepter, which later revealed to contain the Mind Stone. It seems it was a hotspot for genetic irregularities and that the cosmic rays of the Mind Stone managed to activate their dormant powers. These powers were the driving force once they fought the Avengers in Avengers: Age of Ultron. She played with the minds of Bruce Banner and Tony Stark. Both led to some dire consequences. One of them being the creation of Ultron, who persuaded them to join his cause. It wasn’t until he revealed his plan that they would help the Avengers take him down. However, it came at the cost of her brother’s life, which led to us a glimpse of her powers going out of control. Afterward, she becomes a full-time member of the Avengers and starts a new life in the States.
Wanda’s life as part of the Avengers wasn’t a simple one, especially in Captain America: Civil War. The mercenary Crossbones was trying to blow up everyone with a bio-weapon in Lagos, which she tried to contain. Sadly, she couldn’t hold it forever. These events resulted in the Sokovia Accords. Wanda signed them out of guilt for her actions. For PR reasons, she remained at the Avengers mansion with Vision acting as her guardian. It was the spark that started creating a bond between the two. After Hawkeye helped her escape, she found herself siding with Captain America. It ended up in her getting arrested and trapped on the Raft. That was until Rogers returned and broke them out.
The next time we revisit the unusual couple is during Avengers: Infinity War. She remains on the run while periodically meeting up with Vision, as their love started to blossom. Suddenly, they are attacked by the Black Order, who are after the Mind Stone. They barely manage to get away with their life once Roger arrives to help them. Their journey takes them to Wakanda, where the Wakandan princess Shuri attempts to remove the stone while preserving Vision’s consciousness. However, that plan fails once Thanos arrives with the other stones in his possession. This forces Wanda to make the ultimate sacrifice, as she manages to destroy the Mind Stone alongside her love. Unfortunately, the effort was all for null, as Thanos used the Time Stone to bring back the Vision and retrieve the Mind stone to complete his mission. The moment he snapped his finger, Wanda was among those to vanish into dust.
After the Avengers managed to turn the tide on Thanos in their battle in Avengers: Endgame, they managed to return those that got dusted. Wanda returned to fight alongside her friends to defeat those that hurt her. She even got her chance for revenge, as she faced the Mad Titan once more with all she had. In the aftermath, the heroes mourn the loss of Tony Stark. In a moment of reprieve, she and Hawkeye discuss those that were lost, where she hints at Vision knowing they succeeded. that was the last moment we saw Marvel’s sorceress. At some point, she ended up trapped in a sitcom dimension. It seems that somehow Vision was even revived. We’ll find out more once the Disney+ show premieres on January 15th.
The last couple of years for Marvel’s Phase 3 seemed like the pinnacle of the MCU’s popularity. Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War hit a bunch of records and milestones for both the franchise and the genre as a whole, and the three movies that came out in 2019 all surpassed $1.1 billion. And, of course, Avengers: Endgame grossed well over double that amount to becoming the highest-grossing film of all time.
The hype for Phase 4 is still massive, of course, but it’s hard to imagine it surpassing the level it was at during the back half of Phase 3. I know the same thing was said about The Avengers back in 2012, but at this point, the MCU is probably the most popular movie franchise in the world. Pretty much everyone who would be interested in checking out these movies has done so by now, and the films themselves can’t get any bigger in scope and scale than they already have. Even with all the multiverse stuff on the horizon, we won’t see a movie with as many headlining heroes as the most recent two Avengers films for quite some time, if ever.
If Marvel Studios wants to expand its audience – and it surely does, especially since becoming a major part of a streaming service that needs to keep growing its subscription count by appealing to as wide a variety of potential users as possible – it needs a new approach to hook newcomers. And from the looks of the MCU project lineup set for the next few years, there are three main ways they are aiming to achieve this.
