Why Marvel Hired a Non-Comic Fan
How Jac Schaeffer transformed from indie filmmaker to Marvel’s most groundbreaking showrunner…
Let’s dive into how Jac Schaeffer transformed from indie filmmaker to Marvel’s most groundbreaking showrunner…
And the counterintuitive approach that made it possible.
Here’s what Schaeffer revealed about her success with “WandaVision” and “Agatha All Along”:
“You can have the coolest idea ever, but if it’s not grounded in emotion and character, it’s not going to last.”
Let’s break down her three core principles:
1. Emotion Trumps Spectacle
- Skip the fancy effects and epic battles
- Start with the emotional core (Example: “The IP of Wanda is trauma”)
- Build your universe around human truth
2. Writers’ Room Revolution
- Share your vision BEFORE the room starts
- Look for “idea machines” not perfect technicians
- Diversity isn’t just checking boxes — it’s about authenticity
3. Character Innovation
- Let actors like Aubrey Plaza transform your dialogue
- Connect EVERYTHING to your emotional theme
- Break genre rules when the story demands it
The game-changing insight: Success in the superhero genre isn’t about bigger explosions or cooler powers. It’s about finding the human heart of your story and letting everything else serve that core truth.
Remember, Schaeffer didn’t come from comics or superhero stories. She brought her indie film sensibility to Marvel and created something revolutionary.
Ask yourself:
- Are you obsessing over genre conventions instead of emotional truth?
- Does your writers’ room have genuine diversity of perspective?
- Have you given your actors room to reinvent your dialogue?
Quick mindset shift: Stop thinking about “fixing misconceptions” about your characters. Instead, focus on showing their full complexity and humanity.
Keep writing,
- Brock Swinson
P.S. Here’s my full audio interview with Jac Schaeffer.
P.P.S. Subscribe to my free newsletter, The Daily Writer, to get a tactical piece of writing advice every single day — based on over 600 interviews.
