Elizabeth Olsen just dropped some major hints about her desire to return as Wanda Maximoff and revealed her firm new rule for all upcoming studio movies – they must hit the big screen!
TL;DR: Quick Bites for the Busy Fan
- Elizabeth Olsen is super keen to reprise her role as Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch in the MCU.
- She's now insisting that all big studio films she stars in get a proper theatrical release, prioritizing the communal movie-going experience.
- Despite past denials for upcoming Avengers films, Marvel teasers and details about the VisionQuest series suggest a Scarlet Witch return could happen sooner than fans think!
Okay, fellow Marvel fanatics, grab your popcorn because we've got some juicy updates directly from the heart of the Multiverse! Elizabeth Olsen, our beloved Scarlet Witch, has been making headlines recently, not just for her acting chops but also for her clear stance on her future in Hollywood. And guess what? Her latest comments have us buzzing with excitement about a potential return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe – but she's laying down some ground rules first!
Elizabeth Olsen is Ready to Re-Embrace the Chaos of the Scarlet Witch
It's been a minute since we saw Wanda Maximoff in live-action, hasn't it? Her last appearance was way back in 2022's Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, where things, well, got a little dark and ended with what seemed like a definitive sacrifice. She did lend her voice to the animated Marvel Zombies series this year, but even that was recorded years ago, almost forgotten by Olsen herself.
But hold onto your Darkholds, because the actress recently opened up to InStyle, expressing a genuine desire to step back into Wanda's powerful, reality-bending shoes. "It's ridiculous," she said about making MCU movies. "We're grown people behaving like children on a playground. We're flying. We're shooting things out of our hands. And it's a character that I've gotten to return to so many times over 10 years. It's good to put her down and then I miss her and I want her back. I'd jump at the opportunity to be in her shoes again."
She didn't just stop there. Olsen also highlighted the "consistency of a community and a job, which is hard to find," as a major draw to the Marvel universe. It sounds like she genuinely enjoys the collaborative spirit and the grand scale of these productions, despite some earlier, more critical comments she made about the artistic merit of superhero films. We'll get into that a bit later!
Is Wanda Maximoff Truly Gone? Marvel Boss Kevin Feige Teases Her Return
The biggest question on everyone's mind since Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is simple: Is Wanda Maximoff actually, truly, irrevocably dead? At the film's climax, she brought down Mount Wundagore on herself, leaving behind only a "little red flash." It certainly looked final, but as any seasoned comic book fan knows, "dead" in the Marvel Universe is often just a temporary state.
Even MCU supremo Kevin Feige has fueled the speculation, giving fans a glimmer of hope. "We had Agatha Forever on Disney+ just now, and that series was great for us," Feige reportedly stated. "Since then, there have been a lot of questions about Wanda on fans' minds... So all I can say is that we're excited to find out when and how the Scarlet Witch might return." That's not a "no," folks! In fact, it's a very enthusiastic "stay tuned!"
Fans have been eagerly connecting dots, especially with the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday (slated for December 18, 2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (following on December 17, 2027) on the horizon. While Olsen initially told The Hollywood Reporter she wouldn't be in London for their filming (a classic superhero actor misdirect, perhaps?), the hope remains strong. Especially since her name wasn't officially part of the initial Doomsday reveal, but Marvel did say more actors would be announced.
And let's not forget the huge news of Robert Downey Jr. returning as Doctor Doom and Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange in Secret Wars. The Russo brothers, who are helming these massive projects, have even described Avengers 5 and 6 as a "new beginning" for Phase 7 of the MCU. With such monumental shifts and returns, how could Wanda not be involved?
A Theatrical Comeback? Olsen's New Rule for Big Studio Films
Beyond her love for playing Wanda, Elizabeth Olsen has also recently made a significant declaration about her future film choices. She's now committed to only signing on for studio movies that are guaranteed a theatrical release. This is a big deal in an industry increasingly focused on streaming-first strategies.
She articulated her philosophy clearly to InStyle:
"If a movie is made independently and only sells to a streamer, then fine. But I don’t want to make something where that’s the end-all. I think it’s important for people to gather as a community, to see other humans, be together in a space. That’s why I like sports. I think it’s really powerful for people to come together for something that they’re excited about."This means for any major studio project, Olsen is putting the theatrical experience first. Considering Marvel's track record of massive cinematic releases, this new condition doesn't pose a barrier to her return as Scarlet Witch. In fact, it aligns perfectly with the MCU's long-standing commitment to the big screen, making a comeback even more feasible and exciting for fans who crave that shared cinematic event.
