Agatha All Along was recently reported to be the "least expensive" live-action MCU show to have been released on Disney+. For those who have watched the show, there is nothing cheap-looking about the Kathryn Hahn-led series, but it does get the most of some enclosed sets and sparing use of CGI effects. According to Marvel's Brad Winderbaum, this is something that was planned from the start and offered a whole new kind of freedom for the series.
Marvel Studios has been tightening its belt recently when it comes to the spiraling budgets that have accompanied many of its movies and TV shows. There are obviously several big projects on the horizon that will stretch the company's purse-strings to breaking point, and this is perhaps why Agatha All Along was made with one eye on the cost. Winderbaum told Variety:
"I can tell you it's our least expensive show, and I think that was by design. We are looking to make these shows for a responsible cost. Frankly, it gives us a little bit more freedom creatively when we can bring them in at a reasonable budget. Like [Agatha All Along], for example, the show has minimal CG, way less than we've ever done before. It's mostly practical effects, and I think you can feel it in the show."
Agatha All Along is Proving Popular with Fans & Critics Close
In the last year, Marvel Studios has seen some highs and many lows, with Disney+ shows like Secret Invasion ending on the scrap heap despite having huge amounts of money thrown at their CGI-heavy productions. After being burned on several occasions, Marvel Studios has perhaps learned a lesson and is looking to be more frugal when it comes to costs. Questioning whether elaborate special effects are necessary is now the name of the game, and with Agatha All Along, it looks like the cost-effective strategy is working.
The first episodes of Agatha All Along have scored highly with both critics and audiences, especially when compared to recent MCU projects like The Marvels, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Currently, the series is holding 82% and 81% scores for critics and audiences, respectively.
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"You feel like a 7-year-old playing make-believe."
The series also pulled in a strong opening viewership of 9.3 million in its first week on release. While this is not the highest viewership of the MCU's Disney+ offerings, it is certainly an improvement on several other high profile series to have landed on the platform in the last couple of years. While some questioned the necessity for an Agatha Harkness spin-off show, it seems that many have been forced to admit that there is just something about Hahn's Marvel witch and her ragtag coven that is managing to deliver something that Marvel Studios has been struggling with - a well-received, female-centric MCU show.
The first four episodes of Agatha All Along are currently available to stream on Disney+, while new episodes will continue to drop weekly.
3.5/5 Agatha All Along TV-14ActionSuperheroComedyAdventure
Starring Kathryn Hahn as the titular Marvel witch, Agatha All Along reveals how Scarlet Witch's enemy broke Wanda Maximoff's binding spell at the end of WandaVision. Aubrey Plaza, Joe Locke, Emma Caulfield, and Ali Ahn join Hahn in the MCU Phase 5 spinoff series, released on Disney+.
Release Date September 18, 2024 Main Genre Adventure Creator(s) Jac Schaeffer Cast Kathryn Hahn , Joe Locke , Sasheer Zamata , Ali Ahn , Okwui Okpokwasili , Debra Jo Rupp , Patti LuPone , Aubrey Plaza , David Payton , Emma Caulfield Ford , David Lengel , Asif Ali , Amos Glick , Elaine Valdes , Paria Akbarshahi , Chau Naumova , Bethany Curry , Athena Perample , Alicia Vela-Bailey , Britta Grant , Marina Mazepa Seasons 1 Story By Jac Schaeffer Writers Jac Schaeffer Number of Episodes 9 Streaming Service(s) Disney Plus Franchise(s) Marvel Cinematic Universe Directors Jac Schaeffer , Gandja Monteiro , Rachel Goldberg Showrunner Jac Schaeffer Character(s) Agnes O'Connor / Agatha Harkness , Teen , Jennifer Kale , Alice Wu-Gulliver , Salem Seven / Vertigo , Mrs. Hart , Lilia Calderu , Rio Vidal , Herb , Dottie , Jones , Norm , Dennis the Mailman , Customer #1 , Customer #2 , Salem Seven / Coyote , Salem Seven / Crow , Salem Seven / Fox , Salem Seven / Owl , Salem Seven / Rat , Salem Seven / Snake Expand