With WandaVision coming to an end almost two weeks ago, many fans are still puzzling over the connection the Disney+ series could have with a fellow Marvel show. WandaVision’s creatives are revealing whether or not the Darkhold book in the Disney+ series is the same one from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
In the final episodes of WandaVision, Agatha Harkness revealed she had the Darkhold, an ancient book of spells and unspeakable power that is made of dark matter from the Hell Dimension. The book has been known to make its way around the MCU, as it was used in both ABC’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hulu’s Marvel’s Runaways. WandaVision’s director, Matt Shakman, told Screen Rant that despite not having looked at the previous Darkhold designs, it’s the same book and its mythology will continue to be developed. Shakman explained:
We didn't look at the other Darkholds that had been designed. It is part of the Marvel Universe though, so I would imagine it's the same book. I don't know exactly how it was used in those other shows, because I wasn't a regular viewer, but the Darkhold has a comics origin. Its mythology will continue to be developed.
Although it seems odd to not have the two books be exactly the same, it does make sense as Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. broke away from the MCU after Season 5. The events during and after Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame could show that Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was set in an alternate universe. WandaVision showrunner Jac Schaeffer told Screen Rant that the two stories are different from each other:
I've been getting that question, and l don't have a hard and fast answer. We were not looking at that book. This was the Darkhold for this story.
The Darkhold was fundamental to the third part of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 4 as it was used to create the virtual world known as the Framework, which was used to trap several S.H.I.E.L.D. agents in a simulated reality. It was also used by Aida to create herself a human body using the dark matter, but the Darkhold would soon be taken to Hell by S.H.I.E.L.D. and Ghost Rider. The book was also used in the final season of Marvel’s Runaways by Morgan le Fay in an attempt to bring the Dark Dimension to the Earth Plane but she was stopped by the Runaways and PRIDE. The book was used by them to imprison Morgan in her Dark Dimension.
In the final episode of WandaVision, Wanda comes into her own as the Scarlet Witch and after defeating Agatha and getting Westview back to normal, she goes to a remote location in order to study the book and everything about it and her true powers. Although the Darkhold may not be exactly the one from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., any sort of Marvel Easter Egg that may or may not have to do with the ABC series that ended last year is always a plus.
