WandaVision

WandaVision drew significant buzz when it premiered in January for being Marvel Studios’ first Disney+ series, and the first pandemic-era piece of Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) content in general.

But the series has another, decidedly less flattering distinction: it was the most pirated show of 2021, according to piracy news site TorrentFreak. It wasn’t the only MCU show to make the site’s top 10, though:

WandaVision (Disney+)
Loki (Disney+)
The Witcher (Netflix)
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (Disney+)
Hawkeye (Disney+)
What If…? (Disney+)
Foundation (Apple TV+)
Rick and Morty (Adult Swim/StackTV in Canada)
Arcane (Netflix)
Wheel of Time (Amazon Prime Video)

It’s important to note, however, that U.K. piracy monitoring firm Muso says the “the overwhelming majority” of internet piracy comes from streaming sites, not torrent download sites like TorrentFreak. For context, 94 percent of piracy activity was on streaming sites in the first half of 2021.

Further, TorrentFreak only accounts for single episode torrents, which doesn’t paint a completely clear picture. While this metric works better for weekly release shows like WandaVision, Netflix still drops entire seasons simultaneously, which may skew numbers. To that point, TorrentFreak said Netflix’s Casa de Papel (AKA Money Heist) may have placed fifth otherwise, while Squid Game — Netflix’s breakout 2021 hit — would have made the list as well.

Still, it’s interesting to see what shows are being torrented the most, especially with respect to something like Foundation, which seems to have wrapped its first season with generally positive reviews but minimal public fanfare.

Looking ahead to 2022, it’s likely that Disney+ will fill at least a few spots on TorrentFreak’s next list between the likes of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ms. Marvel, She-Hulk and Moon Knight.

Image credit: Marvel Studios

Source: TorrentFreak

Marvel Studios is developing a WandaVision Disney+ spin-off about the popular series’ villain, Agatha Harkness, according to Variety.

The outlet notes that Kathryn Hahn would reprise her role as Agatha in the series, which will be a dark comedy. Further plot details aren’t known, but Jac Schaeffer, the lead writer of WandaVision, is expected to return to write and executive producer the untitled Agatha series.

Variety says Marvel did not respond to comment. However, we may learn more of the series officially at the inaugural Disney+ Day event on November 12th. A variety of Disney brands, including Marvel, are expected to make Disney+ announcements on that date.

In any event, an Agatha series makes sense for Marvel and Disney+.

The character was one of the standouts of WandaVision, who initially appeared to be a friendly neighbour to Elizabeth Olsen’s Wanda and Paul Bettany’s Vision before revealing herself to be a villain. Her catchy evil song, “Agatha All Along,” quickly became an internet sensation and Hahn ended up receiving an Emmy nomination for the role. Given that Agatha was left alive in the WandaVision finale, it’s unclear whether the series will pick up after it or serve as a prequel that explores her Salem Witch origins.

What we do know, though, is that the broader story of WandaVision will carry over into next March’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. In that film, Olsen’s Wanda’s search for her children will bring her into contact with Benedict Cumberbatch’s titular Sorcerer Supreme.

For now, though, the next Marvel Disney+ series is the Jeremy Renner-led Hawkeye, which will premiere on November 24th.

Source: Variety