Paul Bettany reveals the practical reason behind WandaVision filming early episodes in front of a live studio audience. Marvel Studios will finally kick off Phase 4 in early 2021 with its first Disney+ series. The new chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe will begin with WandaVision, which will bring Elizabeth Olsen and Bettany back to star as Scarlet Witch and Vision. Based on how the Infinity Saga left both of their characters and their relationship, Disney+ is set up to take viewers on an unexpected journey based on the details that have been revealed.
Marvel has only released one trailer for WandaVision so far, and while the show will feature some of the spectacle fans have come to expect from MCU productions, it will begin with a sitcom approach. The series will mimic comedies throughout the decades, and the filming process didn’t take any shortcuts to recreate the styles accurately. For instance, the episode that will mirror shows from the 1950s will be presented in black and white, but it was also shot in front of a live studio audience. All of this wasn’t just done to be faithful to the process of old. As Bettany says, it practically benefited WandaVision.
During a recent interview with ReelBlend Podcast (via Comicbook), Bettany discussed what it was like filming WandaVision in front of a live audience. He echoed previous quotes about how much fun it was to film something with that style. Bettany revealed that the authenticity also helped WandaVision‘s production schedule, as the episodes with a live audience were shot in just a few days, just as old shows used to do. This left WandaVision with the ability to save time for future episodes with action sequences.
“It was so much fun, and there was a practical reason for it, which is you’re trying to have exactly the same production values as you would in one of the movies. So being able to shoot one episode in two days and really curtail the amount of time you’re spending on those early episodes — and shooting them as they would have been shot in the 1950s, with three-camera setups and through sets that are built on a stage with an audience — you get through it really quickly. And then you’re able to bank that time to shoot the action.”
It’s worth noting that Bettany’s reasoning for WandaVision shooting in front of a live audience might reveal that early episodes of the show will have little to no action. Although Marvel could’ve shot action scenes for such episodes at a later date once the live audience was gone, it is implied that these episodes were completely done in just a few days. This could mean that fans shouldn’t expect to see too much superhero action in the earliest episodes of WandaVision. If so, that would line up with previous comments about WandaVision being half-sitcom, half-MCU spectacular. Now the difference just might be more substantial than many anticipated.
Even if early episodes of WandaVision are devoid of any action, these episodes can still be filled with plenty of excitement for viewers. The sitcom approach will surely bring some laughs, but there are some major questions about the state of both Scarlet Witch and Vision when the show begins. The trailer has already teased them struggling to recall what their real lives are like, so WandaVision can supplement action for story reveals early on. Learning more about Scarlet Witch’s past, why they are in this alternate reality, and how they got there will help reveal what happened to them after Avengers: Endgame and tee up the rest of WandaVision‘s story in the process.
Source: ReelBlend Podcast [via Comicbook]
Originally from https://screenrant.com/wandavision-shot-live-studio-audience-reason/