Is this the start of a new era at Disney?
Related: ‘Agatha All Along’: Where and When to Watch the Highly Anticipated Series
Marvel Studios’ first-ever Disney+ (Disney Plus) original series, WandaVision, is set to expand the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and its Multiverse Saga with two exciting spinoffs.
These include Vision Quest, whose production timeline is somewhat uncertain but was initially expected to premiere around 2025, and Agatha All Along, a Halloween-themed extravaganza centered on Kathryn Hahn’s character, Agatha Harkness debuting this week.
Originally titled Agatha: House of Harkness, the spooky new series underwent several title changes, including Agatha: Coven of Chaos and Agatha: Darkhold Diaries. At one point, it was even called Agatha: The Lying Witch with Great Wardrobe — clearly a clever marketing gimmick on the part of Marvel Studios.
However, the title has now been streamlined to Agatha All Along, a nod to the fan-favorite jingle from WandaVision, as the witchy characters face a magical gauntlet while traveling down the legendary Witches Road.
How Will Agatha All Along Be Marvel’s Most Queer Project to Date?
Directed by WandaVision’s Jac Schaeffer, Agatha All Along will adopt a “musical theater” style, taking inspiration from the success of songs from the show like “Agatha All Along.”
Adding to the excitement, celebrated lyricists and composers Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson Lopez, known for their work on all of WandaVision‘s jingles, as well as Broadway’s The Book of Mormon and Disney’s Frozen, have crafted the show’s catchy tunes.
Broadway legend Patti LuPone (gay icon in her own right) will portray the older witch Lilia Calderu in the witches’ coven — who has expressed great enthusiasm for her role, to the point of getting in trouble with Disney.
The series will also feature sorceress Jennifer Kale (Sasheer Zamata), Alice Wu Gulliver (Ali Ahn), and, most importantly here, the Green Witch Rio Vidal (played by Aubrey Plaza).
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Now, Plaza’s character has been the subject of much debate, with several insiders sharing earlier on in the production timeline of the series, that Plaza’s Rio Vidal would be a jilted ex-lover of Agatha Harkness’. With the latest tease from Marvel Studios on social media (in this case, on X/Twitter), this seems pretty likely at this point:
Don’t miss Kathryn Hahn and Aubrey Plaza in #AgathaAllAlong
Watch the two-episode premiere September 18 on @DisneyPlus.
Don’t miss Kathryn Hahn and Aubrey Plaza in #AgathaAllAlong
Watch the two-episode premiere September 18 on @DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/hyxIDoM80Z
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) September 12, 2024
This new dynamic of Vidal as Harkness’ ex is especially hinted at in the character teaser, with the two flying at each other and trading flirty barbs like “I missed you” and “You and me, like old times, right? Could be fun.”
On top of what could be the latest addition to Marvel’s LGBTQ+ canon, the wholesome queer teen drama Heartstopper will see its star Joe Locke join the cast as the primary character that kicks off all the witchy events, set to deliver a much-anticipated performance as “Teen,” speculated to be Scarlet Witch’s son Wiccan/Billy Maximoff/Billy Kaplan from the Marvel comic book world.
Additionally, rumors suggest Miles Gutierrez-Riley may portray Billy’s boyfriend, Teddy, though there’s speculation that Heartstopper star Kit Connor could be considered for the role of Hulkling, a.k.a. Teddy Altman from the Marvel Comics, as the other half of Marvel’s famous gay pairing.
Despite Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) being absent, several WandaVision cast members will reprise their roles as Westview residents, including Emma Caulfield Ford as Sarah Proctor (formerly Dottie Jones), David Payton as John Collins/Herb, David Lengel as Harold Proctor/Phil Jones, Asif Ali as Abilash Tandon/Norm, Fred Melamed and Debra Jo Rupp as Mr. and Mrs. Hart, and Amos Glick as pizza delivery man Dennis.
Following up from Marvel fans’ arguably favorite Disney+ series WandaVision (apart from maybe 2021’s Loki), it looks like Disney and Marvel’s Kevin Feige are hoping Agatha ushers in a new era of Marvel Television.
Are you excited for Agatha All Along to debut this September 18? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!