Elizabeth Olsen returned to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) this year, reigniting questions about the fate of her character Wanda Maximoff, also known as Scarlet Witch. Fans are curious whether the character is truly gone after her dramatic death in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, considering the MCU’s history of reviving heroes and villains through multiverse plot devices or other methods.
In a recent interview with InStyle, Olsen was asked if the primary version of Scarlet Witch remains alive somewhere within the MCU. However, she admitted that she has “no idea” whether her character continues to exist in the storyline.
The Complexity of Portraying Scarlet Witch Over a Decade
Elizabeth Olsen reflected on her long-standing relationship with Wanda, a role she first took on in 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron. She described the role as both ridiculous and fun, highlighting the surreal experience of acting as a superhero. Olsen remarked,
“And goofy. It’s ridiculous. We’re grown people behaving like children on a playground. We’re flying. We’re shooting things out of our hands. And it’s a character that I’ve gotten to return to so many times over 10 years. It’s good to put her down and then I miss her and I want her back. I’d jump at the opportunity to be in her shoes again.” – Elizabeth Olsen
Voicing a Variant and Upcoming MCU Projects
In addition to live-action appearances, Olsen lent her voice to an alternate Wanda in the animated series Marvel Zombies on Disney+. She admitted to forgetting that she had recorded the lines for that show, saying,
“I recorded that so long ago, I’m sorry. It’s so crazy that… I feel terrible that I don’t… I can’t speak more to it.” – Elizabeth Olsen
Speculation has grown about Scarlet Witch’s potential return in Phase 6 of the MCU, particularly during The Multiverse Saga, with the upcoming films Avengers: Doomsday (filming completed September 2025) and Avengers: Secret Wars (production pending). Nonetheless, Olsen recently denied involvement in these projects; she told The Hollywood Reporter in March 2025,
“No, I’m back [in the States]. I just finished [Panic Carefully]. I’m moving on to filming a pilot for FX [called Seven Sisters].” – Elizabeth Olsen
Potential Return Through the VisionQuest Series
A likely avenue for Olsen’s return as Wanda could be through the Disney+ show VisionQuest, which continues the narrative established by WandaVision. This series will spotlight Paul Bettany’s character, Vision, and introduce a new character, Tommy Maximoff, portrayed by Ruaridh Mollica. Given the connection to Wanda’s storyline, Scarlet Witch’s involvement here seems plausible.
Looking Ahead: Upcoming Marvel Releases
Following the developments around Wanda Maximoff, the MCU has several projects scheduled for release. The next theatrical entry is Spider-Man: Brand New Day, set to premiere on July 31, 2026, while the Disney+ series Wonder Man is expected in January 2026. These continuations reflect Marvel’s ongoing expansion of its cinematic and streaming universes.
Implications for Scarlet Witch’s Future
Elizabeth Olsen’s ambiguous statements regarding Scarlet Witch’s fate add to the mystery surrounding the character’s future in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With Olsen currently focused on other projects and neither confirmed nor denied to appear in upcoming Avengers films, fans must await further announcements. However, the VisionQuest series offers a promising channel for revisiting Wanda Maximoff’s story within the ever-changing multiverse landscape.
