Picture this: a flash of red light, Mount Wundagore crumbling, and the enigmatic fate of one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's most powerful characters, Wanda Maximoff. Ever since that dramatic moment in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, fans have been buzzing with one burning question: when will the Scarlet Witch return?
Well, Elizabeth Olsen herself has finally weighed in, offering some clarity on her potential comeback, especially concerning the highly anticipated Avengers: Doomsday. While her love for Wanda remains strong, her direct answer might just surprise you.
TL;DR: The Quick Scoop on Wanda Maximoff's Return
- Elizabeth Olsen loves playing Scarlet Witch and is "keen" to return, but she has "no idea how or when."
- She explicitly stated she "can't" be in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, which wraps production in mid-September 2025 for a December 18, 2026 release.
- Fans are still hopeful, pointing to unanswered plot threads, comic book precedents, and even comparing her denials to Andrew Garfield's past secrecy.
If you're holding your breath for the Scarlet Witch to reappear in Avengers: Doomsday, Elizabeth Olsen has a definitive, albeit somewhat deflating, message. Speaking to The Playlist, Olsen was asked directly if fans could expect her in the ensemble film. "Well, I can't," she replied plainly, shutting down the immediate hopes for her involvement in next year's blockbuster. Source: [The Playlist, "Elizabeth Olsen 'Keen' To Return, But Plays Down Hopes For Avengers: Doomsday", November 13, 2025].
This isn't to say she's disengaged from the character. Quite the opposite, in fact. Olsen expressed immense pride in her journey as Wanda Maximoff, stating, "I've been really proud of what we've been able to make. Really proud." She further added, "I want to see [her] return in this role because I think what they've done with her is really great, and I love the journey she's taken. I think it's always a fun one to get to go back into, and I just have no idea how or when, for sure." Source: [Yahoo, "Elizabeth Olsen on if she will appear as Scarlet Witch in Avengers: Doomsday", November 13, 2025].
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The Persistent Puzzle of Wanda's Demise and Potential Resurrection
Wanda's last live-action appearance left her fate ambiguous. After a tumultuous arc in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, where she embraced darker powers, she was seemingly crushed under Mount Wundagore, ending with a brief flash of red light. While this might signal a definitive end for many characters, in the fantastical world of Marvel comics and films, "dead" often means "on a brief, dramatic hiatus."
The ambiguity was only heightened by a scene in the WandaVision spin-off series, Agatha All Along. A corpse believed to be Maximoff's turned up, but it was later suggested to be a magical illusion. This narrative wiggle room keeps fans constantly theorizing about how their beloved magic-wielder could make a grand return.
"I want to see [her] return in this role because I think what they've done with her is really great, and I love the journey she's taken. I think it's always a fun one to get to go back into, and I just have no idea how or when, for sure."
— Elizabeth Olsen, The Playlist
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Why Fans Still Hold Out Hope for a Scarlet Witch Comeback
Despite Olsen's clear statements about Doomsday, many fans remain unconvinced that her absence will be permanent. This skepticism isn't unfounded. Marvel has a long history of actors (famously Andrew Garfield regarding his Spider-Man: No Way Home return) publicly denying their involvement in projects only for them to make a surprise appearance. It's a well-known tactic to preserve cinematic secrets and maximize audience shock and delight.
For example, imagine a die-hard fan, Sarah, scrolling through social media. She sees Olsen’s denial and shrugs. "Typical Marvel," she might think. "They did this with Tobey and Andrew. Wanda's too important, too many loose ends. She'll be there." This kind of communal wink-and-nudge is part of the fun for many MCU followers.
Unresolved Plotlines and Multiversal Mayhem
Beyond the "Andrew Garfield approach," several compelling narrative threads fuel fan speculation:
- Billy and Tommy Maximoff: Wanda's "sort-of-real" children, Billy and Tommy, are still out there, with Billy playing a key role in Agatha All Along. The upcoming Vision Quest series is expected to delve deeper into this storyline, making a reunion with their mother feel inevitable to many.
- Magneto's Return: With Ian McKellen reportedly reprising his X-Men role in Avengers: Doomsday (and potentially Secret Wars), the possibility of introducing Magneto as Wanda's father could be a massive moment. It would be a huge missed opportunity not to connect these familial dots if the X-Men are indeed integrated into the MCU's main timeline.
- The "House of M" Dream: Elizabeth Olsen herself has expressed a desire to bring a specific, iconic comic book moment to the screen: uttering the line "No more mutants." Source: [Screen Rant, "The Fox X-Men's MCU Movie Return Sets Up A Perfect Way For Elizabeth Olsen's Dream Scarlet Witch Storyline To Happen On-Screen", October 2025]. This phrase, from the 2005 House of M comic event, saw Wanda depower most of Earth's mutants. With the Fox X-Men now folded into the MCU multiverse and the main MCU timeline needing a way to introduce its own mutants, adapting this storyline—perhaps with a variant Wanda or a resurrected prime Wanda—could provide a dramatic, full-circle explanation for the X-Men's delayed appearance.
