Elizabeth Olsen And Paul Bettany Talk ‘WandaVision’, Shooting The First Episode In Front Of A Live Audience & More
WandaVision starring Elizabeth Olsen, Teyonah Parris and Kathyrn Hahn is less than five days away, and with that means the official return of the MCU!
Leading up to the premiere, critics had the chance to watch the first three episodes of the series (check out my reaction right here). I also had the chance to attend a virtual press conference with the cast and crew from the series. The panel was hosted by legend Jaleel White.
Participating Talent:
- Elizabeth Olsen (“Wanda Maximoff”)
- Paul Bettany (“Vision”)
- Teyonah Parris (“Monica Rambeau”)
- Kathryn Hahn (“Agnes”)
- Matt Shakman (Director)
- Jac Schaeffer (Head writer)
- Kevin Feige (Producer)
Check out what Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany had to say about reprising their characters for WandaVision:
Jaleel White: Elizabeth, because I just loved your performance. You apparently shot the first episode though in front of a live studio audience. How did that affect your performance?
Elizabeth Olsen: Um, oh, god, it was the first thing we shot. It was so nerve-racking and there was a lot of adrenaline. There are a lot of quick changes and it totally confused my brain, I think. I mean, did you guys shoot in front of a live audience a lot?
White: It was about 215 episode [laughs].
Olsen: Oh [laughs], well, then I should have asked you for some tips because it really messed with my brain. The idea of not playing to an audience, but feeding off an audience and having a camera. I was really grateful when we added the fourth wall first.
White: I’m gonna talk to Matt about that for a while though, but I think it’s awesome. I missed quick changes. Quick changes are great. I love this dress up. But I feel like you were drawing from either Elizabeth Montgomery or Lucille Ball – if not both. I mean everything from your eye roll to your hand on your hip. You nailed it. Which one do you think you pulled from more?
Olsen: I think it was like an amalgamation of Mary Tyler Moore and Elizabeth Montgomery, and I think I accidentally threw in some Lucy in the ’70s just because there’s so much physical comedy.
White: Paul Bettany, your character is so off the chain. But what is it about Vision that seems to hold true whatever his surroundings?
Bettany: Yeah, I was worried about that. Initially, I was like, ‘Wow, this feels so different’ as I read the script, and how do I keep them the same? And then I realized, he’s always been becoming something else. You know, he’s J.A.R.V.I.S., he’s part Ultron, he’s part of Tony Stark and he’s omnipotent.
Bettany: But he’s also this sort of naive ingenue. And then I realized, well, I’ll just throw a little bit of Dick Van Dyke in there, a little bit of Hugh Laurie. I think what Vision is is just decent and honorable, and exists for Wanda and then you’re safe.
WandaVision Synopsis
Coming soon to Disney+. Marvel Studios’ captivating new series WandaVision stars Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany, and marks the first series from Marvel Studios streaming exclusively on Disney+. The series is a blend of classic television and the Marvel Cinematic Universe in which Wanda Maximoff and Vision—two super-powered beings living idealized suburban lives—begin to suspect that everything is not as it seems.
