Fans around the world have begun rejoicing in the fact that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has returned an unpredictable hiatus that saw many projects delayed due to the ongoing pandemic. This return was rung in with the premier of WandaVision, set within the town of Westview. Wanda Maximoff and The Vision have settled down to live out the perfect life in an ideal, all-American town that isn’t all of what it seems. Throughout the first two episodes, fans will notice that things are always slightly off, whether it be the fleeting feeling of reality slipping or the realization that no one knows just what is going on most of the time. Throughout the two-episode premiere, many sly and seemingly innocent lines and details are scattered throughout the episodes that may lead fans to believe there may be something much larger in play.
In the second episode, we see Wanda and Vision participate in the local talent show; throughout the episode one thing is consistently mentioned: the show is “For The Children.” On the surface level, you believe that it’s just a whole-hearted charity fundraiser, but towards the end of the second episode it’s revealed that Wanda is indeed pregnant. My running theory is that a grief-stricken and desperate Wanda, made a deal with the devil, commonly known as Mephisto within the Marvel Universe, bringing the Vision back to life in exchange for her firstborn. Wanda would soon realize that she’d made a mistake and is determined to keep her children and her Vision and live the perfect life, and in order to protect her family, she’d unintentionally created this false reality where life was like the perfect American family reminiscent of sitcoms past.
Playing into this Devil’s deal theory, The citizens of Westview, who I believe to be a Coven that Wanda’s made a part of her reality, and while this may be a stretch, I believe we’re a big part in helping Wanda make this deal with the devil. The way Dottie makes a few mentions of the devil and how Agatha acts so careless around her leads me to believe the two could be leaders of the coven, specifically Abigail and Agatha Harkness in what could possibly be what was once New Salem before it was shifted to fit Wanda’s ideal life.
The long-awaited premier of WandaVision has left plenty of fans with a mind full of questions that will all be answered….in due time, but for now we’re left speculating as to what’s really going on in the town of Westview, above and below.
WandaVision has finally aired its first two episodes. It certainly is a unique project, as it avoids the classic superhero action and focuses on sitcom-inspired comedy. It isn’t just inspired, but it is recreating sitcoms from different eras. The first two episodes focus on The Dick Van Dyke Show and Bewitched. These shows aired back in the 60s and 70s, so they are digging deep. Of course, comedy sensibilities have changed substantially over the years, and many wondered if going this far back may be counterproductive. The newer generation won’t recognize most of the references, and the humor might not click the same way for those that grew up with it. Now that the show has aired, it proves that we underestimated the strength of sitcoms.
To this day, sitcoms are still some of the most popular shows that air on television. Even today, there is a wide variety within this genre, such as the police sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine, a family-focused Modern Family, or the never-ending animated sitcom The Simpsons. The latter proves the staying power of this genre, as the series has been airing since 1989. Even as these shows have adapted to modern sensibilities, the core aspects that define them have been there since the first TV sitcom titled Pinwright’s Progress kick-started the genre in 1946. We see it in how WandaVision adapts these classic series, but somehow still manages to keep them fresh
Even a younger audience can appreciate the jokes in large part due to the performances by the cast. ElizabethOlsen and Paul Bettany are a perfect leading pair that bring new life to classic tropes. They also brought in some veterans of the genre, such as Fred Melamed, Debra Jo Rupp, and potentially many more in future episodes. What WandaVision does incredibly well is it knows how to use the awkward phases of older sitcom shows. There were always pauses for a laugh track that tends to go on for too long nowadays. Instead of just leaving them in, they use these out-of-place sequences to add the overall mystery and darker atmosphere slowly seeping out.
Jac Schaeffer and her team did their homework and found ways to re-energize older aspects and avoid the feeling of them being outdated. It’s a love letter to the past that anyone can appreciate and proved its staying power as a genre. In a way, many of us learn to love these older shows through our peers, as many might have grown up on older shows through parents and grandparents. One of my fondest memories was spending time with my mother watching shows she spent her childhood watching. It may also be a gateway for families to discuss the originals after a viewing. It creates a platform to ask your family about their knowledge of these sitcoms. To this day, my grandfather still watches re-runs of The Dick Van Dyke Show and shares his favorite memories surrounding the show. I cannot wait until WandaVision starts to explore sitcoms that I grew up with and remember when I was just a kid watching them. One day, I’ll be able to share the same experience that I had with 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.