Inclusion
This is something we started to see more of an emphasis on towards the end of Phase 3 (it probably would have come sooner if not for Ike Perlmutter). Black Panther was a phenomenon that was highly praised not just as a superhero movie, but as a cultural moment for the Black community. Captain Marvel was the introduction for a lot of girls and women to superhero movies and many have since gotten invested in the MCU. Both movies piqued the interest of people who wouldn’t normally watch superhero movies, and a decent amount of those people seem to have stuck around and are now eagerly awaiting more Marvel content.
Looking at the 2021 projects alone, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Ms. Marvel, and Eternals are all set to feature characters from backgrounds that are underrepresented not just in superhero and action movies, but Hollywood in general. While it’s unknown just how well these stories and depictions are going to be handled, if they’re in a similar vein to the two aforementioned projects in how well they represent groups including the Asian, Muslim, Deaf, and LGBTQA+ (or GRSM) communities, they may draw in viewers from them who wouldn’t normally be into Marvel material and could be a major factor in the push for more of this kind of (hopefully positive) representation in the media going forward.
Medium
Pandemic aside, the launch of Disney+ couldn’t have come at a better time for Marvel Studios. It came out at the time when Marvel could no longer just keep scaling the scope of their movies up with each new event film; they had to find a new way to grow and expand their universe. The addition of miniseries on a streaming service to tie in with their theatrical films seems like a great direction for them to go in as it allows the studio to develop certain corners of the franchise in a deeper way than they could while operating on simply a few-films-per-year content schedule. It may also attract new fans who have subscribed to Disney+ for other reasons, like Star Wars or the library of classic animated films; it’s easier to press a few buttons and try something new on a streaming service that you’re already paying for than to drive out and fork over more money to go to a theatre and see something you’re not sure if you’ll like or not. And if newcomers to Marvel do enjoy the archive of movies and episodes of the new series, they may be more apt to head out to theatres to see future movies in the MCU.
Genre
Marvel Studios is no stranger to playing around with different genres; Ant-Man is a heist movie, Captain America: The Winter Soldier a political thriller, Guardians of the Galaxy a space comedy, etc. But some have pointed out that a lot of the movies seem to be getting formulaic in a sense, and it looks like Marvel Studios is trying to get away from that in Phase 4.
WandaVision is perhaps the most obvious example of a departure from the norm in terms of genre, given that several of its episodes will be much more sitcom-y than a typical action-adventure one would normally expect from Marvel Studios. Also on Disney+ will be the law comedy of She-Hulk and mystery thriller of Loki.
On the film side of things, Eternals is said to have a very different look and feel to the other MCU movies thus far, and it has been noted that the bulk of the film was shot on practical sets built specifically for the movie. There’s also been a lot of talk about how much Doctor Strange: In the Multiverse of Madness will diverge from the typical vibe of a Marvel movie. It was originally announced to be “the first scary MCU movie”, but there’s been debate about just how scary it will be, given the film’s PG-13 rating and original director Scott Derickson’s departure from the project and replacement by Sam Raimi.
The Doctor Strange sequel might not be getting the R rating some fans wanted, but at least one film on Marvel’s docket will and another just might. Shortly after Blade’s announcement in 2019 it was rumored to be rated R, and Deadpool 3 was confirmed to also be rated R (and set in the MCU) just a few days ago during WandaVision press. The R rating for Blade, in particular, may attract a certain demographic of moviegoers not normally into the MCU who generally prefer darker fare.
Marvel may be on top of the world right now, but it’s important that the studio doesn’t get complacent going into this next phase of projects and beyond. It’s time to take risks and get weird, and we’re about to see if they’re going to do just that.
With the news that Jamie Foxx is set to return to the role of Electro and the rumors of Alfred Molina reprising his role as Doctor Octopus, it seems that what started out as whispers become louder and louder. It’s hard to deny that the upcoming Spider-Man threequel will be a live-action Spider-Verse adaptation. One of the main questions many fans are wondering: who would be the main antagonist in this story? Especially if the film will reintroduce the pioneers of live-action Spider-Man, Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield. Well, Joseph Aberl and I have a pretty good idea of what we’d want to see. So, we think that if these castings are real, Marvel Studios and Sony are possibly setting up multiple antagonists. This film could be our first live-action introduction to the Sinister Six.
