Elizabeth Olsen reveals that Wanda Maximoff was almost killed off for good following her dusty demise at the end of 2018’s Avengers: Age of Ultron as a villainous ally of Ultron, alongside her twin brother Pietro, a.k.a. Quicksilver. Wanda eventually ed the heroic Avengers and, following the loss of Pietro, became a key figure in the second lineup of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Her immense power and emotional vulnerability was a key factor in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War, with the young hero eventually fleeing as a fugitive alongside her protector-turned-lover, Vision.

Wanda and Vision returned from their exile in Avengers: Infinity War, helping battle Thanos in Wakanda. The climactic fight saw Thanos murder Wanda’s great love and successfully decimate half the Universe, resulting in Wanda’s disintegration in what’s become known as ‘The Blip’. Despite her assumed demise, Wanda was returned to existence in Avengers: Endgame by Hulk and the other surviving heroes, and helped defeat Thanos once and for all. Despite this, Vision remained dead, and Wanda soon found herself coping with this grief in 2020’s miniseries WandaVision, becoming the powerful Scarlet Witch and manifesting her twin children, Billy and Tommy. Wanda's latest appearance comes in the newly released film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Related: Why Scarlet Witch Is So Different In Doctor Strange 2 From WandaVision 

Despite her recent ascent to fan-favorite status in the MCU, Olsen’s Wanda was almost killed off for good in Infinity War. A recent piece in the pitching 2021’s WandaVision series. Despite initial reluctance to what seemed a “demotion” to TV, Olsen eventually agreed to what would become the most popular arc for Wanda yet.

Elizabeth Olsen as Scarlet Witch

Thanks to Olsen’s return in Endgame, she was able to star in WandaVision, which was a hit launching-pad for Marvel’s Disney+ library. Now, Wanda headlines Multiverse of Madness alongside Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange, with many fans online praising the actor’s layered, tragic performance. Wanda’s future in the MCU beyond this latest turn is uncertain, but there are several opportunities ahead for a Scarlet Witch return, including in the WandaVision spinoff Agatha: House of Darkness.

It's interesting to think of how different MCU Phase 4 would be had Olsen not returned from the snap in Avengers: Infinity War. Wanda has, in many ways, been the conflicted heart and soul of the most recent era of Marvel, with WandaVision and Doctor Strange 2 both exploring the character’s contrasting grief and immense, terrifying power. Many fans will be grateful to Olsen after learning that she made the now-substantial decision to continue her journey in the MCU.

Next: Predicting The MCU Until 2032: All 42 Possible Movies 

Source: New York Times

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