Can you believe it? Tomorrow, WandaVision is finally released. After a year hiatus, the Marvel Cinematic Universe returns in style. It isn’t just the first entry in Marvel Studios’ fourth phase, but it is also their first brand new series on Disney+. Of course, they are returning in style by featuring our starstruck lovers, Wanda, and Vision trying to live a suburban life. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Marvel Studios’ story if something wasn’t going wrong. We know that Vision died at the hands of Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War. So, the question remains how is he alive again? If you’ve read the title for this feature, you might already know where I am going with this theory. I sadly believe that while we see Vision interact on his own in the various trailers, he still is dead.
The version of the character we see is, in fact, just the remnants of the android hero through Wanda’s powers. In a way, she is just controlling his body the way Larry and Richard handled their CEO in 1989’s Weekend at Bernie’s. In Wanda’s case, her powers are giving him the ability to act independently. Her memories of the android are giving him life, but only as long as he remains within Westview. Yet, if someone from the outside is looking in, it might just be a lifeless husk floating around with the red hex surrounding it. I actually got the idea when I saw Marvel Studios president’s cap from the WandaVision press release. It featured Wanda’s red outfit combined with a white version of Vision, which just added more to this theory. The more I thought about it, the story’s climax may be quite similar to that of the recently released Wonder Woman 1984.
The eerie feeling conveyed throughout the trailers may be a clear sign of something going wrong. Every idyllic life has its secrets to hide. She made a deal with Agnes, who is still theorized to be the cause for her powers going out of control, to bring him back. Little did she know, it was just a temporary fix that would give her the life she dreamt of for a limited time. At the end of the series, she would have to make a clear decision. Will she embrace her illusion or accept that she would have to let go eventually. The moment the hex surrounding Westview gets broken, she sees what he was the entire time. Yet, that doesn’t stop her from still loving him as she gives him one last embrace and hears his voice echo in her head. Hopefully, I am wrong, and there is a future for Vision in the MCU beyond this project.
To say that WandaVision’s sitcom trappings are merely a gimmick to bring something new to the smorgasbord of superhero fare is a disservice to what it actually does. There’s an actual sincerity to the way WandaVision is designed. A profound appreciation for what the American sitcom has meant to pop culture and to the intricate world the MCU has built. Under the guise of the shows of old, Wandavisioncelebrates all that came before it and what will come in a way that hasn’t been done before. The show is a representation of the MCU’s future.
In true comic fashion, the show pretty much throws you right in the middle of this idyllic town of Westview with little to no exposition as to why Vision and Wanda are living in their own Truman Show. The vignettes that make up each episode provide a glimpse at the happy day-to-day life these two Avengers have made for themselves. Life has been good for the Visions since we last saw them; their romance is flourishing; they just moved into this great neighborhood, and the people around them are welcoming. But all good things must come to a slow and painful end. For the Visions, it begins with them noticing the many glitches in the matrix and the proverbial red pill they have yet to take is the mystery box of the show.
As bleak as that premise sounds, the show is surprisingly fun. The absurdity of two superheroes trying their dandiest to carry on with a normal life is at the forefront here which allows for fine situational comedy. Wanda struggles to make dinner while Vision tries to join the neighborhood watch. There’s honestly nothing more to ask for in a show like this.
It’s honestly hard to pinpoint what doesn’t work in WandaVision. The complexity of the premise might be inaccessible to newcomers who have no idea who these characters are, to begin with. At the same time, the show’s quirky format provides autonomy from all its overwhelming world-building needle drops. The singular day-to-day adventures Wanda and Vision go through to fit in their neighborhood of Westview work perfectly without any exposition. Each decade they adapt is its own thing with its own set of threads. These threads don’t necessarily carry over to the next episode. There’s almost no semblance of a larger story arc with the exception of the needle drops at the end of each episode. Even the character arcs are left vague to service the mystery of what the hell exactly they’re building up to.
Having the arcs shrouded in a mystery box, in addition to the surrealist nature of the show, allows for Wanda and Vision to be completely different characters from their previous appearances. It’s a very unusual way to develop these characters but it also gives stars Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany carte blanche to play it however they want. And boy, do they really have their fun with it.
For me, Bettany is, by far, the MVP of this show. He grounds the show’s sitcom pastiche in a zany performance that is equally self-aware as it is charmingly ignorant. My condescending highbrow self certainly didn’t expect to laugh out loud at 50’s humor, but I did thanks to Vision acting like a believable buffoon. Bettany is totally hilarious in this and steals so many scenes in more ways than one.
