Elizabeth Olsen’s confirmed role in a 2025 the MCU timeline, it seemed the franchise was hinting at her comeback in major ways. However, her scheduled return feels like a letdown compared to the grand re-entry I was hoping for.

Wanda Maximoff has been a core part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe since her debut in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Played perfectly by Elizabeth Olsen, she subsequently appeared in some of the best MCU movies and starred in the critically acclaimed WandaVision. However, her supposed death in Multiverse of Madness left more questions than answers. With so many opportunities for her proper return, the decision to feature her feels like a wasted moment for such an integral character.

Elizabeth Olsen's 2025 Marvel Return Isn't As The MCU's Scarlet Witch

Olsen Returns As A Variant In Marvel Zombies

Rather than bringing back the Scarlet Witch fans know and love, Olsen’s confirmed appearance is in the MCU's Marvel Zombies. This relegates her to a multiverse version of her character, not the Wanda from the MCU’s Earth-616. The animated Marvel Zombies series, which debuted in What If...?, takes place in an alternate universe overrun by a zombie plague.

In that context, the Scarlet Witch is just another alternate version of the character from a different universe, with no ties to the Wanda Maximoff whose journey captivated audiences in WandaVision. It’s not a grand return as a major player, but a cameo that could be very short-lived. While Marvel Zombies is an exciting project in its own right, it doesn’t provide the catharsis or narrative weight that I was expecting for Wanda’s MCU comeback.

Instead, Scarlet Witch’s inclusion in this project feels like a placeholder. It delays the return of Earth-616’s Scarlet Witch while teasing a version of the character that lacks the depth of her original storyline. For a character as rich and complex as Wanda, a multiverse cameo hardly feels like the glorious return she deserves.

Marvel Better Be Bringing Back The MCU's Scarlet Witch After This

Scarlet Wich Has Been Referenced Repeatedly Since Her Death

The persistent mentions of Scarlet Witch in recent MCU projects and discussions suggest that Marvel isn’t done with the character, only stoking rumors of her return. Kevin Feige commented, “We are excited to find out when and how Scarlet Witch can return,” further fueling speculation that Wanda’s story is far from over.

Wanda’s popularity and her pivotal role in Marvel’s storytelling make her absence from the mainline MCU difficult to overlook. Her struggles with grief, identity, and power provide a depth and complexity that few other characters have achieved. For Marvel to continue teasing her presence without delivering a full-fledged return for Earth-616’s Scarlet Witch would feel like an ongoing disservice to the character’s narrative potential. After the emotional triumph of WandaVision, we deserve to see Wanda continue her story in a meaningful way.

When Elizabeth Olsen Could Return As The MCU's Scarlet Witch

There Are Several Possible Projects For Wanda To Return I

There are numerous opportunities for Marvel to bring back Wanda Maximoff in the primary MCU timeline. The most immediate possibility is the Vision Quest series, which is reportedly centered on White Vision and his attempts to rediscover his identity. Given their shared history and emotional connection, it would make sense for Wanda to play a significant role in this series, perhaps even resolving lingering questions about her supposed death.

Another likely candidate for Wanda’s return is the project teased at the end of Agatha All Along. The series finale sets up a storyline in which Wiccan, one of Wanda’s twin sons, embarks on a quest to find his brother Speed. Wanda’s maternal instincts and connection to her children are central to her character, making this the perfect opportunity for her to re-enter the MCU.

Of course, there’s also the broader scope of the MCU’s multiverse saga, particularly in Avengers: Secret Wars. As one of the most powerful characters in Marvel who traversed the multiverse before her death, Wanda could play a crucial role in the multiverse’s ultimate resolution. Whether as a hero, an antihero, or even a reluctant antagonist, Scarlet Witch’s involvement in such a major crossover event feels almost inevitable.

MCU Movies

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  Captain America: Brave New World

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  Thunderbolts*

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  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

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  Avengers: Doomsday (2026)

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  Spider-Man: Brand New Day

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  Avengers: Secret Wars

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