Who are the Sinister Six?
In 1964, Marvel introduced the world to the Sinister Six. It was a team of supervillains determined to defeat Spider-Man once and for all. In the comics, Doctor Octopus had contacted five of Spider-Man’s enemies. These included Electro, Vulture, Mysterio, Sandman, and Kraven to work together against their greatest foe. During their first appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1, each member would take on Spider-Man one at a time. Their goal was to wear him down until he could not defend himself anymore. In the end, their plan failed. Since, there have been multiple versions of the team over the years with different members such as Hobgoblin, Chameleon, Lizard, Rhino, Shocker, Scorpion, and Mr. Negative, just to name a few.
So far, the Marvel Cinematic Universe of Peter Parker has only faced off against two main antagonists in his solo films, Vulture, and Mystery. There were a handful of secondary villains, which included brief appearances of Shocker and Mac Gargan. So bringing in the Sinister Six at this time would seem like an unlikely turn for the story to take. Not only are there not enough villains from Spider-Man’s lore in the MCU, but they would easily overpower the current version of Spider-Man, as he got pushed to his limits with one until now, so try to imagine him taking on six at the same time. Yet, what if the Sinister Six faced off against three different Spider-Men? Now, the story is expanding and opens up the question of who else may join the various Spider-Men into the MCU.
Multiversal Sinister Six
So, we want to explore the concept of a multiversal Sinister Six. We want to bring in villains from Spider-Man’s cinematic history. However, the iterations will not be the same characters that were in the previous films, but rather, just the same actors giving these iconic characters a new twist. Of course, we’ll also bring in some new faces. They will add some new twists to the upcoming threequel. So let’s kick it off with the main man leading the group.
1. Alfred Molina as Doc Ock
Edward:Alfred Molina‘s role as Doctor Otto Octavius was regarded as one of the most memorable performances of a supervillain in a comic book movie. But the last time we saw Alfred Molina‘s Doc Ock, he sacrificed himself to save New York by drowning alongside his fusion power generator. So if I were to reintroduce Molina into the MCU as Doc Ock, I would probably go the route they did with J Jonah Jameson by introducing the same actor portraying a different version of the character. He would be the one to bring together the Sinister Six.
Joseph: Alfred Molina‘s take on Doctor Octopus is one of the most iconic in comic book cinema history. The selling point about Spidey’s villains, especially in the original Sam Raimi trilogy, is their connection to Peter. He was the mentor that Maguire’s Peter always wanted until a day went wrong turned him into something else. I hope that we don’t get an actual “Doc Ock” in this film. I think he would make for a perfect man in the shadows, who doesn’t participate in the fights. Octavius is the brain behind the operations. He only shows his hand once the film nears its climax and may have an ulterior motive in taking on the Spider-Men.
2. Jamie Foxx as Electro
Edward: Jamie Foxx returning as Electro opens a pathway to many possible ways he makes his return. The last time we saw Foxx‘s Electro in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014), he absorbed so much energy that he exploded and just disappeared. However, there’s an essential law in Physics that may explain his reappearance. The First Law of Thermodynamics states that energy cannot be created or destroyed. It converts from one form into another. He may have reached a level that allowed him to travel from one dimension to another. But again, I believe this will also be another J. Jonah Jameson scenario where the same actor will portray a different version of the character.
Joseph: I was a fan of the energy that Foxx brought to the role. The nerd angle was pointless, but he did prove he could be quite a menacing threat given the right tools. I think this version might be Max Dillon from the mainline MCU, who ends up fusing with his Amazing Spider-Man counterpart after his explosion. A rift in dimensions can do a lot, so the moment Elektro turned into pure energy, he may have accidentally bestowed these powers to a different version of himself. It would be a fun way to connect both storylines while also not always falling back on it just being a different version of an existing character. He will probably be the team’s heavy-hitter who does their dirty work throughout the film.
