The Scarlet Witch character is currently deceased in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but there are rumors that Elizabeth Olsen has been cut off from Marvel, which are untrue. Although Wanda Maximoff appears to die in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Elizabeth Olsen could still return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Recent decisions by Disney/Marvel have led to speculation that the brand is severing ties with the actress, but these rumors are probably false.
It seems that Elizabeth Olsen and the Scarlet Witch character are taking a break from the MCU, which makes sense both narratively and for Olsen’s career growth. However, fans shouldn’t worry about the lack of a second season of WandaVision or any pre-announced Scarlet Witch appearances. Wanda will likely return to the MCU, possibly for a redemption arc to help her fellow heroes in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars.
Marvel has revealed that there won’t be a second season of WandaVision, as the first season is being billed as “The Complete Series” on its home media packaging. While this news may seem recent, it shouldn’t come as a surprise and doesn’t indicate any sudden change in plans for Scarlet Witch. Elizabeth Olsen confirmed back in 2021 that the show was always intended to be a limited series. In an interview with Variety, Olsen stated, “No. No. It’s definitely a limited series.” She did leave the possibility open by saying, “I don’t know. I mean, with Marvel, you can never say no…”
It appears that the first season of WandaVision was planned to be a self-contained and comprehensive series from the beginning, although its storylines continue in other shows. While WandaVision is one of several MCU series with a secret second season, the upcoming show Agatha: Darkhold Diaries will follow Kathryn Hahn’s witch after she escapes Wanda’s spell in Westview. This show could include flashback footage of Scarlet Witch and set up Olsen’s next appearance in the MCU.
Moreover, the lack of a second season for WandaVision should not worry fans about Olsen’s future involvement in the MCU since very few Marvel Disney+ series have been confirmed for a second season. Only Loki season 2 is set to air later this year, while What If… season 2 is still awaiting an official release date. Recently, I Am Groot debuted its second season of digital shorts, but that’s it. WandaVision is in good company with other MCU shows like Hawkeye and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which also have no future seasons announced at this point.
There have been rumors circulating about Wanda’s future in the MCU potentially being changed for the worse after Marvel updated the cover art for their upcoming official timeline book, which originally featured Scarlet Witch. However, recent updates to online storefronts show that Loki and Sylvie have replaced Wanda on the cover. While disappointing for fans of Wanda Maximoff, there is likely a less ominous reason for the change. The swap to promote currently-active characters who will be more immediately relevant to the franchise and to coincide with the premiere of Loki season 2, which airs a few weeks before the timeline book comes out on October 24th.
Elizabeth Olsen has been quite direct about taking a break from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and her possible return. Despite the playful misdirection often used by Marvel actors to hide their involvement in upcoming projects, Olsen has spoken candidly about her status. During an interview on Today in April, she responded to a question about whether Scarlet Witch would be back with “Yes, I hope so. I have no idea.” She clarified that she has not filmed nor seen a script for any upcoming appearances and does not have a current contract.
In another interview with Variety shortly after, Olsen expressed her thoughts on not having any current plans as Scarlet Witch, saying, “No, I don’t miss it. I just did two years straight of it, so I think the break has been good for me. I need to build other characters.” While it may not seem like a positive sign that she’s happy to be away from the character, it’s worth noting that Olsen referred to the leave as a break and not a permanent end. It’s reasonable for an actor to not be wholly tied to one franchise and role, and Olsen seems to be enjoying spreading out to other projects.
During an interview with Variety, Elizabeth Olsen addressed rumors that she was fired from Marvel. However, these rumors are false and she is actually taking a break from her character, Wanda Maximoff. Olsen expressed pride in her achievements with the franchise and if her time playing Wanda ended for any reason, she would still be proud of what she has accomplished so far. Olsen’s desire to explore other genres of film does not stem from any issues with her character or the MCU as a whole. She expressed a need for diversity in her roles and the importance of building other parts for balance. It is understandable that an actor of Olsen’s caliber would want to explore different genres, and with Wanda’s apparent death, it seems like the perfect time to do so.
Currently, there is no definite answer regarding the future of Scarlet Witch in the MCU. It seems logical that Marvel would want to redeem one of its beloved Avengers and give her another heroic appearance in an upcoming movie rather than portraying her as a villain. The fact that she does not have a contract should not be a cause for concern since Marvel has shifted towards smaller movie-by-movie deals for most of its talent recently. However, if Elizabeth Olsen decides to move on from the role, Scarlet Witch has already had a unique character arc in the franchise.
