WandaVision’s title seems pretty straightforward, but it might actually mean something deeper than a mash-up of its lead characters’ names. Set to debut this year on Disney+, the Marvel Studios show will reunite Elizabeth Olsen’s Wanda/Scarlett Witch and Paul Bettany’s Vision for their own series. Set after the events of Avengers: Endgame, it’ll also feature Kat Dennings as Darcy Lewis, Teyonah Parris as grown-up Monica Rambeau, Randall Park as Agent Jimmy Woo and Katherine Hahn in a yet to be disclosed role.
Plot details for WandaVision are still being kept under wraps, but head-on, Marvel Studios confirmed that it’ll connect to Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness with Olsen also reprising her role in the sequel. It’s also been described as Marvel’s first sitcom that eventually becomes the type of Marvel event fans know from the big screen. Production has been in full swing for some time and with its premiere date pushed forward to later this year, fans got their first look at the series via MCU’s big Disney+ spot at this year’s Super Bowl. When word first came out that Marvel Studios is working on the project, there wasn’t as much excitement surrounding it compared to their other upcoming projects. It didn’t help that its title, WandaVision, although straightforward was viewed as bland and unimaginative. However, given what we know from the series, there are a few ways that its title can be interpreted.
With Vision supposedly still dead after Avengers: Infinity War, fans are wondering how he’s able to return for WandaVision. This brought on theories that everything with him in the show is nothing but a figment of Wanda’s imagination as she continues to grieve his death. In which case the show’s title can be a reference to “Wanda’s Vision” of what could’ve been their life together if Vision stayed alive, with her altering the reality around herself. This could’ve been her way to cope with his death, which to her is still fairly fresh considering that she was blipped out of existence and didn’t experience the five years that past following Thanos’ (Josh Brolin) snap.
The title for WandaVision could also be Wanda’s name after supposedly marrying Vision. In the Super Bowl spot, we see the couple in bridal attire, giving the idea that they somehow tied the knot. While the teaser seemingly featured a flurry of shots from the show, there’s a progression to their family life - from newly-weds to parents. After getting hitched and living under one roof, it makes sense that Wanda takes the name of her husband like a traditional husband and wife. This is backed up by her answering their telephone “Vision residences” which is a version of June Cleaver’s (Barbara Billingsley) “Cleaver residence” line from the Leave It To Beaver - one of the sitcoms WandaVision is mining inspiration from.
Television appears to be a big factor in WandaVision. Its spot pulled ideas from various iconic sitcoms over the years, mostly those that depict normal family life starting with a couple who eventually have children. Wanda and Vision’s relationship is far from normal - she’s a witch and he’s an Android, not to mention the fact that he’s also dead. Seeing themselves in very mundane day-to-day life of a typical suburban family could be a projection of the life that they want to live. These sitcoms, although based people’s lives aren’t fully reflective of real life. The WandaVision title could be spin on that - while we see them happily married and navigating their way through parenthood, this is not their reality. This is also the central idea from WandaVision’s first poster where we see the pair happily chatting in their retro-style immaculate living room, but with the shadow of their hero personas looming in the background.
For what it’s worth, WandaVision’s title may sound too simple, but based on what we’ve seen from it thus far, it seems to be the most innovative project in the MCU pipeline. And for a franchise going on their second decade and fourth phase, trying new things like this is the key to longevity.
More: WandaVision Theory: Scarlet Witch Is Already Inside The MCU Multiverse