3. Jake Gyllenhaal as Mysterio
Edward: I don’t think Mysterio is dead. Marvel would not waste a talent like Jake Gyllenhaal for a one-time role. I’m betting that Mysterio is still alive in some way or form. Hiding out and biding his time to enact his revenge against Peter. And, as one of the original members of the Sinister Six, it would be a perfect opportunity to bring him back.
Joseph: So, Mysterio is a curious addition to this line-up. In a way, the version we got introduced to in Far From Home would not be the kind to listen to others. As such, he probably ends up working alongside Dock Ock to re-establish himself as the dominant hero of the MCU. I wouldn’t be surprised that he was hoping to make a return from the dead to build on that classic trope. He would then defeat Spider-Man to prove he is the true hero that Triple J claims. With the introduction of other multiverses, he uses this opportunity to add to his heroics, as he can never get enough. He could pretend he was under mind-control or was undercover to make his story stand out. Whatever role Gyllenhaal might have in this story, he certainly will leave some theatrics. Imagine Spider-Man’s accusations getting lifted and forced to work alongside Mysterio after the events of this film.
4. Michael Keaton as Vulture
Edward: This one seemed like a pretty easy add. We all know that Michael Keaton is returning in Morbius (2021) and possibly escape prison alongside Mac Gargan during that film. He’ll probably want to seek revenge against the person responsible for putting him behind bars in the first place.
Joseph: Vulture is the only hero who knew Peter Parker’s real identity before Mysterio released it to the world. I think he will be a reluctant villain throughout the film. Yes, Peter did put him in prison, but he also saved his life. There was no reason for him to keep his identity a secret. Now that it is public, there is no reason for him to hold that against him. I wouldn’t be surprised if he decides to save Peter’s life. That way, they are even from the events in Homecoming.
5. Dane DeHann/Jacob Batalon as Ned Leeds aka Hobgoblin
Edward: I’m going to be speaking on the prospect of Dane DeHann being the Hobgoblin in this film’s version of the Sinister Six. One of the most interesting aspects of Hobgoblin is that his identity was a bit of an enigma in the comics. Spider-Man (and the readers) were led to believe that Hobgoblin was the former fashion designer Roderick Kingsley. In reality, the mantle “belonged” to Ned Leeds, who was brainwashed by Kingsley. The rumors of Ned becoming Hobgoblin in this film truly are a remarkable idea and, while I would love to see Jacob in the role, imagine if Marvel added a unique twist. The Hobgoblin Spider-Man was facing was indeed Ned Leeds, but from another dimension, and portrayed by none other than Dane DeHann. It would allow Dane the opportunity to redeem his portrayal of the Green Gremlin, I mean, Goblin in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014).
Joseph: Nothing hurts more than your best friend betraying you. As interesting as it would be for DeHann to get a second chance at a Goblin role, it would take some time to explain. We spent a few films with MCU’s version of Ned, who deserves a bit more spotlight. Peter knows his best friend. He would trust him with his life. So, what if Spider-Man faces a Hobgoblin, who turns out to be a different version of someone Pete knows. Would he doubt his friend moving forward? Will Peter remember how important it is to balance his social life to ensure his friend never goes down that dark path. It would also become Peter’s lowest point when he realizes what his inaction could cause to the people he loves.
Joseph: Even if they do not give us a Sinister Six storyline, I want a live-action adaptation of Kraven. I do think he might be the connective tissue that starts the multiversal storyline. They may combine him with the character of Morlun, who has an obsession with hunting down Spider-Man. This version started working together with iconic villains throughout his multiversal travels. They managed to make his hunt easier, as each new Spider-Man added a new challenge. He let Dock Ock take control as he realized his strategic potential would make his life a bit easier so he can focus on the hunt.
Bonus Chess Pieces
Edward: The beauty of the Sinister Six is that these villains can swap with other villains. They are like pieces on a chessboard, and with such a diverse rogue gallery, it’s nearly impossible to pick which six will be a part of the group. As such, we included some additional villains in reserve. So if I had to make a couple of bonus picks for the team to swap out with any of the others that we decided upon, I’d have to go with Thomas Hayden Church as Sandman and Paul Giamatti as Rhino. These two characters need a second opportunity to shine and take on the web-slinger. Plus, Sandman is one of the original members of the first Sinister Six, so it only makes sense to bring him in for that role. As for Paul Giamatti as Rhino, well, I won’t lie, Paul‘s take on Rhino was cheesy in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014), but even with the little time screentime that he had in the film, you could tell he had a good time with the role.
