As she reprises her role as the witch everyone loves to hate, says it 鈥渕akes total sense鈥� she's continuing the story.
The star, who first introduced Agatha Harkness to the world in the hit 2021 Marvel series said the rich complexity of her character excites her.
鈥淚t鈥檚 so juicy. You can see her as a simple bad witch, but she鈥檚 not. No one is bad,鈥� Hahn said in a recent interview with The Associated Press. 鈥淭here鈥檚 always something that they鈥檙e covering up that they put all these levels on top of, so the fun was trying to keep the mask on with all these meteors of truth banging at that core.鈥�
The Marvel Television series, which premieres Wednesday on Disney+, picks up after 鈥淲andaVision鈥� as Agatha forms a makeshift coven to travel down the mythical Witches鈥� Road on a quest to regain her powers. Although captured Agatha鈥檚 magic in 鈥淲补苍诲补痴颈蝉颈辞苍,鈥� Hahn said she has felt empowered by the role.
A symbol that has become a crucial part of her character is the Neopagan triple goddess 鈥� the maiden, mother and crone as depicted on a brooch Agatha wears in both shows. Hahn says those symbols of transformation in the female life cycle have been reflected in her own life.
鈥淚 did feel, walking into this, like I was going to be walking through a portal into my crone area, whatever that means, and it did feel very powerful to feel wise while walking through this journey as a woman,鈥� Hahn said.
Beyond references to Neopaganism, Wiccan culture and other witchy motifs, 鈥淎gatha All Along鈥� is ripe with allusions. Several films, television shows, musical groups and more permeate the show鈥檚 otherwise spooky aesthetic, but none appear more prominently than 鈥淭he Wizard of Oz.鈥�
Jac Schaeffer, the series鈥� head writer, director and executive producer who also created and wrote 鈥淲补苍诲补痴颈蝉颈辞苍,鈥� said the 1939 film felt like a natural touchstone. 鈥淲e鈥檙e in the land of witches,鈥� she said.
鈥淓arly on, it was clear that it needed to be a quest structure. And for me, the movies of my childhood that I love so much are all quests,鈥� Schaeffer said. 鈥淥nce we were sort of locked into that as the structure, it was like, 鈥楬ow many allusions can we bring in and what makes sense and what鈥檚 delightful, what鈥檚 witchy enough for us?鈥欌��
Schaeffer said the series also alludes to Fleetwood Mac, Kate Winslet in the gritty crime drama and which she described as a 鈥減restige lady drama soap鈥� where everyone has 鈥渟weaters and good hair.鈥� She also said the group on that show, led by Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman, are a coven in their own right.
The references work because Agatha is 鈥渟uch a performer,鈥� Hahn said 鈥� and perform she does. In addition to borrowing from 鈥淲andaVision鈥檚鈥� propensity for allusions and replicating aesthetics, 鈥淎gatha All Along鈥� also features another catchy tune the cast sings throughout the series.
Hahn, along with the ensemble cast including , , Joe Locke, Sasheer Zamata, Ali Ahn and Debra Jo Rupp, sing a memorable song that opens a door to The Witches鈥� Road. Emmy-winning songwriting duo Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, who also wrote the viral sensation 鈥淎gatha All Along鈥� song for 鈥淲补苍诲补痴颈蝉颈辞苍,鈥� penned the tune.
Although some cast members said they were initially nervous to sing in front of LuPone, a Broadway legend, the three-time Tony winner insisted everyone in the cast could sing and blend their voices well.
鈥淚t鈥檚 magical to be in a chorus. Sometimes, the fates just align. Each member of this coven did have to pick up instruments or we did have to sing, and it all sounds great,鈥� LuPone said. 鈥淪ometimes, things are fated. I think this was fated.鈥�
The tight-knit bonds of the on-screen coven seem to have transcended off camera, as well. Hahn said the group developed a close bond during the shoot in Atlanta.
鈥淓verybody is such a such a powerhouse in their own right that it was very easy to come to work. Everyone stepped up because we were all so excited to be working with each other,鈥� Hahn said. 鈥淲e were just sitting in a circle on the stage every day, just telling stories and talking about what food we鈥檙e going to eat next. It just became a dream.鈥�
As the cast and creatives behind the series wait for its two-episode premiere, Schaeffer said she is holding her breath while eagle-eyed fans dissect trailers and theorize about the plot. Although she once thought 鈥淲andaVision鈥� would be a 鈥渉uge flop,鈥� Schaeffer said she feels confident in the show.
鈥淲hat 鈥榃andaVision鈥� taught me is it all kind of shakes out,鈥� she said. 鈥淣ot everyone will be satisfied, but the majority of people, I think what they really want is the ride and I feel confident that鈥檚 what we鈥檙e providing with 鈥楢gatha.鈥欌��
Kaitlyn Huamani, The Associated Press
