Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

WandaVision creator says show was forbidden from using certain Marvel characters: ‘It’s not free rein’

Jac Schaeffer reveals Marvel suggested a ‘larger list’ of possible MCU characters to bring in

Louis Chilton
Wednesday 27 January 2021 15:04 EST
Comments
Marvel releases new miniseries WandaVision: opening credits

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The creator of WandaVision has revealed that she was forbidden from including certain Marvel characters in the Disney+ spin-off series.

Released weekly on the streaming service, Wandavision focuses on Avengers characters Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) as they live out a series of 20th-century sitcom parodies.

While the series is expected to tie in heavily to past and future MCU films, including Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, creator Jac Schaeffer explained to Digital Spy that there were limits to what she could do.

“It’s not free rein,” she said. “[Marvel has its] ideas and larger interconnecting pieces. So, there were characters that were suggested to me – a larger list of characters."

She added: “I've worked on other Marvel properties before, and it's always like, ‘Here are some ideas. Does this work? Does this not work?’ Everything needs to have a reason in order to be there, right?”

Randall Park, who played Jimmy Woo in Ant-Man and the Wasp, and Kat Dennings, who played Darcy Lewis in Thor, are two actors who are reprising their roles in WandaVision

“With Randall Park and Kat Dennings, I was like: that's an excuse to work with two people I admire so, so, so much. And also, I saw a very clear way for them to fit in,” said Schaeffer.

However, the writer and executive producer clarified that she was more than happy with the cast she had ended up with. 

“I mean, look at my cast,” she said. “I don't have a problem.”

WandaVision can be streamed now on Disney+, with new episodes arriving every Friday.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in