‘Agatha All Along’ Cast, Producer at PaleyFest on Mommy Issues, Singing in Front of Patti LuPone and Confirming Agatha’s Relationship With Rio

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At a recent PaleyFest panel for Disney+’s “Agatha All Along“, its creator/showrunner Jac Schaeffer shared that both the cast and crew were equally excited about the potential romance between Agatha (Kathryn Hahn) and Rio (Aubrey Plaza), just as fans have been. When asked about her favorite fan theories, Schaeffer mentioned one where people assumed Rio was Nicholas’ mother.

During its creation, we received numerous inquiries. ‘Who’s the father?’ we replied, curious about their interest. This aspect held significance for the creators, and it mattered to me too. It was delightful to learn that this detail resonated with the audience, and we were able to satisfy their curiosity.” – Schaeffer explained.

In the TV series, Agatha Harkness sports a locket as a keepsake of her son Nicky, whom she shares with Rio. However, prior to embarking on “Agatha All Along” for filming, an unexpected twist occurred when her family gifted her a locket that belonged to them. “My oblivious family made me a necklace using their own hair!” Hahn shared. “For much of the show, I wore it hidden beneath the original locket, feeling like I had two protective talismans.

In a less emotional but equally personal touch, the real-life retainer worn by Sasheer Zamata during her slumber party costume in episode 5 was also included in the set. She described it as capturing an ’80s sleepover ambiance, stating, “I used my actual retainer, I wore a onesie, it was fun.

In the series “Agatha All Along,” not only Hahn and Zamata shared personal connections with their characters; Ali Ahn, portraying Alice Wu-Gulliver, the sullen rocker, was also touched by the similarities between Alice’s narrative and her own life experiences. Ahn admitted she was taken aback by how relatable Alice’s story became, particularly when it came to intergenerational trauma and mother-daughter dynamics.

Ahn found a connection with Alice through their mutual passion for music. She admitted, “I’m terrified of singing, yet I channeled my own stage fright to find confidence.” Singing, she noted, is an exposed and vulnerable act, requiring her to strategize musically about building self-assurance within the song. Ahn has a personal bond with music, leaving her to wonder, “How did Jac understand this about me?” Although she spent much of her childhood playing various instruments, music was something she had mostly set aside.

She commented that it was a mind-blowing experience to perform in front of a Broadway legend such as Patti LuPone (Lilia Calderu). “If only my high school self, who used to listen to the ‘Rent’ soundtrack, knew that one day Patti LuPone would say, ‘Sweetheart, you can sing!’

Debra Jo Rupp, known for her role as Mrs. Hart/Sharon Davis, shared her fears about the show. “I found the whole experience quite distressing,” said Rupp, reflecting on being disappointed by not possessing any supernatural abilities during the series. “The call I received was ‘We’d be thrilled if you’d join this project, you’ll be a witch!'” However, Rupp’s character turned out to be the only one in Agatha’s coven without a hint of magical prowess. “Upon arrival, no one seemed to even acknowledge me,” she added.

In a surprising twist, the seemingly ordinary housewife in “Agatha All Along” meets an untimely end in episode three. However, there’s a glimmer of optimism as Rupp speculates that her brief character could potentially return at some point in the future.

Isn’t she set to return in some sort of location? Well, it seems like we’re dealing with Marvel here! Schaeffer didn’t provide any guarantees, but hinted that within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, things aren’t always straightforward. This suggests that ‘Agatha All Along’ might not be the final chapter in Sharon Davis’ Marvel saga.

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2025-03-23 18:46