Elizabeth Olsen teases Wanda's potential redemption in the MCU's Multiverse Saga. After years of playing a supporting role to the original Avengers in the Infinity Saga, Wanda finally got the spotlight in Phase 4, which started with WandaVision. From there, she fully embraced her villainous side as the Scarlet Witch in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Marvel Studios originally wanted Scarlet Witch to be Avengers 5's villain. However, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness writer Michael Waldron was able to convince them to fast-track her heel-turn and pit her against fellow magic-wielder Doctor Strange. In the Sam Raimi-directed film, Wanda goes on a multiversal rampage in an effort to find a reality where she can be with her twins, Billy and Tommy. Despite her motivations, her actions were still wrong, adding to the list of inadvertent mistakes she has made in the MCU.
SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY
After Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, however, Olsen is convinced that a redemption arc is next for Wanda. Both the actress and Marvel Studios remain mum about the future of the character. Despite this, Olsen tells Variety she is looking forward to Scarlet Witch redeeming herself in the MCU Multiverse Saga. Read her full answer below:
Wanda is heading, hopefully, towards some sort of redemption. I don't think any of these characters are ever really gone. Especially the you introduce the Multiverse to multiply all of our bodies and other universes. Something that playing Wanda has taught me over how many years is how many things and opportunities you can do with one character. Kind of breaks a feeling of limitations to be with a character for so long and continue to change the narrative of how this character is used to tell story.
Wanda's Redemption Was Set Up By Doctor Strange 2's Ending
At the end of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Wanda finally realized she was in the wrong, and decided to sacrifice herself to prevent the damage she caused from getting worse. There was an assumption that she died when she was covered by rubble, but as is the case with the MCU, one cannot be sure about death unless it is explicitly confirmed with a body. Between this and previous teases about how important Wanda is to the Multiverse Saga, it's safe to say she will eventually return to the franchise. Considering her final act in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, it's imperative that Marvel Studios follows through with Wanda's proper redemption arc. Otherwise, her personal narrative would feel repetitive.
Admittedly, not everyone is thrilled with the way Marvel Studios handled Wanda's arc, particularly her villainous turn in the MCU's Multiverse Saga. Because of how Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness ends, it's almost imperative that she start her redemption when she returns to the franchise, even if there's still a lot left to explore with regard to her being a morally gray character. Had Marvel Studios gone with its original plan to make her the main antagonist of Avengers 5, then they would have had the proper set-up to do this, but any more of villain Wanda would be tough for fans to swallow.