I think Elizabeth Olsen is right about her criticisms regarding how theScarlet Witchhas been treated by theMarvel Cinematic Universe, and I want to see those issues be corrected with a possible future release. After debuting in 2015’sAvengers: Age of Ultron,Wanda Maximoff slowly grew in the MCU, sharing some interesting connections with other characters, like Vision, Hawkeye, Captain America, Doctor Strange, and more. After an emotional role at the end of the Infinity Saga inAvengers: Infinity WarandAvengers: Endgame, I was happy to see Olsen leadWandaVision, one of theMCU’s best TV shows.
I’m Now Convinced Scarlet Witch’s MCU Return Is All But Confirmed
New reports suggest that Marvel Studios may be gearing up to bring Elizabeth Olsen back to the MCU as the beloved Wanda Maximoff, the Scarlet Witch.
WandaVisionwas the project that completely changed the character’s standing in the MCU. Suddenly, the Scarlet Witch was no longer a supporting player in the franchise, but a main star in her own right. The Disney+ series presented a fun, unique, and tragic journey that united many aspects of theScarlet Witch’s MCU timeline. Wanda suffered immense heartbreak at the end of the show, and instead of following that story in a healthy way, the MCU managed to make controversial decisions with the character. Unsurprisingly, Olsen was not a fan of those, andfuture MCU projectsneed to correct them.
I Agree That Marvel Dropped The Ball With Scarlet Witch
Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness Could Have Been Different
During an interview withFM 104(viaComicBook.com), Elizabeth Olsen revealed her issues with how the MCU has treated Wanda Maximoff. According to the Scarlet Witch actress, Marvel Studios did not do the best it could for the character,saying, “They kind of didn’t know what to do with me for a second there!“While Olsen does not directly state that her comments are about Scarlet Witch’s role inDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, there is little doubt regarding that. The movie was a direct follow-up toWandaVision, but it used Wanda in the worst way possible.
Scarlet Witch’s next appearance should have been about healing from her personal tragedy and making amends for the Westview incident.
I agree with Olsen’s complaints, as I also think that the MCU did not know how to properly go fromWandaVisionto the next step of Wanda’s journey.Marvel ended up choosing to make Scarlet Witch a major villain, hunting the young America Chavez throughout the multiverse, killing several characters, and even possessing multiverse variants of herself in her search for her kids inDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. After a tragic journey of loss inWandaVision, Scarlet Witch’s next appearance should have been about healing from her personal tragedy and making amends for the Westview incident.
Allegedly, early drafts of the MCU movie saw Wanda stay with Doctor Strange as she healed from the events ofWandaVisionand what she did.
Interestingly, that might have even been what theDoctor Strangesequel would have focused on in the first place. FormerX-Men ‘97showrunner Beau DeMayo claims thatscrappedDoctor Strange 2plans had Scarlet Witch as a hero. Allegedly, early drafts of the MCU movie saw Wanda stay with Doctor Strange as she healed from the events ofWandaVisionand what she did.The character would have become a mentor to America Chavezand helped the young girl, Doctor Strange, and Wong defeat the villain Nightmare in a multiverse story. That would have made much more sense for Wanda’s journey.
I Want To See Wanda Maximoff Be Redeemed In The MCU
The Scarlet Witch Needs To Face A Major Change
WhileDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessdid great damage to Wanda’s image in the MCU, I believe that the character could still be redeemed in a future appearance. Despite her murderous rampage,the Scarlet Witch remains one of the MCU’s most popular characters. By the end of theDoctor Strangesequel, Wanda recognizes that what she was doing was wrong, realizing that she was scaring multiverse variants of her sons. I like that the MCU at least didn’t make Wanda lose herself totally. Olsen’s Scarlet Witch then sacrifices herself to destroy all the Darkholds scattered around the multiverse.
After what she did inDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the MCU needs to make Scarlet Witch’s redemption a priority. While the character is currently dead, asAgatha All Along’s trailers have confirmed, Wanda Maximoff’s continued popularity and Olsen’s desire to come back — “If there’s a good way to use her” — makes it all but certain that she will appear in the coming years.Reportedly, the Scarlet Witch’s MCU return could happen in Paul Bettany’s Vision series, which is planned for a 2026 release. Whenever she appears, Marvel needs to work hard to make Wanda a hero again.
A Scarlet Witch Solo Movie Could Be The Perfect Way To Bring Olsen Back
Wanda Maximoff Gets Her Deserved MCU Upgrade
I’m convinced that the perfect way to bring Wanda back to life with a story that Olsen feels is worthy of the character is through finally making a Scarlet Witch movie.WandaVisionis one of the MCU’s most beloved series, and for me, onlyLokicomes near it when the other Marvel Studios shows are considered. Between her lead role in the series and Wanda’s major role as the villain of the nearly $1 billionDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,Olsen has more than proved herself as someone who could anchor an MCU movieand make it successful.
After Wanda’s villain turn, it might take some work to convince Olsen to come back. I believe that giving her a Scarlet Witch movie could facilitate a return. It would beMarvel’s way of showing the actress that the studio wants to do right by Wanda, putting her on a higher shelf, especially since themandate is to have fewer MCU movies every yeargoing forward. A movie fully dedicated to the Scarlet Witch also offers the best path for her to go from a villain to a hero. Marvel would have more time to develop a satisfying journey.
I Believe Scarlet Witch Still Has A Lot To Do In The MCU
Wanda Maximoff’s Journey Is Far From Done
A Scarlet Witch movie is only one of the many projects Olsen could be a part of in the MCU’s future. I want to see Wanda be resurrected because of the immense potential the character still has.Marvel has been developing the MCU’s supernatural and magic corners over the last few years, with projects likeWerewolf by NightandAgatha All Alongbeing part of that initiative. The Scarlet Witch could be one of the main stars of that part of the MCU. With two Avengers movies coming up, Wanda’s knowledge of the multiverse should prove itself valuable.
Has The Main MCU’s Anchor Being Already Been Lost?
The MCU has recently introduced the concept of “Anchor Beings” in the multiverse, but has the main Earth-616 reality already lost theirs?
The best way to move away fromDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ villain role for the Scarlet Witch is to go in the opposite direction. I want to see the MCU make Wanda one of the franchise’s most important heroes, beingone of the leaders of the Avengers and perhaps the Midnight Suns, Marvel Comics' premiere supernatural team, if it premieres.Joe Locke’s Teen has seemingly been confirmed to be Billy Kaplan, one of Wanda’s reincarnated sons. Marvel needs to bring the Scarlet Witch back to make her reconnect with her sons in a much less murderous story.
Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness
Cast
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness follows Doctor Strange as he navigates diverse and perilous alternate realities in the Multiverse with the aid of mystical allies. Directed by Sam Raimi, this installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe introduces a mysterious new adversary.
WandaVision
WandaVision, the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first TV show on Disney+, first aired in 2021. The series kicked off the MCU’s Phase 4 and brought back Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff, aka the Scarlet Witch, and Paul Bettany as Vision. WandaVision strayed away from Marvel’s typical formula, this time formatting itself more like a classic sitcom as Wanda struggles to cope with the death of Vision.
Scarlet Witch
Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the Scarlet Witch debuted, along with her twin brother, Quicksilver in X-Men #4 (March 1964). Also known as Wanda Maximoff, she first appears as a member of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, before she eventually became a member of the Avengers. In the comics, she is a mutant who uses chaos magic to alter reality.Scarlet Witch is played by Elizabeth Olsen in the MCU, having debuted in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
