We’re just hours away from the finale of Marvel Studios’ “WandaVision” and those involved are tempering expectations following weeks of fervent discussion as to how the show might end.
SPOILERS AHEAD FOR “WANDAVISION” UP TO 1×08.
This is a series about dealing with grief and so the ending is likely to be a fairly natural one about Wanda coming to terms with her loss. However the discussion around the show has become so intense that at this point if Mr. Fantastic, Mephisto or some other ‘big bad’ and at least one if not several Avengers don’t show up, there’s going to be disappointment.
A perfect storm has come together of a large and very active fandom that has been deprived of new content for a year, select interview quotes spinning out of control speculation, a streaming service that has established Fridays as appointment TV in an age where it has almost died out, and a studio inclined to appease fans and avoid risk wherever possible.
One comment fuelling a bunch of speculation has been actor Paul Bettany’s quote about working with an actor he’s always been desperate to work with, one with whom he had great chemistry, but not revealing who. Speaking with GMA this week, Bettany seemed to confirm that he himself is the actor in question as the episode will include Vision facing off against the all-white Vision revealed in last week’s end credits scene:
“Yeah, you know when you think something is gonna be funny and then you panic? Which is what I actually did because fans started guessing who it might be. They were guessing people like BC or PS and I was thinking, ‘God, that’s a good idea, and they’re going to be so disappointed when they find out it’s me.’”
Director Matt Shakman has also spoken up about all the fan theories circulating. Talking with EW, Shakman says he knows a lot of people who follow these theories will be disappointed but hopes they will still find the finale satisfying:
“I hope that they feel like the journey was satisfying for them. I know there are so many theories out there; there will be a lot of people who will no doubt be disappointed by one theory or another. But we’re always telling this story about Wanda dealing with grief and learning how to accept that loss, and hopefully people will find that the finale is surprising but also satisfying and that it feels inevitable because it’s the same story they’ve been watching the whole time.”
He also touched upon the other highly discussed fan casting theory topic – that of the previously referred to aerospace engineer character with “Fantastic 4” character Reed Richards an early bit of speculation. From the sounds of it, don’t set your hopes too high as he confirms to ComicBook.com the character isn’t a big deal:
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. The single tear down every fan’s cheek, I know, aerospace engineers and the like. I have been so taken by the passionate interest in the show. And I love the memes they have created, the Tik Tok videos, the theories. I mean, my gosh, the people making these theories are more creative than I am, so thank you! There’s a lot of wonderful response to it and for those who get a little bit disappointed each week…. I mean, certainly the amount of passion around the aerospace engineer certainly was one that was pretty great. I mean, sure, it would’ve been great if Reed Richards had showed up in that room, that would have been pretty great.”
We’ll find out for ourselves when the finale of “WandaVision” goes live on the service tomorrow.