Elizabeth Olsen wants to see Scarlet Witch redeemed after the events of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness as much as the fans do, with a little humor in the mix for good measure. Since her MCU debut in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Olsen’s interpretation of Wanda Maximoff has garnered widespread acclaim, with her miniseries WandaVision even kicking off the franchise’s DIsney+ repertoire. But Doctor Strange 2‘s decision to turn her from wounded antihero to villain has been highly divisive, leaving many wondering if it’s the last they’ll see of the beloved character/
While promoting her new HBO Max series Love & Death at SXSW, Olsen shared her take on Wanda Maximoff’s current place in the MCU. Having previously teased that Scarlet Witch will be back in Agatha: Coven of Chaos, the question remains what version of Wanda will next appear, and in what direction the Marvel creatives will take her storyline. Here’s what Olsen herself had to say:
We can do anything with her now! I feel like we’ve done so much. Now, we can really have fun; I feel like there’s a lot more humor to be had with her. She’s often the emotion of a story, and I’m curious to see what we can explore. And hopefully [we can] give her some redemption.
Redeeming Scarlet Witch Will Strengthen The MCU
WandaVision was lauded as one of the most innovative projects from the MCU, especially the first set of episodes that focused on how Wanda channeled her grief over losing Vision into fictional, sitcom-inspired worlds. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness took that grief a step further, sending her into a worlds-ending search for her previously imaginary sons. Though her villainous turn could well be considered irredeemable, redemption is exactly what her character needs to complete her arc.
The MCU has been around since 2008, and many of its original heroes have moved on or passed away. While Phase Four did an admirable job of introducing the next generation of super-powered (or will-powered, as the case may be) individuals, the franchise thrives when it sends off established characters in fulfilling ways. With a version of Vision still existing in the current MCU, Wanda can find a sense of peace by reconnecting with him and either starting fresh with him or saying a true farewell to her family.
Furthermore, Olsen has acknowledged that she’d like to see Wanda explore a more comedic side. Humor was shown to be one of the actress’ many strong suits in WandaVision, and pairing her up with Kathryn Hahn’s Agatha once more in Coven of Chaos would be a surefire recipe for success. One thing is clear: Scarlet Witch’s story must continue beyond Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, both for the sake of the character and the MCU at large.