How to watch WandaVision, what’s it about and who’s in the cast?

There’s no denying the Marvel Cinematic Universe is complex. With 23 films, four phases, over 40 superheroes, and more than 3,000 minutes of spectacular, crime-fighting action, keeping up with all the antics can seem a daunting task for even the most seasoned comic book fan.

Following delays brought on by the pandemic, audiences will be able to visit the superhero franchise once again when WandaVision hits Disney+ this week. The show, which was meant to be released last year but got pushed back, will see the return of Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) in a camp, sitcom-inspired series.

The 18-month Marvel hiatus and the show’s mind-bending trailer have left many asking where this series fits in the MCU, or simply trying to decipher what WandaVision is all about. Here's a rundown on everything you need to know before diving in.

Where can I watch WandaVision and when?

WandaVision premieres with two episodes on Friday January 15, exclusively on Disney+. New episodes will drop every Friday after that. The series has nine episodes, including what looks set to be a spectacular finale in early March.

It will be the first series in Phase Four of the MCU, and the first of a whole array of Marvel Studios shows that Disney has in the works for its streaming service. Others in the pipeline include The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki, Hawkeye, Ms. Marvel, and She-Hulk, just to name a few.

Who is Wanda?

Wanda Maximoff, also known as Scarlet Witch, entered the MCU with her brother Pietro (Aaron Taylor Johnson) in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. The twins are teased at the end of the film, when evil scientist Wolfgang von Strucker proclaims his “experiments” have gained superpowers. Wanda was gifted with telekinesis, telepathy and energy manipulation.

In the next Avengers film, Age of Ultron, the siblings waged war against the Avengers alongside AI supervillain Ultron. When the pair learnt of the robot’s evil intentions, they abandoned Ultron to join the Avengers. Their betrayal led to Pietro’s death at the hand of Ultron.

As part of the Avengers, Wanda accidentally damaged a building, killing hundreds of innocent people. Her mistake led to the Sokovia Accords, greater scrutiny of superheroes from government officials, and the temporary break-up of the Avengers. Bereft and ashamed, Wanda found comfort in Vision...

Who is Vision?

Created after Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) placed an AI personal assistant into a synthetic body, Vision joined the Avengers to fight Ultron.

After defeating the evil robot, Vision struggled to gain his footing in the human world and come to terms with his superhuman powers of manipulation and intelligence. Believing in government supervision, the burgundy-faced android sided with Iron Man in signing the Sokovia Accords, placing him against Wanda, whom he was growing fond of.

What is Wanda’s relationship with Vision?

Despite their differences over the Sokovia Accords, Wanda and Vision reconciled and became the first human-android relationship in the cinematic universe.

At the start of Avengers: Infinity War, the pair are seen meeting up in Edinburgh where their love blossoms. But true love is wrecked by the arrival of supervillain Thanos (Josh Brolin) and his motley crew.

In Avengers: Endgame, Wanda is forced to destroy the Mind Stone, a yellow infinity stone located in Vision’s head, to prevent Thanos acquiring it for his genocidal vision of a better universe. Wanda kills Vision to save humanity.

But, in a dramatic turn of events, Thanos uses the Time Stone to reverse her actions, taking the Mind Stone for himself and killing Vision once again. Wanda, seeking personal retribution, then helps the Avengers defeat Thanos.

What is WandaVision about?

Disney has been releasing trailers and teasing information about WandaVision for months, and yet, so much remains a mystery.

According to Disney, in the show, Wanda and Vision are “two super-powered beings living idealised suburban lives” who “begin to suspect that everything is not as it seems”. Created by Jac Schaeffer (Captain Marvel, Black Widow) and directed by Matt Shakman (Succession, The Great), the series finds the pair living as a married couple with two children. Each episode is modelled after sitcoms from different eras, inspired by TV comedies, from campy 1950s classics to the wacky family shows of the Nineties.

From the trailers, it appears their suburban bliss is constantly under threat from some unknown force. There are a lot of questions that need answering - for one, Vision appears to be back from the dead.

When does WandaVision take place in the MCU timeline?

The series appears to take place after the events of Endgame, but we don’t know exactly how much time has passed since Vision’s death.

It seems as if Wanda has created a perfect reality to resurrect her lover. If true, it would create a separate timeline and could lead to a multiverse - a world in which multiple and infinite universes exist.

Don’t know the difference between multiverses and multiple realities? In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige said first-time visitors to the cinematic universe won’t be out of the loop. “If you haven’t seen any of them and just want to step into this weird thing because you love The Dick Van Dyke Show, it’s going to work,” Feige said.

Who else is in the show?

After her leading role in HBO’s Mrs Fletcher, Kathryn Hahn joins the MCU as a “nosy neighbour”. Known for her roles in films like Bad Moms and Step Brothers, along with Parks and Recreation, Hahn is expected to bring some comic relief to the proceedings.

Likewise, Kat Dennings will lighten the mood by reprising her role as Darcy Lewis. The character was last seen in the cinematic universe helping Thor battle the Dark Elves in Thor: The Dark World. Jimmy Woo will also return as an FBI agent, a role he last played in Ant-Man and the Wasp.

Teyonah Parris will play Monica Rambeau, a character audiences last met as a young girl (played by Akira Akbar) in Captain Marvel. Like much of the show, why Monica is here remains unclear.