Every now and then I come across some information the veracity of which can be confirmed by a second source. What happens FAR more often is that I come across some information that while believable and from trustworthy sources, cannot be confirmed by other sources for various reasons. Typically, when the second scenario occurs, I move on and forget about the information unless, in rare instances, it turns out to be proven true somewhere down the road.
With two different Disney Plus series under production at the same time, rumors are running rampant and while it’s a ton of fun to sort through them all, not all of them make a ton of sense; however, I recently came across one that, while unverified, makes a lot of sense. It’s important to understand that, because I can’t verify this with a second source, I myself am treating it as a rumor which means, for the time being, I don’t believe it myself. It’s also important to understand that the information provided would be spoilery if did turn out to be true. So please read at your own risk and please make an effort to represent what you’ve read here as nothing more than a rumor. This isn’t a “hot scoop”, at least not yet. For now, they it is nothing more than a compelling rumor that should generate plenty of great discussion among the MCU fan community. With that having been said, read ahead if you chose…
Obviously I put out some information on WandaVision earlier this week that caused a bit of trouble; however, I’ve continued to hear all kinds of things about the show, but in an effort to be responsible, I’m holding on to the vast majority of the news which includes casting, character reveals and plot details. That said, there is something I feel comfortable sharing as a rumor because, if true, it confirms the suspicion of fans around the globe.
Things I heard this week: Benedict Cumberbatch will be on set for the last week of filming for Wandavision.
Since it was announced by Kevin Feige that WandaVision would tie into Doctor Strange: In the Multiverse of Madness and impact all of Phase 4 and that Elizabeth Olsen would appear the Strange sequel, fans have speculated about just exactly what that means and the timing of Cumberbatch’s scheduled appearance on set could give us some clues.
WandaVision has been billed as part sitcom and part epic Marvel Studios spectacle. I was able to learn that the first half of the season would serve as the homage to classic sitcoms from different eras which means, by default, the second half will contain the big action pieces. Cumberbatch being on set for the last week indicates that he’s likely to only be appearing in the final episode and that can be very telling.
It’s becoming very obvious that Kathryn Hahn’s Agnes is going to turn out to be Agatha Harkness and while a lot of folks are expecting her to be the villain of this piece, evidence from the comic books and from the set (stuff which unfortunately I cannot share) indicates otherwise.
Up until now, Wanda, while incredibly powerful, has used the powers unlocked in her through experimentation at the hands of Doctor List under the watchful eye of Strucker. However, every time he’s had a chance to do so, Feige has indicated that this series will show us why Wanda is known as the Scarlet Witch and while he’s never elaborated on that statement, one can easily infer that it is because she will, under Agatha’s tutelage, enter into the world of the mystic arts.
We’ve also heard rumors and seen evidence from Marvel Studios Expanding the Universe feature that Wanda and Vision will have children at some point during the series, children that, in the comics, are conceived magically.
In the source material, Wanda and Vision’s children, through a strange series of events, are taken away from the couple, Wanda’s memories of them are erased by Agatha and a series of events begins to unfold that ultimately leads to Wanda breaking down, losing control and altering reality.
Since first appearing in Avengers: Age of Ultron, Wanda story has been one of tragic loss after tragic loss: her parents, her twin brother and her lover. The Wanda we saw in Avengers: Endgame displayed a lever of power hitherto unseen in her attempt to extract vengeance from Thanos; should she lose her children, she would certainly go over the edge. I am convinced this will happen and I believe, that as I revealed way back in the 4th episode of Murphy’s Law podcast, that the combination of Wanda’s powers and her newfound ability to use magic will result in her becoming powerful enough to alter reality by the end of WandaVision. And if the Scarlet Witch loses control and breaks reality, there is only one person who can be called in to try to remedy the situation: the Sorcerer Supreme of Earth, Doctor Stephen Strange.
The timing of the productions of WandaVision and Doctor Strange: Into the Multiverse of Madness have always been connected. With WandaVision not coming out until Spring of 2021, it seemed curious to some that it would start filming so early; however, as we’ve learned more about it, it’s beginning to seem obvious that it’s March wrap date was necessary to get Elizabeth Olsen and Benedict Cumberbatch’s work on the series done so they could head across the pond and begin work on the tie-in film. Cumberbatch only being on set for the final week of filming fits perfectly into this timeline and indicates that his role in the series, while more than a cameo, isn’t crucial to the central plot. It sounds very much like we’ll see WandaVision end on cliffhanger to be resolved when Doctor Strange: In the Multiverse of Madness hits theaters on May 7, 2021.
