Assembled: The Making of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier

[formerlyfreedom]

Quote

The original special "Assembled: The Making of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier" premieres April 30th on Disney+.

Dropping Friday, April 30, 2021.

 

[tv echo]

What I learned from watching this special (about an hour long)...

Director Kari Skoagland wanted to explore what it means to be a hero in today's world. In the past (in the MCU), a hero was very much related to being a soldier and a warrior. However, the "new hero" is related to being a first responder.

Head writer/EP Malcolm Spellman had to break down this series both vertically (by episode) and horizontally (the characters and their relationships).

EP Nate Moore said that Sam is not someone who would immediately become Captain America without first considering what it means for a black man to take on that legacy. 

Co-EP Zoie Nagelhout said that Sam's search for identity is about his future, while Bucky's search for identity is about his past. She also said that it was important for them to tackle the 10 years of storytelling that had already been done with Bucky.

Nate said that the relationship between Bucky Barnes and Steve Rogers is "so dramatic and so filled with pathos." He also noted that the only person who had believed in Bucky in the MCU was Steve. But Steve's gone, so Bucky's now "unmoored" and searching for a purpose.

Sebastian Stan said that the challenge was introducing these characters in a new way but still recognizing where they came from.

Malcolm said that this series is a "two-hander," but a "two-hander" doesn't mean that it's only about two characters.

Kari said that Anthony Mackie, Sebastian, and Daniel Brühl were hilarious together on set.

Zoie said that John Walker was an obvious addition to this series because of the comics and because of the theme of what being a hero is today.

Nate said that Wyatt Russell previously played slacker types, but when Wyatt read for this part, he brought an "edge" that was different from Anthony and Sebastian.

Clé Bennett said that he didn't know what role he was auditioning for, but when he got cast, he was excited because he already had the Lemar Hoskins/Battlestar comics. He was hoping to wear a costume.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus liked the idea of a "female mastermind" who was "three steps ahead of everyone." She also just liked the name, Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine.

Stunt Coordinator Brad Martin said that they allowed the actors to perform as much of the stunts as they were able to do, because audiences want to see the actors doing the fighting. 

Zoie said that it was a "no-brainer" to include the Dora Milaje. Florence Kasumba said that she still keeps in touch with the other Dora Milaje actors.

Shooting took place in Atlanta, Puerto Rico, and Prague. Zoie said that the covid pandemic hit about a week into their shooting in Prague. They were concerned that they would be stuck in Prague. Nate said that shutting down for covid was a big "struggle" for the series. When they returned to shoot, it was a challenge to travel safely and shoot safely. Kari said that it created a bonding experience for everyone. 

Kari said that they searched for months for a location for Madripoor. They finally found it in a series of back alleys in a small town outside of Atlanta. Production designer Raymond Chan said that he got his design inspiration for Madripoor from some back streets in Hanoi, Vietnam, and a bridge overpass in Mozambique.

Zemo's fur-collared coat was based on a World War II Russian military/Polish overcoat, with some comic book touches.

Nate said that bringing back Sharon Carter was something they had explored "even in Avengers 3 and 4." However, there were so many characters in those films that they "couldn't really do her character justice." He also said that "divorcing her from a relationship with Steve Rogers" allowed them to explore a different side to Sharon, so she's not just the "white hat who is only good." Now they could explore what happened to her since Civil War and "some of the morally grey choices she's had to make to survive in the universe." (No mention of the Snap.)

Emily VanCamp said that it's a "totally different Sharon" than previously seen in the films.

Nate said that they hoped that the mystery of the identity of the Power Broker was "satisfying revealed in episode 6." 

Malcolm said that he "thought for sure" the Power Broker story was not going to work, because sometimes it was "too heavy-handed" and sometimes it was "too thin." But the more they worked on it, he thought it was "great."

Nate said that the Flag Smashers were needed as an antagonist to challenge the notion of symbols and ideology on the series.

Malcolm said that the Flag Smashers would not have worked without Erin Kellyman. Kari said that they wanted Erin's "innocent face" and someone who was "instantly likeable," but still had toughness. 

Erin knew that her character was originally a male comic book character and had to do research into that character. 

Malcolm said that they wrote Karli as a hero, but she's "a hero who goes bad." He also said that they wanted her to be a kid.

Nate said that they wanted to show what happens if someone else cracked the super soldier code and other people took the super soldier serum.

The big fight on top of the moving trucks was largely done against blue screen, interspersed with bits and pieces of live shots.

The big aerial fight sequence was also a mix of techniques and not completely CG, all combined into a seamless sequence.

Don Cheadle said that Rhodey understands why Sam is reluctant to carry the Captain America shield, because he went through something similar with War Machine, but that Rhodey wished Sam would do it.

Anthony said that Sam finally understands that he deserves and has earned the right to be Captain America, regardless of his race.

Nate said that Isaiah Bradley is a comic character that not many people are familiar with and that it was important to include him in the series. 

Kari said that Sam's Captain America costume was "very much drawn from the comics." They had to CG out the sides of the cowl, which would crinkle out every time Anthony moved his head, so that the cowl always looks fitted to Sam's neck.

Anthony said it was surprise to him how "timely" this series became.

ETA: The little glimpses of Steve Rogers (from previous MCU films) in this documentary made me miss Chris Evans in the MCU. The one glimpse of Chadwick Boseman (from Civil War) was heartbreaking.

Edited May 1, 2021 by tv echo

[Spartan Girl]

47 minutes ago, tv echo said:

Bringing back Sharon Carter was something they had explored "even in Avengers 3 and 4." However, there were so many characters in those films that they "couldn't really do her character justice." He also said that "divorcing her from a relationship with Steve Rogers" allowed them to explore a different side to Sharon, so she's not just the "white hat who is only good." Now they could explore what happened to her since Civil War and "some of the morally grey choices she's had to make to survive in the universe." (No mention of the Snap.)

Might have worked better if she’d gotten as much screen time in this show as Agatha Harkness did in WandaVision. 

47 minutes ago, tv echo said:

 

Nate said that they hoped that the mystery of the identity of the Power Broker was "satisfying revealed in episode 6." 

Hahahahahaha NOPE!

Edited April 30, 2021 by Spartan Girl

[Gin and Tonic]

2 hours ago, tv echo said:

Malcolm said that he "thought for sure" the Power Broker story was not going to work, because sometimes it was "too heavy-handed" and sometimes it was "too thin."

Yes, this exactly! Whew. I’m glad they recognized the problems with the pacing and writing of that particular storyline. 

2 hours ago, tv echo said:

But the more they worked on it, he thought it was "great."

Welp. So close. 

Edited April 30, 2021 by Gin and Tonic

[tv echo]

Variety's "key takeaways" from this special...

The Line From ‘Endgame’ That Created the ‘Backbone’ for Sam in ‘The Falcon and Winter Soldier’
By Elaine Low   April 30, 2021
https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/falcon-winter-soldier-zemo-endgame-1234964228/ 

• This line in ‘Endgame’ was foundational to the Sam Wilson’s character in ‘Falcon’
• Bucky Barnes and Sam Wilson were fashioned as a ‘Lethal Weapon’-level buddy duo
• Marvel’s characters and storylines are kept tightly under wraps — even from the actors
• Besides the pandemic, an earthquake interrupted filming
• Zemo’s next venture — a little shop called Suitkovia?

Edited May 1, 2021 by tv echo