Summary
Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch return is questioned after a recent Marvel branding decision, which could signal a change in plans for the character afterDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Doctor Strangein the Multiverse of Madnessprominently featured Wanda Maximoff in her first appearance after the events of the Disney Plus miniseriesWandavision,with the fan-favorite witch turning heel as the film’s primary antagonist. Despite expressing shock when revealing hertrue feelings about the Scarlet Witch becoming a villain, Olsen delivered a characteristically stellar performance and magnificently portrayed Wanda’s repentance and subsequent sacrifice at the film’s conclusion.
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While the character seemingly dies at the end of theDoctor Strangesequel, several signs pointed to her survival, and more hinted at her imminent return, including a producer hinting atOlsen’s Scarlet Witch still being part of the MCU’s future. Despite this, a recent change in branding by Marvel might signal that the imminent return might not be so close or guaranteed after all. In a listing by Penguin Random House, the upcoming bookMarvel Studios The Marvel Cinematic Universe: An Official Timeline,which prominently featured Wanda on the cover alongside other MCU characters, has been updated to one with her removed, with characters from the Disney Plus showLokitaking up her former spot on the cover.
The book, first announced several months after Wanda’s passing inDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessat the end of December 2022, is set for release on October 24th, a revised date from its original September release window. This means that while the original cover featuring Scarlet Witch was marked as not final, the company had ample time to revise the design choice far ahead of the release window but only did so now, amidst major fan fatigue and production issues due to the double strike actions undertaken by the writers and actors guilds. The strike shows no signs of relenting and has already seen oneShe-Hulkstar smashing Bob Iger’s commentson the labor dispute.
Another point that could be noteworthy is the inclusion ofLokicharacters, which might show a strong expectation for the second season to be a success for Disney Plus ahead of its impending premiere. The second season, which addedGame of Thronesstar Kate Dickieto the cast as a villain, is one of the most widely anticipated MCU projects of the current phase, as evidenced by it being the topic of generally positive conversation at a time when other projects are setting new lows for the franchise. If the decision to make the substitution was based on relevance and not erasure, it still doesn’t bode well for fans of Wanda who want to see her return soon.
While this removal isn’t evidence that the character won’t reappear anytime soon, there isn’t any compelling reason to believe otherwise. Even withKevin Feige’s teasing plans for Scarlet Witch, nothing is set in stone with the MCU, as several moving parts and considerations go into planning such an expansive shared universe.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessis available for streaming on Disney Plus.
