Saturday, 13 March 2021 13:00

WandaVision's Head Writer Wasn't So Keen On Some Of The Fan Theories

Written by Dan Conlin
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WandaVision's lead writer Jac Schaeffer is proud of the show, but some theories made her question whether fans would appreciate her work.

As the dust settles following the cultural phenomenon that was Marvel Studios' WandaVision, many viewers step blinking into the sun, now free of the countless theories about the show that dominated their minds for months. Well, it turns out the series' head writer, Jac Schaeffer, feels similarly unburdened after the finale, but perhaps not for the same reason.

Schaeffer, who led the team penning the series from its initial conception, ended the run satisfied that her work stayed true to her vision of what they wanted the show to be. However, in a recent interview, she admitted that the constant fan theories quickly began to wear thin on her. That's not to say she was annoyed with them or the fans' clear dedication. It seemed to have more to do with shaking her confidence in the story she and her team had written, making her wonder, even slightly, whether fans would end up appreciating what actually happened. Paul Bettany's cheeky remarks referring to himself as a surprise WandaVision cameo might have agitated things a bit as well.

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"I didn't toss and turn, but it did affect me," she said when speaking to The Hollywood Reporter. "I have to admit. I'm a people pleaser; I want people to be happy." With the multitude of theories regarding big reveals like an ultimate antagonist such as Mephisto or Magneto, Schaeffer feared slightly that fans would get too wrapped up in their own ideas to respect what would end up being canon. In the end, that's why the showrunners had to warn that WandaVision's actual ending might end up disappointing viewers. Whether or not that was the case is debatable, but the tendency to gravitate towards references and callbacks made that warning almost required.

In the general sense, WandaVision's actual antagonist was grief. While there were certainly villains, none of them were the "big bad" who tied everything together, not even Agatha. Sure, the witch with the super catchy theme song affected much of the series, but she just took advantage of what Wanda had already set into motion. Ultimately, Wanda's grief over Vision's death was the catalyst for the entire premise. Schaeffer added, "as far as those theories, I got a little nervous, but even at this point, I don't want Mephisto or Magneto. As a viewer, that's not what I would want out of this series."

WandaVision was impactful enough to attract non-Marvel fans, which likely stirred the theory pot even further. However, the bulk of speculation came from those familiar with the universe. The expectation of cameos and references seemed to almost overshadow what the show was actually trying to do, which is use the events that had already unfolded to tell its own story about loss and coping. It seems to have been largely well-received, but many are likely still disappointed that their ideas didn't come true.

Perhaps that should be a lesson. Even though the Marvel Cinematic Universe had earned a reputation for remaining rather formulaic up to this point, they still managed to put out what many consider to be an incredibly creative and impactful story. So, maybe fans will be more open-minded on what to expect in the future.

WandaVision is now available on Disney Plus.

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Source: The Hollywood Reporter

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