Olsen unsurprisingly stands her ground to Bettany’s wacky performance and delivers a tour de force act of her own. While Bettany brings in some grade-A levity to the show, it’s Olsen who balances it with depth and range. She has a jaw-dropping moment in the third episode that will surely elicit some exciting reactions from fans. More than Bettany, the show asks the most out of Olsen, and will likely spotlight the full spectrum of her talents when Wanda becomes the bigger focus in the season’s latter half.
As of the first three episodes, there’s not much yet to grasp with the ensemble cast. Kathryn Hahn’s wink-wink tongue-in-cheek performance as Agnes lends itself to the seeming sinister nature of what Westview really is. She’s fun to watch and is totally hamming it up for good reason. Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau brings an aura of warmness to an ensemble filled with unsettling Stepford Wives characters. As a fan of her work on That 70’s Show, seeing Debra Jo Rupp channel in her inner Kitty Foreman once more, in a Marvel show no less is a blast to watch.
The way the show commits to authenticity as they navigate through the various eras of the sitcom world is impressive as hell. With a few exceptions of a few frames that look too modern and anachronistic, the shows stay true to form as to how these sitcoms actually looked and felt. It even manages to nail the cultural and social sensibilities of the past down to the ridiculous gender norms. For someone like me who finds pop culture of all eras fascinating, WandaVisionfunctions as a nice history lesson on what came before, albeit with a synthezoid and a witch.
Most MCU properties have a rewatchability thanks to the proven and tested Marvel Studios formula that perfectly marries levity, spectacle, and good old comic book fare that make their films worth watching. However, WandaVisionjust might be the property that takes the cake, as far as rewatchability goes. Kevin Feige, Jac Schaeffer, and Matt Shakman have crafted a make-believe world within a make-believe world so intricate that every detail on screen seems to have a life of its own. So much of what you see in the show feels like it means something, even though it might not. Be it the silly gags or the jokes, there’s a purpose to it. Every innocuous detail feels like an easter egg that’ll lead tinfoil-wearing fans into a rabbit hole and keep them rambling for weeks. Even the less nuanced callbacks to previous MCU moments and arcs have a heft to them as they allude not only to the MCU’s past but also to its future. It’s one of those shows where once they finally unveil the ace in their sleeve, every episode that came before will feel completely different.
WandaVision makes a truly convincing argument that the future of the MCU rests within the world of serialized television. The chilling moment where the monochromatic world of Wanda and Vision bursts into Technicolor is emblematic of this new era of the MCU that’s being ushered in front of our very eyes.
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.
Murphy’s Multiverse was fortunate enough to take part in WandaVision’s press junket this past Sunday, and Kevin Feige‘s long and thoughtful answer to a question by our very own Charles Murphy deserves some expanding on. Feige himself said he appreciated the question and were it not for time constraints it seemed he would be willing to dive even deeper into what WandaVision personally means to him, his team, and how those feelings could translate into the show itself.
The show’s initial intent was to simply allow Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany to further explore the characters they’ve both inhabited since 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, while expanding the story of the Scarlet Witch. As things evolved, sitcoms became an integral part of the show, as it was made clear that they would provide an exceptional vehicle to Wanda’s journey. Charles’ question focused on how a personal connection to that format, as well as the medium, might have helped to guide Feige and his team, through such a unique show like WandaVision. A show that seamlessly meshes together all the action, the twists and turns you’ve come to expect from a Marvel Studios project, but that also brings the warmth and comfort behind the nostalgic feel of one of the most iconic television formats of all time. One that brought families together both inside and in front of the television screen for over half a century. And that more often than not managed to go a step further and bring both those worlds together. Feige, Elizabeth Olsen, director Matt Shakman, and a few others that are a part of the production team, all have both personal and professional backgrounds that connect them to sitcoms, and all these ideas that they represent in our, the audiences’, collective imagination, and that shines through.
I watched too much TV as a kid. TV meant a lot to me and I found comfort in television families.
