Back in 2015, Elizabeth Olsen shared that her favorite Scarlet Witch story was "House of M," saying that it would be "unbelievable" if the character could have "two fake babies and everyone tell her that they don't really exist." Fast forward to seven years later, and this exact premise is Wanda Maximoff's arc in Phase 4, starting out in WandaVision and ultimately leading to an eventful showcase in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Marketing for Multiverse of Madness has seemingly teased that Olsen's Scarlet Witch is the film's villain, but other promotional materials have shown Wanda teaming up with Wong. While Wanda's allegiance is unknown, it is clear that the former Avenger has a massive role in the sequel.
However, the question remains if the Scarlet Witch will stick around after Multiverse of Madness. Now, Olsen has addressed this subject in a new interview.
Elizabeth Olsen Addresses Her MCU Future
Wanda Maximoff actress Elizabeth Olsen sat down with Extra to talk about her character's journey and where she would like to see her character go next.
Olsen first revealed that they made sure that Wanda's evolution continued into the sequel, saying:
“We got to do so much with the character, so much with the story and I just wanted to make sure that we continued the evolution into this film and to play things that our fans or the audience haven’t seen her do yet.”
While pointing out the character's "eight-year journey," Olsen then said that she hopes that it would "teeter off into something exciting" after the sequel.
Olsen then addressed Multiverse of Madness' ending, which left Wanda's MCU survival and future up in the air. Olsen teased that "there's a couple different versions of what could happen" with the Scarlet Witch moving forward, while also admitting that she wants to hear fans' opinions on where they want to see the character next:
“There’s a couple different versions of what could happen at the end of this film. Mostly, I want to hear what the fans who know her best, what they would like to see from her next.”
The Marvel actress also sat down with Harper's Bazaar to talk about her MCU future after Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Olsen first offered high praise for her Doctor Strange co-star Benedict Cumberbatch, saying that he's "one of the greatest actors around right now." The MCU veteran continued to point out that she also wants to "work with him in a non-Marvel way:"
“I’m such a fan of his. He’s one of the greatest actors around right now and I wanted to see his process. I hope to work with him in a non-Marvel way as well, because I would like to have another, more heady experience with him.”
Olsen then teased the Scarlet Witch's future, saying that "Wanda's always around the corner:"
“I think Wanda’s always around the corner, so I don’t feel bad saying goodbye to her.”
Back in June 2021, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige reiterated that Wanda's story won't end in the Doctor Strange sequel, saying “that’s the first place where that story will continue but there will be other places."
What's Next for Wanda Maximoff?
WARNING: This section contains spoilers for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Multiverse of Madness' ending seemingly showed Wanda's apparent death after she brought down the temple of Chthon in Wundagore, with her being lost in the rubble. It is unknown if the character's death will stand, but Wanda's popularity has to be taken into account. Elizabeth Olsen's latest comments may also indicate that there will be more in the character's future.
A general rule in superhero movies is no one is really dead, especially if no dead body is found or shown on screen. Based on the sequel's ending, there's a strong chance that Wanda is still alive somewhere, potentially in hiding once again. Wanda also has an insane kill count in the sequel, thus leading to a question of whether the character will be redeemed at some point in the future.
It's safe to assume that there are more stories revolving around the Scarlet Witch that could be explored in the MCU's future. Given that mutants have yet to appear in Earth-616, it's likely that Wanda will be involved in their introduction, especially after Olsen revealed her desire to bring an iconic X-Men line to the MCU.
From a rumored solo movie to a potential appearance in other MCU projects, the possibilities are endless for the Scarlet Witch, and as Kevin Feige noted, Multiverse of Madness is only the beginning.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is now playing in theaters worldwide.
