Elizabeth Olsen, famous for playing Wanda Maximoff, the Scarlet Witch in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), has just shared her thoughts on acting in front of a green screen. Although CGI and green screens are essential for translating Marvel’s fantastical visuals to screen, Elizabeth Olsen disclosed that it is not her preferred aspect of the process, likening it to “pretending” in front of the camera.
In a recent Hollywood Reporter interview, Elizabeth Olsen discussed the difficulties of acting in scenes featuring extensive special effects. She also proposed that Marvel should unveil the unedited versions of their movies, devoid of any special effects, in order for viewers to understand the challenges faced by actors in these scenes.
It’s similar to performing without any props or set. You must fully adopt this foolish perspective, feeling like a child pretending to be someone else. Elizabeth Olsen stated his belief that at some stage, a complete version of one of the films should be unveiled, devoid of any special effects, in order for people to appreciate the difficulty involved.
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, every actor deals with the difficulty of acting alongside intricate visual effects. However, Elizabeth Olsen character stands out by utilizing spell-casting powers, requiring a significant use of CGI to showcase her magical abilities. Therefore, Olsen spends a significant amount of time on the green screen performing dramatic arm movements and intricate hand gestures, which may look visually impressive with added effects, but often feel uncomfortable and tiring during filming.
There are other actors who have also discussed the difficulties of working with green screens besides Elizabeth Olsen. Emilia Clarke, known for her role in Game of Thrones, talked about a similar topic last year when she joined Marvel’s Secret Invasion. Clarke stated in an interview with The Los Angeles Times that the common belief is that there is no acting involved in these shows. However, you may wonder why they are requesting the participation of such talented actors and why they are agreeing to do it.
Nonetheless, some actors have expressed a pessimistic attitude towards green-screen performance. Anthony Hopkins, known for his role as Odin in the initial three Thor movies, has voiced his irritation regarding Marvel’s extensive use of green screens. During a 2021 conversation with The New Yorker, Hopkins described performing in front of a green screen as “acting without purpose.” Christian Bale, famous for his role as Gorr the God Butcher in Thor: Love and Thunder, also described green screen acting as the epitome of monotony.
Elizabeth Olsen is currently focused on promoting His Three Daughters, a gripping drama in which she acts alongside well-known actresses Natasha Lyonne, from The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and Carrie Coon of The Leftovers.