Joseph: So, I want to go left-field with the reserve members. I would love to see them embrace villains outside of the pre-existing films. Just like how The Mandalorian brought animated characters into live-action, I would love to see them introduce the PlayStation 4’s version of Mister Negative, who was played by Stephen Oyoung. His character would be quite a visual distinction from the rest and it would be intriguing to embrace the multiverse in all its facets. Why stop there? We could see The Spectacular Spider-Man‘s Lizard appear, whose appearance is followed by Josh Keaton‘s Spider-Man shouting something before the reptile ends up in the MCU. In a multiversal storyline, it seems like anything is possible.
After a year-long hiatus, WandaVision is ready to kick off the MCU’s Phase 4 in a massive way. So, we thought it might be a great time to recap fans on the various big players that will return in the upcoming series. In this article, we’re going to focus on a character that has been a part of the MCU since its conception back in 2008’s Iron Man. What once started as a simple voice-over job turned into something much bigger. So, without further ado, let’s kick off our blast to the past by exploring Vision’s history in the MCU.
Vision was once Tony Stark’s artificial intelligence known as Just A Rather Very Intelligent System. Of course, it was an acronym inspired by his father’s butler, Edwin Jarvis. He ran security at Stark’s home before becoming an essential part of his Iron Man suit. It wasn’t until Avengers: Age of Ultron that he would become the android we know and love. After believing Jarvis got destroyed by his newly created A.I. known as Ultron, Stark found him subconsciously protecting nuclear codes. At the same time, Ultron created an organic body that would become his new vessel. Well, that was until the Avengers got their hand on it and decided to upload J.A.R.V.I.S. into the system. With some help from Thor, Vision is born and greets a new world. He went on to aid the rest of the Avengers in the Battle of Sokovia and got the upper hand above Ultron before joining the team officially.
In Captain America: Civil War, Vision acts more like the voice of reason (and inspirational quotes), convincing the Avengers that registering for the Sokovia Accords is a reasonable and smart decision. Trying to reduce tensions after Wanda lost control in Lagos, Vision was assigned to watch over her at the Avengers headquarters. During that time, the two managed to bond over their powers, the Mind Stone and Paprikash. Eventually, Hawkeye came in to recruit her for Cap’s side, but not without Vision trying to stop them. These events led to Wanda making the choice to temporarily incapacitated Vision and escaping with Clint. The pair met one last time in Germany, where both sides took a stand against each other. During the battle, Vision accidentally injured War Machine while aiming for Falcon.
In Avengers: Infinity War, we find out that Vision had been evolving ever since he eloped with Wanda. During their time in hiding, they fell in love. Suddenly, the Black Order hunts down Vision for his Mind Stone and only managed to survive with some help from Steve Rogers, Black Widow, and Falcon. Their mission now becomes to find a way to safely remove the stone from Vision’s head without killing him. They seek refuge in Wakanda. Scientist and part-time princess Shuri uncovers a way to separate them but can’t finish it in time before the Black Order get in the way. Once Thanos arrives for the stone, he begs Wanda to destroy the stone in a last-ditch effort, as he proclaims he loves her. Sadly, Thanos already had the Time Stone in his possession and brought him back to life. Without mercy, he ripped the stone out of his head and left behind an empty grey husk.
We all believed his story ended, but it seems to have only begun. From the trailers, it looks like Vision and Wanda are living their perfect lives. They are happily married, with kids, living peaceful, quiet lives in a suburban neighborhood. But there are still so many questions that remain from all of this. How is Vision back when he was destroyed during Avengers: Infinity War? Hopefully, all of these questions and more will get answered when we delve into the world of WandaVision this coming January 15th.
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