Kathryn Hahn talks about Agnes of Westview

[This story does not contain major spoilers for Agatha All Along.]

Kathryn Hahn's introduction to the Marvel Cinematic Universe took the form of a nosy 1950s-era neighbor to Wanda Maximoff and Vision. WandaVision. At the time, yours truly reminded Hahn that her role as Agnes was reminiscent of Milly Campbell, her previous 1950s neighbor character in the Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio-directed film. Revolutionary Road (2008). Of course, Agnes turned out to be a cover identity for a powerful witch named Agatha Harkness, and amid the overall popularity of WandaVision and the intriguing character's hit single, “Agatha All Along,” Agatha has earned an even deeper dive through a spin-off series that's also titled Agatha for life.

Created by WandaVision Chief Jac Schaeffer, last night's two-episode series premiere begins with Agatha still stuck in Scarlet Witch's (Elizabeth Olsen) all-encompassing spell that she has used to punish Agatha in WandaVisionconclusion. But instead of another homage to classic sitcoms like its predecessor, Agatha for life find Agnes, not Agatha, in a Easttown Sea-inspired prestige crime drama called Agnes of Westview. Thus, Hahn gave her interpretation of Winslet's detective character, Mare Sheehan, creating a more direct homage to WandaVisionthe involuntary overlap with Revolutionary Road. (The very first teaser trailer for Agatha for life provided a healthy look at Agnes of Westview)

“I had gorged myself Easttown Sea when it came out, I was obsessed with it,” Hahn says. The Hollywood Reporter. “AS [Agnes of Westview] It was definitely a love letter to that kind of show.”

Below, during a recent conversation with DAYHahn also opens up about his unexpected journey to becoming a lead character in a Marvel Studios project.

When I spoke to you for WandaVision a few years ago, I highlighted how you were back in Revolutionary Road mode like a 50s neighbor, and so I wasn't surprised that I was back in Kate Winslet territory with Agnes of Westview. Since Agatha has clearly had a gorge Easttown Seadid you do the same during preparation?

I gorged myself Easttown Sea when it came out, and I was obsessed with it. I loved it so much. I love — and so does Brian Davids Jacket [Schaeffer] —a prestigious crime drama led by a strong woman with a past. There are a lot of models in place for that show. I also love Wide church. I love so many of them. So this was definitely a love letter to that kind of show, for sure.

Jacket admitted for me who overlooked this possibility, but there has been some talk of Evan Peters on the set since he was WandaVision the actor's character, Ralph Bohner, could have played a version of himself Easttown Sea character? (The character of Aubrey Plaza ultimately replaces Peters Sea visiting detective character.)

Oh, that's funny! I don't remember hearing any conversations about it, but there are definitely conversations about him. He's so good.

You turned what could have been a normal general meeting into a pivotal role in a hit show in WandaVision and now your show in Agatha for lifeHave you been able to contextualize what all this means for you and your career at this point?

First of all, based on my dear career that led me to this, I never would have seen this in my future. This is just an area that I thought wasn't open to me. I just thought it was something I wouldn't fit into. And so when I heard that she was a witch and that WandaVision it was going to be new territory for the MCU and that it was going to be a departure and break so many molds, I was so excited. I was just elated. And Agatha is really always the main character in her own mind, so it felt very natural, obviously, to be the main character in this other show. It felt weirdly natural, and it feels natural that she goes from being a lonely witch to a witch who, despite her feelings, needs a coven.

In the premiere, Agatha, undressed, runs outside to have a very funny chat with her neighbor. Are you shocked that they managed to do something like this in the MCU?

No, because that was my idea.Laughter.) It was the first or second day of shooting, so we ripped the band-aid off. It felt really important to us to see her at her most helpless in that moment.

In terms of the characters, did you make any requests to Jac and her writing team?

Jac and I are pretty in tune with who Agatha is and how she carries herself. A lot of the time, I felt like I was Jac Schaeffer and I was channeling her Agatha and how she saw this world. So I felt very connected to her.

Were you glad you got to film one last time on Blondie Street before the Warner Bros. Ranch was demolished?

Agatha's house is the Bewitched house, and I was able to shoot in front of it. I actually forgot that they had torn it down, which is really sad.

Well, congratulations on Agatha for lifeand thank you for teaching me what a “jade egg” is. I had no idea what Agatha was talking about until my research took me to Goop.com.

(Laughter.) Oh, you're welcome! There's some controversy, I think, about how safe they are, but I can't get into that.

***
Agatha for lifeThe two-episode premiere is now available to stream on Disney+.