–Kevin Feige
It isn’t an overstatement to reinforce how sitcoms helped shape generations. At one point or another, we’ve all felt a part of the families we saw on-screen on a weekly basis. Their experiences became our experiences, and we often did learn a thing or two. The (sometimes) idyllic settings, the established and safe structure, the way issues were resolved after 20 minutes, all helped in turning the genre into a sort of comfort food for whoever sought a short but much-needed escape. And in the same way, the team behind the show has a very real-world connection to this format of storytelling, the characters within the show are now showing that same longing, respect, and nostalgia towards a, in many ways, better time. It is then through the hearts of the production team that Wanda is also turning to this safe haven to deal with Marvel Universe heartbreak.
From Wanda’s point of view, she would describe WandaVision as a family sitcom of two people trying to fit in. And not be discovered for being different.
–Elizabeth Olsen
Even though there have been hundreds of sitcoms through the years, the ones best suited to intertwine with Wanda’s story, and therefore the ones WandaVision will focus on, are all about family. Those are the truly timeless ones, the ones exploring family dynamics that remain relevant to this day. Nowadays we might talk differently, dress differently, act differently, but the underlying issues are largely the same. Connecting with our loved ones, understanding each other, sharing the days, the weeks and months, entire lifetimes. And that’s where Wanda finds herself. Trying to reconnect, trying to take advantage of a chance to live as normal a life as the ones she saw portraited on TV, trying to enjoy the time she was never given before.
There were a lot of different sorts of workplace sitcoms and other types of sitcoms, but the family piece sort of kept us very very centered.
–Jac Schaeffer
Through the years, TV ended up losing that unabashed optimism and innocence, as problems became more serious, family relations became more complex and reality began to set in a little bit more with the passing of time. The evolution that TV in general, and sitcoms in particular, went through seems to mimic what Wanda will have to endure in order to get to the present day, as hard as getting away from a more comfortable reality may turn out to be. So being, her search for family, for the normal sort of happiness her subconscious envisions as the only comfortable place for her to be in, (and that we as an audience without reality-warping powers share on a different level when reminiscing about quieter times in our youth) will need to face a tough truth. There always comes a time when the real world comes calling and there is little more to do than to turn off the metaphysical tv and soldier on. We are now left wondering if Wanda will find the remote so she can do the same.
Cookie Consent
We use cookies to improve your experience on our site. By using our site, you consent to cookies.
This website uses cookies
Websites store cookies to enhance functionality and personalise your experience. You can manage your preferences, but blocking some cookies may impact site performance and services.
Essential cookies enable basic functions and are necessary for the proper function of the website.
Name
Description
Duration
Cookie Preferences
This cookie is used to store the user's cookie consent preferences.
30 days
These cookies are needed for adding comments on this website.
Name
Description
Duration
comment_author_email
Used to track the user across multiple sessions.
Session
comment_author_url
Used to track the user across multiple sessions.
Session
comment_author
Used to track the user across multiple sessions.
Session
Statistics cookies collect information anonymously. This information helps us understand how visitors use our website.
Google Analytics is a powerful tool that tracks and analyzes website traffic for informed marketing decisions.
Contains information related to marketing campaigns of the user. These are shared with Google AdWords / Google Ads when the Google Ads and Google Analytics accounts are linked together.
90 days
__utma
ID used to identify users and sessions
2 years after last activity
__utmt
Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests
10 minutes
__utmb
Used to distinguish new sessions and visits. This cookie is set when the GA.js javascript library is loaded and there is no existing __utmb cookie. The cookie is updated every time data is sent to the Google Analytics server.
30 minutes after last activity
__utmc
Used only with old Urchin versions of Google Analytics and not with GA.js. Was used to distinguish between new sessions and visits at the end of a session.
End of session (browser)
__utmz
Contains information about the traffic source or campaign that directed user to the website. The cookie is set when the GA.js javascript is loaded and updated when data is sent to the Google Anaytics server
6 months after last activity
__utmv
Contains custom information set by the web developer via the _setCustomVar method in Google Analytics. This cookie is updated every time new data is sent to the Google Analytics server.
2 years after last activity
__utmx
Used to determine whether a user is included in an A / B or Multivariate test.
18 months
_ga
ID used to identify users
2 years
_gali
Used by Google Analytics to determine which links on a page are being clicked
30 seconds
_ga_
ID used to identify users
2 years
_gid
ID used to identify users for 24 hours after last activity
24 hours
_gat
Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests when using Google Tag Manager
1 minute
Marketing cookies are used to follow visitors to websites. The intention is to show ads that are relevant and engaging to the individual user.
Pinterest Tag is a web analytics service that tracks and reports website traffic.
