The Falcon and the Winter Soldier director Kari Skogland has opened up about her shock that Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ role was kept a secret from the public. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe series, the Emmy and Golden Globe-winner debuted in the final two episodes as the mysterious Contessa Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine. Nicknamed “Val,” the character has been described by executive producer Nate Moore as a darker and funnier version of Samuel L. Jackson’s former S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury.
Val appears in the series as a voice of support for Wyatt Russell’s John Walker as he is stripped of the Captain America moniker after killing a Flag Smasher in public view. Keen on his desire to go to any lengths to protect the country and his super soldier abilities, she assures him she’ll be in touch soon with a path for his future. After helping bring the threat of the Flash Smashers to an end in the Falcon and the Winter Soldier finale, Walker is visited by Val once again with an update of his old suit and a new name: U.S. Agent.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Skogland reveals she and head writer Malcolm Spellman had an idea early into the writing process that Val would be featured in the show, though they didn’t learn of Louis-Dreyfus’ Falcon and the Winter Soldier casting until after the scripts began to take shape. In looking back at how her casting was kept a secret even from themselves, Skogland is incredulous at how Louis-Dreyfus’ role didn’t leak to the public.
I don’t know how that secret got kept. Those things just come out, but somehow she was a nice surprise…[We worked to] figure out the hair, the earrings, how to keep her grounded but have all the quirkiness that Julia was going to bring to it, and the nuances. It’s hard to see because her hair is so dark, but [the purple streak is] there. That was straight from the comics, of course. We had to include that.
Moore also suggested to EW that Louis-Dreyfus’ Val is only just getting started in the MCU, with the actress stating she wanted to be a part of the larger franchise. It was also previously reported that Valentina was meant to debut in Black Widow, until the global pandemic caused Marvel Studios to rearrange its plans. That being said, it’s currently unknown if she is still set to appear in the Scarlett Johansson-led movie come its release in July.
In the comics, Val has connections to a number of major organizations and storylines that have already been introduced in the MCU and also coming in its future. One of the most notable is the universe upending Secret Invasion line, in which it’s revealed a Skrull agent posed as Val to get close to Nick Fury and learn as many secrets as possible, only for him to discover her true nature. With a Disney+ series in the works based on Secret Invasion and featuring the returns of Jackson’s Fury and Ben Mendelsohn’s Talos, it’s entirely possible Val could pop up in the series in some capacity.
Another possible appearance for the character could be in the forthcoming Hawkeye, given Hailee Steinfeld’s Kate Bishop having ties to the Avengers in the comics. But even more importantly, with Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova reprising her role from Black Widow in the series, should Val also appear in the film, it could explain her carrying over into the show. For now, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier viewers will just have to keep their eyes peeled for where the Contessa appears next in the MCU.
Source: EW
Originally from https://screenrant.com/falcon-winter-soldier-julia-louis-dreyfus-val-surprise/