TORONTO -- Canadian director Kari Skogland says the new Marvel Studios superhero series 鈥淭he Falcon and The Winter Soldier鈥 tackles social and political issues in an entertaining way - like putting 鈥渧itamins in the ice cream.鈥
Available on Disney Plus as of Friday, the six-episode story stars Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson, a.k.a. aerial combat expert The Falcon, and Sebastian Stan as commando Bucky Barnes, a.k.a. The Winter Soldier.
The two came together in the final moments of the 2019 film 鈥淎vengers: Endgame,鈥 and six months later, they're struggling to find their place in the world after the universe-changing event known as The Blip.
For Wilson, it's an especially difficult journey: at the end of 鈥淎vengers: Endgame鈥 he was handed Captain America's shield, and now he faces the burden of taking on a mantle that represents the country but feeling that, as a Black man, the country doesn't represent him.
鈥淚 felt very strongly that this was an incredibly important story, if not the most important story of our century, and was going to take on subjects and topics that need to be discussed and need to be dramatized,鈥 Skogland said in an interview.
鈥淏ut they would do it in such a way I knew that would be easy to tell, because it's the way Marvel does it with humour and action - there are vitamins in the ice cream, but you get to enjoy the ride. And so I thought this was a great forum to have all these actually politically charged conversations.鈥
The Ottawa-born, Toronto-based Skogland said she's drawn to projects that explore social issues. Her other credits include 鈥淭he Loudest Voice in the Room鈥 miniseries, about Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes, and 鈥淭he Handmaid's Tale鈥 series, for which she won a BAFTA Award and got an Emmy nomination.
With 鈥淭he Falcon and The Winter Soldier,鈥 she felt 鈥渂lessed to be asked to come to the party.鈥
鈥淚t was fantastic, from beginning to end. I have to say, it's been a real joy,鈥 Skogland said. 鈥淎 very big highlight, obviously, not only in my career but in the people that I've met, the people I interacted with.
鈥淭hey're the best of the best. It's an incredibly inclusive environment. It's very supportive.鈥
Skogland thought she was up to speed on the Marvel Cinematic Universe before filming the project around the U.S. and Europe.
鈥淏ut then you get inside, and you realize, 'Oh, my God, there are libraries and libraries. It's just a huge universe,鈥 she said.
Her entry point into the story was Sam's struggle with whether to take on the shield.
鈥淲hat does that mean for a Black man to take on the shield right now? What is it in terms of nationalism? What do the borders look like? Where is Bucky in all of this, because he is also grappling with character issues,鈥 she said.
鈥淪o these are all very relevant questions for everything that's going on right now. And that's one of the joys of the MCU universe...it has so many different paths and lanes and stories, and they don't shy away from neither the controversial nor the emotional.鈥
Filming began before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, then was put on pause when the crisis started and resumed later, said Skogland.
鈥淲hat we realized, though, as the as the world was unfolding, was that our conversation was becoming even more relevant daily,鈥 she said.
Skogland said she enjoyed being able to dive into the characters and live with them longer than she would with a film.
鈥淚 can tell you there's a lot of twists and turns and that's the point,鈥 she said. 鈥淓very every episode, I think will take you by surprise.鈥
Skogland is CEO of production company Mad Rabbit and has a slew of directing credits, which also include 鈥淏oardwalk Empire,鈥 鈥淭he Killing鈥 and 鈥淭he Walking Dead.鈥
She said she hopes to work on another Marvel project and feels there's been 鈥渁 tangible change鈥 when it comes to women directing.
鈥淓ven within my career, I've seen it,鈥 said Skogland, noting she's done a lot of work with the Directors Guild of America to help foster inclusion.
鈥淲hat is terrific is that we're seeing it now in awards, we're seeing the voice coming through. Are the numbers yet 50-50 if the population is 50-50? I don't think we're seeing those numbers yet. But we are sure on the path and I feel very blessed to be one of the women who has throughout my career bucked trends and I'm still here.鈥
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 19, 2021.
