Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is the first cinematic blockbuster from Marvel Studios released in 2022. The film marks the first expedition of the character Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and his colleagues into the multiverse on screen. wide.
In the movie, Elizabeth Olsen takes on Wanda/Scarlet Witch with a completely opposite appearance and personality from parallel universes. Her characters play a very important role in the development of the film as well as the thrilling, scary atmosphere – sometimes leaning towards horror – that the work wants to build.
Sharing with Zing, actress Elizabeth Olsen revealed many interesting behind-the-scenes stories surrounding the characters she plays as well as the chaotic multiverse in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
The opportunity to play an imperfect superhero
- Your character has changed a lot since Endgame and WandaVision. What is the biggest difficulty when you simultaneously play the honest Wanda of Earth-838 and the dark Scarlet Witch from Earth-616 in this movie?
- I think the biggest difficulty lies in the fact that they are two different versions of the same character. I wanted to use small details to show the difference between one person and another. They are the same woman, but placed in different situations. I think the difference between them is largely expressed through appearance, but the difficulty is how to avoid having to tell a long story. Therefore, my success is to show the temperament of the two characters, thereby helping the audience distinguish one person from the other.
- Scarlet Witch thinks that the people around her are treating her unfairly. Do you feel that way?
- I think they treated her unfairly in the past. Maybe after the events at Westview or Doctor Strange, they rated her more highly? But certainly in the past they have always overlooked this character.
- How did you come to the Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness project?
- The idea of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was discussed by Kevin Feige while we were discussing the TV series WandaVision, but at that time neither side knew anything about the story’s development. It wasn’t until last summer, when WandaVision was about to wrap up filming, that I was introduced to the official plot.
- How is the version of the witch Wanda in this movie different from previous appearances?
- This is a great opportunity for me. Personally, I feel that if I just played a superhero who never made mistakes, it would be very boring. I think the first reason I became attached to the character of Wanda was that she had a clear faith. Even when that belief was contrary to the majority, she did not flinch. She has her own perception and will admit if she makes a mistake.
I think WandaVision marks the first time Wanda has full control over her life. She makes her own decisions, without needing help or being controlled by anyone. Because of that, the character has too many problems to deal with. She also feels responsible for what has been done to the town of Westview and the people who live here.
At the same time, the character also experiences a great sense of loss when the fantasy life she built for herself is shattered and then realizes it can still exist somewhere in the multiverse. She must have thought “I sacrificed Vision in Avengers: Infinity War. I sacrificed my own family for what’s right”.
- Sam Raimi is a veteran filmmaker, the man behind three classic films about the character Spider-Man played by Tobey Maguire in the early 2000s. What was it like making a film with Raimi?
- From the first day I worked with him on set, I knew I would have a great time. Sam Raimi is kind and open, somewhat contrary to the atmosphere of his works. He is a sweet, sensitive, kind and gentle man who makes crazy horror movies and many other great works. But he is most famous for terrorizing audiences on the big screen.
I feel that the most wonderful thing about Sam is his experience, skills and understanding of filming as well as his ability to skillfully use technical equipment. He is cheerful and open to collaboration opportunities. Sam will accept your idea and develop it. It was a really fun process. I worked with Sam to find ideas for my characters, and was very pleased to be able to recreate them on screen.
I think Sam and I were really excited about this character, especially dissecting some of her actions on screen. I am very satisfied with the process of working with Sam. At the same time, I also tried to learn his filmmaking thinking, especially in how to arrange frames, because I wanted to better understand how Sam plays with the camera. What a lovely and kind person.
Endure pain
- How did the experience from your previous roles as Wanda help you in this project?
- Collaborating with experienced people brings many benefits. You know, with projects like this, we often have to act in front of a point marked with an X, a tennis ball, or a mark on a green screen. Knowing that someone won’t be offended that you can’t be on set 24/7, especially in scenes that don’t require dialogue, is comforting.
We encouraged each other by saying things like ‘Benedict, go home. You don’t need to be here in every scene, because we don’t do that here.” Dialogue and plot are really important. But in the end, I don’t have to lie on the floor just so my co-star knows where to look.
I think over time, I’ve become more familiar with the process of making superhero movies. When I first entered the set of Avengers: Age of Ultron, I was surprised by everything and kept saying ‘What do you mean they’re not here?’. I didn’t understand anything. It was the beginning of the journey to becoming part of a team, speaking the same language and sharing unique experiences, knowing that we were always enthusiastically supported.- In the movie, Wanda and Scarlet Witch appear in many battle scenes. Were those scenes difficult to film?
– I think it’s one-nine-tenth with the final episode of WandaVision. It’s like the WandaVision finale, but longer. We had a support system called a “rotating fork” to shoot the aerial sequences, so I wasn’t just tethered to a cable system. I have a harness with a large metal piece that covers the waist area. When the technician controlled the manipulator, I looked like I was floating or flying away. I found this device to be really useful because it helps actors control their bodies better. On set, we did many shots using a rotary fork and cable system. For some reason, I prefer wearing a harness. Although wearing it for a long time will be painful and inconvenient when walking, it is convenient for flying around and carrying it on your body for a long time. It’ll hurt sooner or later, but I really enjoy filming with it.
– What can audiences expect from this movie?
– Wanda’s story in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is the journey of someone searching for happiness. It is a classic story about a person who chooses a single path. We picked up on this idea and thought we’d romanticized it. What would my life be like if I chose to turn left instead of going right? These are reflections on what we did to become who we are today. How can we continue to live with the obsession of every decision we have ever made in life? How to cope with it? How do we continue to live and become who we want to be? Those are the stories that closely follow Wanda in this movie. So, the movie to me is both fun and scary. I’m not sure how the audience will receive it. Hopefully they will laugh at the startled moments. And they will feel scared when they reflect on the characters when they leave the theater. What will the audience think, or want? How will they live if they have too many choices?