When she resumes her role as the witch everyone loves to hate, Kathryn Hahn says it “makes perfect sense,” she continues the story.
The “All the time Agatha” Star who first introduced Agatha Harkness to the world in the hit 2021 Marvel series “WandaVision”, said she was excited by the great complexity of her character.
“It’s so juicy. You can see her as a simple evil witch, but that’s not who she is. Nobody is evil,” Hahn said in a recent interview with The Associated Press. “There’s always something they’re covering up, and they put all these layers on top of it, so the fun was trying to keep the mask on while all these meteors of truth are raining down on that core.”
The Marvel television series, which premieres on Disney+ on Wednesday, picks up after “WandaVision” when Agatha forms a makeshift coven to travel the mythical Witches’ Way in search of regaining her powers. Although Elizabeth Olsen’s Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch Hahn said she felt empowered by the role because she captured Agatha’s magic in “WandaVision.”
One symbol that has become a crucial part of her character is the neo-pagan triple goddess – the maiden, the mother and the crone, as depicted on a brooch Agatha wears in both shows. Hahn says these symbols of transformation in the female life cycle have been reflected in her own life.
“When I walked into this, I felt like I was walking through a portal into my old woman space, whatever that means, and it was a very powerful feeling to feel wise as I embarked on this journey as a woman,” Hahn said.
In addition to references to neopaganism, Wiccan culture, and other witch motifs, “Agatha All Along” is full of allusions. Several films, television shows, musical groups, and more permeate the show’s otherwise spooky aesthetic, but none appear more prominently than “The Wizard of Oz.”
Jac Schaeffer, the series’ head writer, director and executive producer, who also created and wrote “WandaVision,” said the 1939 film felt like a natural touchstone. “We’re in the land of witches,” she said.
“It was clear early on that it had to be a quest structure. And for me, the movies of my childhood that I love so much are all quests,” Schaeffer said. “Once we settled on that structure, it was like, ‘How many references can we put in and what makes sense and what’s entertaining, what’s witchy enough for us?'”
Schaeffer said the series also alludes to Fleetwood Mac, Kate Winslet in the dark crime drama “Mare of Easttown” And “Big Little Lies”, which she described as a “drama soap for respectable ladies” where everyone has “sweaters and beautiful hair.” She also said that the group in this show, led by Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman, is a coven of their own.
The references work because Agatha “is such a performer,” Hahn said — and she is a performer. In addition to capitalizing on “WandaVision’s” penchant for references and mimicking aesthetics, “Agatha All Along” also features another catchy tune that the cast sings throughout the series.
Hahn, together with the ensemble, including Patti LuPone, Aubrey PlazaJoe Locke, Sasheer Zamata, Ali Ahn and Debra Jo Rupp sing an unforgettable song that opens a door to The Witches’ Road. The tune was written by Emmy-winning songwriting duo Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, who also wrote the viral hit “Agatha All Along” for “WandaVision.”
Although some cast members said they were initially nervous about singing in front of Broadway legend LuPone, the three-time Tony winner insisted that all of the actors could sing well and blend their voices well.
“It’s magical being in a choir. Sometimes fate just aligns. Every member of this circle had to pick up instruments or we had to sing, and everything sounds great,” LuPone said. “Sometimes things are fate. I think this was fate.”
The coven’s close bonds on screen seem to have spilled over off-camera as well. Hahn said the group developed a close bond while filming in Atlanta.
“Everyone is such a strong team in their own way that it was very easy to come to work. Everyone was engaged because we were all so excited to work with each other,” Hahn said. “Every day we just sat in a circle on the stage, telling stories and talking about what we were going to eat next. It just became a dream.”
As the cast and creative minds behind the series await the premiere of the two episodes, Schaeffer is holding her breath as keen fans analyze the trailers and theorize about the plot. Although she once thought WandaVision would be a “huge flop,” Schaeffer said she is confident in the series.
“What ‘WandaVision’ taught me is that everything kind of unravels,” she said. “Not everyone is going to be happy, but I think the majority of people really want to be on the edge of their seats, and I’m confident we’re delivering that with ‘Agatha.'”
