Randall Park explains how he learned Jimmy Woo's impressive card trick for 'WandaVision'
- Insider spoke to Randall Park about returning as FBI Agent Jimmy Woo in the latest episode of "WandaVision."
- In the show, Park does a really cool card trick that he learned for the part.
- He won't say if his Dr. Shin character from "Aquaman" will return in the sequel.
Randall Park admits he's as surprised as everyone else that he's back in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
After starring as the card trick-obsessed FBI agent Jimmy Woo in 2018's "Ant-Man and the Wasp," he assumed that would be his one appearance in a Marvel project.
But then "WandaVision" came along.
As we see in the fourth episode ("We Interrupt This Program") of the hit Disney Plus series, the G-Man is back, this time investigating a missing person's case at Westview, New Jersey, which Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) has taken control over. We watch as he and Dr. Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings) try to uncover what is going on and if S.W.O.R.D. agent Monica Rameau (Teyonah Parris) is OK after being sucked into the town.
Insider chatted with Park on Monday about his return to the MCU. We asked if he thought jumping to DC to star in "Aquaman" would stop him from getting Marvel work, how he learned the impressive card trick he shows off in the episode (no, that wasn't CGI), and if he thinks Agent Woo was a victim of the Thanos snap.
Park has a theory why Jimmy Woo wasn't a victim of the Thanos snap
Jason Guerrasio: Did you ever ask if Jimmy was a victim of the Thanos snap?
Randall Park: I did and I never got a clear answer. [Laughs.] So I'm not sure. But I have my theories.
Hit me with a theory.
That maybe he wasn't because he had to learn that card trick. He had to have that time.
The card trick Jimmy Woo does in the episode is a hat tip to "Ant-Man and the Wasp." Was that written in or did you suggest that?
That was in there. Marvel, you know, they make all the connections, so that was in there. When I read it, I was really happy to see that.
Park learned how to do that card trick in 'WandaVision'
Was that CGI or did you learn how to do the card trick?
No, that was me.
Be serious.
I'm serious! Actually, a magician taught me that and I actually worked really hard on it before that scene because I had to get it right.
Did it take you weeks or months to get it down?
Ah, really a couple of days. It's actually not as difficult as it seems.
Never tell anyone that.
Yeah, you're right. I cannot reveal how I did it. [Laughs.]
Was there room for improvisation in the episode?
There was definitely a collaborative experience. I think we did get to play here and there, but nothing really substantial. The script, as it was, was brilliant. I mean, what could you add to that?
Read more: "WandaVison" references a heartbreaking "Avengers: Infinity War" moment and fans are overwhelmed
Park loves that the questions Jimmy Woo has in the episode mirror what the audience is wondering
People on social media are enjoying how Jimmy writes the questions on the whiteboard because they are questions we have literally been asking for three episodes. Is it fun to be on a show that's that locked into its audience that in a scene like that they know fans will just love it.
It's an amazing feeling. When I was first presented with this idea and the concept for the show I was just so blown away but I was also thinking, how are they going to do this? Will the audience be engaged throughout? But Jac Schaeffer, the creator, and the whole team, they were able to put these weird things happening throughout the episodes that keep you engaged and make you want to watch more so you can get the answers.
And for me, I'm engaged because I'm a fan of classic sitcoms. But for the fans that maybe weren't into these old shows, there's enough there to keep them interested.
Were you concerned at all before getting cast in this that maybe Marvel wouldn't want to work with you anymore because you had jumped over to the DC world and starred in "Aquaman" as Dr. Shin?
[Laughs.] Not really. To be honest, I took a general meeting with Marvel after "Ant-Man and the Wasp" and with those kind of things they don't always lead to something. So part of me was truly content with having been in a Marvel movie and I really didn't expect to pop back in a Marvel project. But when they called me for this one I was like, "Oh, yeah."
Park won't say if his Dr. Shin character will return in "Aquaman"
Will we see Dr. Shin in the next "Aquaman" movie?
I don't know if I can talk about that -
That means yes.
[Laughs.] Possibly. Maybe not. Who knows.
But, honestly, that has to be major bragging rights with your actor friends: "I'm getting that MCU check, and I'm getting that DC Comics check." It has to feel good.
I'm not one to really bring much - but it does feel good!
You are someone who grew up reading these comics, and now to be making a living in this world, how does that feel?
It's wild. I was just thinking about that. I would go to the comic book store here in LA, the Golden Apple, there was one called Hi De Ho, I would just frequent these comic book stores and just be immersed into these worlds and be there with these characters, so just to see the development of Marvel Studios over the years and see these characters come to life on screen was just mind-blowing for me. And then to be a part of it, it's insane to me. It's the biggest thrill for me.