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A Potential Alliance with Lady Death and Future MCU Projects
Further sparking the rumor mill, Olsen made a surprise comment at SpaceCon in San Antonio, suggesting a return tied to Aubrey Plaza's MCU character, Lady Death (introduced as Rio Vidal in Agatha All Along). Olsen enthusiastically stated, "I'd love to get to work with Aubrey Plaza again." Source: [International Business Times, "Wanda's Possible Resurrection Via Lady Death", November 2025].
Fans speculate that Lady Death, a cosmic entity controlling life and mortality, could provide a narrative mechanism for Wanda's resurrection. Merging Wanda's chaos magic with Lady Death's influence offers a truly supernatural route to bring Scarlet Witch back, fitting the "180-degree path" Marvel isn't afraid to take with its characters.
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Olsen's Career Beyond the Scarlet Witch: A Focus on Auteur-Driven Projects
While Wanda Maximoff's future remains a topic of fervent discussion, Elizabeth Olsen herself is currently pivoting her career towards more independent, auteur-driven projects. She leads Todd Solondz's Love Child, a dark comedy, and Panos Cosmatos' Flesh of the Gods, a neon-soaked 1980s vampire thriller co-starring Kristen Stewart and Oscar Isaac. Source: [International Business Times, "Olsen's Career After Doctor Strange: Multiverse of Madness", November 2025].
Olsen has clarified her intentions, stating, "I'm not really interested in just jumping from franchise to franchise. I'm hoping to make things that are more reflective of culture and our time." This strategic shift allows her to expand her creative range, signaling a desire for diverse roles even as she remains open to revisiting the MCU. It’s a classic actor's trade-off: the steady, massive platform of a franchise versus the artistic freedom and challenging roles found in independent cinema.
She also recently hinted that her Marvel return might even depend on fan demand, playfully suggesting to Entertainment Tonight, "Maybe they can petition." Source: [ComicBook.com, "Elizabeth Olsen Wants Fans to Petition for Scarlet Witch’s Return", November 12, 2025]. This lighthearted comment underscores her connection to the fanbase, even as she explores new artistic avenues.
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What This Means for the Future of Scarlet Witch in the MCU
So, where does this leave Wanda Maximoff? Her absence from Avengers: Doomsday is confirmed by the actress herself, but the door for future appearances remains wide open. The MCU's ongoing Multiverse Saga, culminating in Avengers: Secret Wars (which will have reshoots in spring 2026, ahead of Doomsday's December 2026 release), provides countless opportunities for variants, resurrections, or entirely new storylines for the Scarlet Witch.
Olsen’s consistent enthusiasm for the role, coupled with the numerous unresolved plot points and fan-favorite comic arcs, suggests that it's more a question of when and how, rather than if, Wanda Maximoff will return to the MCU. For now, fans will have to accept her absence from Doomsday and keep an eye on upcoming projects like Agatha All Along and Vision Quest for clues to her eventual, and highly anticipated, comeback.
Practical Takeaways for Scarlet Witch Fans
- Don't expect Wanda in Avengers: Doomsday based on Elizabeth Olsen's direct statements.
- Keep an eye on Agatha All Along (releasing September 18, 2024) and Vision Quest for developments related to Wanda's children and potential magical ties.
- Remember Marvel's history of secrecy; actor denials don't always mean permanent absence, especially for beloved characters.
- Elizabeth Olsen is focusing on independent films for now, but she's openly "keen" to return to the MCU when the time is right.
Sources
- IGN, "'I Just Have No Idea How or When': Marvel's Scarlet Witch Star Elizabeth Olsen 'Keen' To Return, But Plays Down Hopes For Avengers: Doomsday", November 13, 2025.
- Yahoo, "Elizabeth Olsen on if she will appear as Scarlet Witch in Avengers: Doomsday", November 13, 2025.
- Screen Rant, "The Fox X-Men's MCU Movie Return Sets Up A Perfect Way For Elizabeth Olsen's Dream Scarlet Witch Storyline To Happen On-Screen", October 2025.
- International Business Times, "Elizabeth Olsen opens up about her potential return as 'Scarlet Witch' in Marvel", November 13, 2025.
- International Business Times, "Scarlet Witch is not in Avengers: Doomsday, Olsen confirms", November 13, 2025.
- International Business Times, "Wanda's Possible Resurrection Via Lady Death", November 2025.
- ComicBook.com, "Elizabeth Olsen Wants Fans to Petition for Scarlet Witch’s Return", November 12, 2025.
- CinemaBlend, "Elizabeth Olsen Has Once Again Shut Down Rumors About Her Appearing In The Next Avengers Movie, But I Just Don't Believe Her", November 15, 2025.
- GamesRadar+, "Scarlet Witch actor Elizabeth Olsen has talked about her Marvel future, and it sounds like the actor is completely in the dark", November 15, 2025.