Director Nia DaCosta and Producer Mary Livonas Talk 'The Wonders'

“The Marvels,” which hits theaters Nov. 10, is the Marvel Cinematic Universe film, a sequel to 2019’s “Captain Marvel” and a continuation of Disney’s “Ms. Marvel” and “WandaVision” series.

The film stars Brie Larson, Iman Vellani and Teyonah Parris reprising their MCU roles of Carol Danvers, Kamala Khan and Monica Rambeau, respectively, and directed by Nia DaCosta (“Candyman”).

(Left) Nia DeCosta, director of “The Wonders. ” (TO RIGHT) Mary Livonas, maker of “The Marvels”.

Moviefone recently had the excitement of sitting down with director Nia DaCosta and producer Mary Livonas (“WandaVision”) to talk about their work on “The Marvels. “

They talked about the new film, the demanding situations of creating a sequel to “Captain Marvel” that also includes elements of “Ms. Marvel” and “WandaVision,” introducing Kamala Khan and Monica Rambeau on the big screen, racing with Brie Larson, navigating the “Marvel System,” the most difficult scene to film, and what enthusiasts can expect from Goose’s flagship character.

Director Nia DaCosta on the set of Marvel Studios’ “The Marvels. “Photo by Laura Radford. Wonder 2023. ©

You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with DeCosta, Livonas, and songwriter Laura Karpman.

Moviefone: To start, Nia, can you tell us about the challenging situations as a filmmaker in making a sequel that also draws on the stories of the TV series “Ms. Marvel” and “WandaVision,” as well as the last 32 MCU films? ? ?Was it difficult to find the right tone?

Nia DaCosta: Oddly enough, the tone was one of the simplest things. It came naturally. I wanted it to have a very specific tone because it’s a very different kind of movie, we have those 3 heroes together, and for me it was vital that it was fun. I looked for a lot of humor so that it didn’t necessarily come from jokes, but rather from the warmth and truth of the characters. So, the Khan family is really funny, because their youngest member is a superhero and they say, “We’re from Jersey City. What are you talking about?” Then Carol is fed up and Monica enjoys her experience and her way of dealing with the craziness of everything that’s going on. So, tone was important to me and that’s what happened most naturally.

MF: Mary, as a producer, is it difficult to work with Marvel to keep track of all the continuity?

Mary Livonas: Well, the wonderful thing is that this is a collaboration that has been in the paintings for a long time. I had the option to work on the first “Captain Marvel” movie, and it was a definite decision to make Monica Rambeau the age she was in that episode because it was set in the past. Because we knew we were looking for Carol and Monica to share the big screen together one day. So, of course, when ‘Mrs. Marvel emerged as an option for a Disney+ screen and that screen evolved and launched, it’s a great experience to work intensively with that team to understand what foundation they were laying on. But the glorious thing is that the perception of a team is so ingrained in the DNA of Marvel Comics that bringing it to the screen felt like a natural fit for us. Once again, I was lucky enough to work on “WandaVision,” so continuing this story thread is also wish-fulfillment and a thrill to do so. Truly, this is a team-up movie unlike anything we’ve seen before from Marvel. We’ve had adventures, but it’s a team movie that stands on its own.

(From left to right) Iman Vellani as Mrs. Marvel/Kamala Khan, Brie Larson as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers, and Teyonah Parris as Captain Monica Rambeau in Marvel Studios’ “The Marvels. “Photo by Laura Radford. WONDER OF 2023. ©

MF: How did it feel to have the opportunity to bring Kamala Khan and Monica Rambeau to the screen?

ND: It was a lot of fun. It was incredible. Especially since I love ‘Ms. Marvel. “Ms. Marvel is one of my favorite comic book characters and I enjoyed meeting Monica Rambeau in “WandaVision. “So, to be able to bring them to the big screen and do more with them and include them in a larger story. that the TV screens were great.

(From left to right) Brie Larson as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers and Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan in Marvel Studios’ “The Marvels. “Photo via Laura Radford. 2023 Marvel. ©

ML: What’s wonderful is simply the opportunity to celebrate the performances and characters that Teyonah and Iman helped expand and introduce them to a wider audience. What’s glorious about this movie and this episode is the concept that in combination we’re more than the sum of our parts, and we actually see that in the case of “The Wonders. “

MF: Mary, what was it like for you to work with director Nia DaCosta on this assignment?

