‘The Mandalorian’: How the ‘Star Wars’ Show Inspired ‘WandaVision’
The Mandalorian and WandaVision are two very different TV shows, however, WandaVision still takes some inspiration from The Mandalorian. One of the directors of WandaVision revealed exactly how the show drew inspiration from the popular Star Wars drama. Here’s a look at how one show inspired the other — and which of the two shows is more popular.
Here are some of the shows that inspired ‘WandaVision’
WandaVision is littered with obvious references to classic sitcoms like I Love Lucy, The Dick Van Dyke Show, and Bewitched. However, it will draw from more modern shows as well. For example, director Paul Feig told IGN that later episodes of the show will have the pseudodocumentary format of 2000s shows like Modern Family and The Office.
How the technology and marketing of the ‘Star Wars’ show ‘The Mandalorian’ paved the way for ‘WandaVision’
So far, WandaVision doesn’t resemble The Mandalorian much. However, Fieg told Collider some of the technology used to create The Mandalorian inspired the technology used to create WandaVision. “I think we were all underway on WandaVision, long before we saw The Mandalorian,” he said. “There is lots and lots of The Mandalorian that has inspired us at Marvel Studios, not the least of which is the stage craft technology that they pioneered, that we’re using on some upcoming projects.”
Feig also revealed The Mandalorian inspired the people behind WandaVision to try to make the episodes of their show into major events. “It was wonderful to see the amazing job that Disney and Disney marketing did at eventizing [The Mandalorian],” he opined. “One of the things I was always concerned about was to say, “Anything that we do, we want to eventize. We want to make people understand that these projects on Disney+ are as important as the projects going into theaters, and we want to feel that same excitement. The Disney marketing team is the best in the world, and the best of all time, frankly, right now, and they certainly showed that they can do that spectacularly on Disney+ with The Mandalorian.” It’s certainly interesting that streaming is able to keep event TV alive.
Which show is more popular?
So WandaVision probably wouldn’t be the same without The Mandalorian. This raises an interesting question: Which show is more popular? According to Syfy, The Mandalorian became the most-watched show on all of streaming. There are no reports WandaVision has broken this record so far, however, Marvel has only released two of its nine episodes.
Perhaps The Mandalorian performed better because the Star Wars saga has been around for generations whereas the MCU debuted in 2008 with the first Iron Man film. Then again, Marvel as a whole has a much longer history than Star Wars. WandaVision is a love letter to the television of the past, however, The Mandalorian appears to be more popular during the present.
