Why Paul Bettany Agrees With MCU Secrecy Even Though It’s Frustrating

WandaVision star Paul Bettany understands Marvel’s dedication to secrecy even though it can be frustrating. Bettany has been a part of the MCU since the start. He was first heard in 2008 as the voice of J.A.R.V.I.S, Tony Stark’s A.I. assistant in Iron Man. He would then go on to portray the Synthezoid Vision in 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron. The character of Vision really took center stage due in part to Vision’s romance with Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen), who he would eventually ask to kill him for the greater good in 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War, only to get killed a second time by Thanos (Josh Brolin).

The mystery of how Vision was magically alive again in WandaVision, which took place three weeks after the events of 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, had fans hooked from the first episode. Had Wanda managed to resurrect Vision, or was he just a fantasy she conjured up? It quickly became clear that the Vision in Westview couldn’t exist outside of Wanda’s hex. This was revealed after Vision himself started to question the reality of Westview. Ultimately, Vision himself helped Wanda accept that she had to let Westview and him go. Thus, the Scarlet Witch and Vision bid each other farewell once more. WandaVision’s debut on Disney+ triggered a slew of fan theories and mysteries with each episode. As a result of the weekly release schedule, the WandaVision cast, including Bettany, had to be extremely careful not to reveal anything before the entire series had been released.

Related: Wanda Almost Got Her “Happy” Life With Vision 

In an interview with ACE Universe (via Comicbook), Bettany spoke about how he found Marvel’s dedication to secrecy frustrating yet understandable simultaneously. Check out Bettany’s thoughts below.

“Yeah, it’s great. I mean, it’s a frustrating process, but one I really understand and really believe in. I think that Marvel, Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, they all have a very, you know, they have a strict ‘don’t talk about it’ policy, which I really can get behind. I come from a family – my dad was an actor, my mom was a singer – and my mom and dad always had this thing, you never show people the costumes before the curtain goes up, you know? Don’t show people how the magic trick is done. And so, I kind of, I love that about Marvel, that they’re so… that they really hold on their secrets and so it can be really enjoyable for the fans. But yes, it is frustrating, and now it does feel a relief to be able to discuss it.”

Bettany’s stance on the matter of Marvel secrecy makes perfect sense. While there were fans that initially disliked WandaVision’s pacing in the first few episodes, the series had everything set up for a great payoff that simply wouldn’t have been as satisfying had the show been spoiled from episode one. Bettany also must be credited for one of the greatest pieces of MCU hype of all time, teasing that one episode of WandaVision would feature an actor that he always wanted to work with. Although fans were frustrated when Bettany confirmed that the fake WandaVision cameo was him all along, the prank was actually a masterful way of hyping up the show without spoiling plot details.

Mystery was one of the major reasons why WandaVision worked so well and why it helps add to the entertainment value of the MCU as a whole. It’s understandable how it must be frustrating for the actors involved, but the Marvel formula has worked ever since the first Iron Man was released. Hopefully Bettany’s time in the MCU didn’t end with WandaVision. It wouldn’t make sense for Marvel to introduce White Vision and then forego the character entirely, but that’s the magic of Marvel. The MCU only reveals the cards up its proverbial sleeve when it makes sense to advance the overarching story, which is how it should be.

Next: White Vision Can Carry Iron Man’s Legacy (Better Than Spider-Man)

Source: ACE Universe (via Comicbook)