In a first for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Wandavision was filmed with a live studio audience. In an effort to recreate the look of a 50's sitcom a la I Love Lucy, the series was shot in black and white with lenses and lighting from the period to truly capture that vintage glow. Even the crew dressed up as if they were back in the 50's.
In a cover feature for Entertainment Weekly, leads Paul Bettany and Elisabeth Olson talked about the effort made to make the first episode of the upcoming Disney+ series Wandavision as period accurate as possible. It even uses the same techniques as classic magical housewife sitcoms Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie to depict Wanda Maximoff's witchcraft.
Wandavision has both Wanda (Olson) and Vision (Bettany) living together in marital bliss living in white picket fence surburbia but this TV perfect marriage may not be as real as it seems. The idea came from Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige who is a self professed sitcom nerd. Head writer Jac Schaeffer explained “The show is a love letter to the golden age of television. We’re paying tribute and honoring all of these incredible shows and people who came before us [and] trying to blaze new territory.”
For Elizabeth Olson, the whole experience felt like a trip back in time saying “There was something very meta for my own life because I would visit [Full House] tapings as a kid". When Wandavision does eventually drop, its trip back to a comforting past may be all too relatable.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Wandavision will launch Phase 4 of the MCU due to Black Widow and Eternals having their theatrical releases delayed indefinitely. With filming substantially delayed on The Falcon and Winter Soldier, Wandavision was the closest to completion before production was shutdown though there's still no release date confirmed.
Wandavision is expected to premiere on Disney+ early in 2021.
Source: Entertainment Weekly