ML: It’s been wonderful to help bring Nia’s vision to life and create this story together. Not only is she extraordinarily cool, but she’s also a real nerd. When we first met, we talked for hours about all the characters we love. To film with someone so passionate, with some other fan, a joy. I can say the same for our team members, however, Nia has so much skill and strength. Of course, she also helped write about this topic and we are fortunate to have her. ability.

Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury in Marvel Studios’ “The Marvels”Photo via Laura Radford. Wonder 2023. ©

MF: Nia, I sense you’re a big Marvel Comics fan. How did you uniquely qualify yourself to make this movie, your knowledge of those characters and the Marvel Universe?

ND: I think it was less wisdom and more my hobby. I was actually excited about it, and I think because I was a fan, it helped me accept the Marvel system as true, even when I was thinking, “Oh. “Oh my God, I would never do that on a regular basis. ” It helped in that regard. Also, day in and day out, being able to have other people on the wires, flying around and introducing characters that I really love in the comics, was a lot of fun. So it’s useful, just to keep the hobby alive.

MF: Can you broaden your experience working with the “Marvel System”?How do you feel as a filmmaker?

ND: Yeah, it’s appealing because it’s one movie in a massive line of movies that came before and will follow, and TV shows, and they’re making a lot more now, so it’s appealing to have to navigate and talk to everyone. other. projects. For the most part, we’ve done what we wanted to do, but you’re still in a constant verbal exchange with everyone, with Kevin Feige, with the “Mrs. ” “Marvel. ” Asking questions about things that will follow, seeking to perceive data like: “Have you figured out what you’re doing with this yet? Because it’s going to influence whether I have that or not in this scene. ” but it’s also a fun challenge.

MF: How does it feel to have actress Brie Larson number one on your call list?What kind of tone does it set like?

ND: Well, she had done “Captain Marvel,” she had done “Avengers: Endgame,” which is clearly one of the most important movies of all time, not only because of its success, but also because of its making. So, it was an old one. He came with so much information and a desire to help everyone and have a smart experience. When we first spoke, we agreed that it deserved to be a lighthearted and fun experience, and she wanted everyone to have a good time. It’s not easy for actors, physically and emotionally, to make this kind of movie. You’re online, you paint a lot, so she was a wonderful leader in that regard.

Brie Larson as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers in Marvel Studios’ “The Wonders. “Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. Marvel 2023. ©

ML: Brie is an incredibly fast-paced, fun-loving user who brings a lot of gravitas and compassion to both the role and the set. She helped lead the pace and make sure the environment was calm and fun.

MF: Nia, are there any specific scenes or series that are tricky or tricky to shoot?

ND: We haven’t fixed that first big scenario we have yet with adjustments and fights. So it was a big challenge to perceive the change, who it is, where, when, where it’s going, where it’s coming from and in what aspect. What are we aiming for? Once we were handed that big challenge, it helped us have a less difficult time with the rest of the film. I think that would probably be the hardest part. But also the maximum informative.

MF: Finally, Goose, the star of “Captain Marvel,” what can enthusiasts expect from the character of “Wonders”?

ND: Goose has the most productive moment in this movie and I think it’s the fourth Marvel movie. He is the star of the movie. So, I think there’s a lot of interesting things with Goose in this movie.

ML: Goose is still as chaotic as Goose has ever been, and as audiences were quick to glimpse, there are other Flerkens on the move. Rizzo is Goose’s U. S. -based band, but we had Nemo and Tango with us. They are very exclusive celebrities who have highly regulated painting programs. It’s wonderful to paint with them. Incredibly talented and charming souls.

The wonders “Above. Farther. Faster. Together”. 66PG-131 hr forty-five minNovember 7, 2023Schedule & Tickets

Carol Danvers, also known as Captain Marvel, has claimed her from the tyrannical Kree and taken revenge on the Supreme Intelligence. But accidental consequences. . . Read the plot

While investigating a Kree-related wormhole, the powers of Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) become intertwined with those of Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) and Carol Danvers (Brie Larson). The trio team up to explain why they transfer positions every time they use their powers.

Marvel Studios’ “The Marvels” hits theaters on July 28, 2023.

Director Nia DaCosta and Producer Mary Livonas Talk ‘The Wonders’

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