Marvel’s recent cinematic efforts are far from the first to utilize The Volume. While early examples of virtual technology, such as StageCraft, could be seen in films such as 2013’s “Oblivion” and 2016’s “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” the tech received widespread attention after its use in the first season of “The Mandalorian.” Since then, virtual production has been used on everything from “The Batman” to “How I Met Your Father,” proving its wide range of capabilities.
In whatever case virtual production is used, actors have benefited from its many merits, and the stars of the MCU are no exception. When speaking with Disney in 2022 about his experience while making “Thor: Love and Thunder,” Chris Hemsworth described how shooting in such a style enhanced his skills as a performer. “If you’re standing on the edge of a cliff looking out at a sunset, to actually be staring into a sunset certainly pulls out emotions and reactions that you may not get using a blue or green screen,” he stated.
Given that The Volume also allows for more precise visual elements, the “Extraction” star was equally delighted to finally be immersed in the fantasy worlds he’s been acting against for over a decade now. He continued, “It’s visually stunning because you get the actual reflection off the background, a nice orange glow on your skin from the sun. It’s a beautiful interaction that occurs.” Even despite these advancements, filmmakers still see new avenues for virtual production.