Her stance on theatrical releases also gives us a peek into her artistic priorities. While she appreciates the "financial security" that Marvel projects offer, allowing her to pursue independent films (like her upcoming A24 romantic comedy Eternity, co-starring Miles Teller and Callum Turner, which opens this Thanksgiving), she clearly values the communal aspect of cinema. Her independent film His Three Daughters, for instance, received an awards-qualifying theatrical run before its Netflix debut, showing a pattern of valuing big-screen exposure.
Connecting the Dots: Scarlet Witch, VisionQuest, and the Multiverse Saga's Future
While Olsen might be playing coy about Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars, other whispers and official teasers suggest Wanda's return could be just around the corner, possibly in the highly anticipated VisionQuest Disney+ series. Marvel's official social media accounts have been on a Wanda Maximoff kick lately, posting montages of her epic MCU moments, which has sent fans into a frenzy of speculation.
These recent posts, including "There's no controlling the Scarlet Witch. Stream Wanda Maximoff's #MCU moments only on @DisneyPlus" and "The love story of Wanda and Vision ❤️ Stream their best moments in the #MCU on @DisneyPlus," feel incredibly deliberate. It's almost as if Marvel is reminding everyone why they love her, paving the way for something big.
Adding fuel to the fire, VisionQuest has been confirmed as the final chapter in a trilogy that began with WandaVision and continued through Agatha All Along. Showrunner Terry Matalas himself confirmed the connection, saying it "ties in directly to WandaVision." It's hard to imagine wrapping up that story without Wanda herself, isn't it?
The VisionQuest series is also shaping up to be a wild ride, with Paul Bettany returning as Vision. He hinted that we'll finally get to see "inside Vision's mind," which is "more cluttered than you would think." Confirmed cast members include James Spader as Ultron (in both human and robot form), Emily Hampshire as a human E.D.I.T.H., Orla Brady as a human F.R.I.D.A.Y., James D'Arcy as Edwin Jarvis, and T'nia Miller as Jocasta, the "Bride of Ultron." With Vision's mind potentially holding "copies" of various AIs and a storyline directly linked to WandaVision, the stage is perfectly set for Wanda to reappear and help (or hinder) Vision's quest to understand his own fragmented consciousness.
A well-known scooper, MTTSH, has even teased that Olsen's return will happen "sooner than you think." All signs point to the Scarlet Witch making her triumphant (or perhaps tragic, given her nature) return to the MCU narrative, potentially very soon and in a significant way that leverages her ties to Vision and the magic established in WandaVision.
From Skepticism to Scarlet Witch: Olsen's Evolving View on Marvel
It's worth noting that Elizabeth Olsen's current enthusiasm for the Scarlet Witch marks a subtle but significant shift from some of her past comments. Back in April 2025, during an interview on the NPR podcast Wild Card with Rachel Martin, Olsen expressed a need to "prove" her personal taste after spending so many years in Marvel. She admitted that while she loved being part of the world and was proud of her work, it wasn't "really the art that I consume."
This sentiment isn't entirely new among actors who balance blockbuster roles with independent, "arthouse" cinema. Filmmakers like Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino have famously weighed in on the "cinema" debate regarding superhero movies, with opinions often leaning towards the latter being less artistically profound. Olsen's past remarks resonated with that debate, highlighting her roots in indie films like Martha Marcy May Marlene.
However, her most recent InStyle interview shows a clear embrace of her Marvel tenure, focusing on the "fun," the "community," and the "financial security" that allows her creative freedom elsewhere. She even defended the films indirectly, saying the "soul, the spirit, the heart is fulfilled doing it. It does mean something. I care about the acting being great – everyone does." This evolving perspective is great news for fans, suggesting she's truly excited about the prospect of returning and not just fulfilling a contract.
Over a decade, Elizabeth Olsen has been a pivotal part of the MCU, starting with her post-credits debut in 2014's Captain America: The Winter Soldier. She’s starred in numerous blockbusters, including Avengers: Age of Ultron, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, and her acclaimed series WandaVision, for which she received an Emmy nomination. Her journey as Wanda Maximoff has been one of the most complex and engaging in the entire MCU, evolving from a grieving hero to a powerful, sometimes terrifying, force of nature. It's no wonder she misses playing her!
What's Next for Elizabeth Olsen's Cinematic Universe?
So, what does this all mean for Elizabeth Olsen and the Scarlet Witch? Her desire to return is clear, her new theatrical release condition is a non-issue for the MCU, and Marvel themselves are heavily teasing Wanda's comeback, possibly in VisionQuest. While she might not be physically on set for the initial filming of Avengers: Doomsday or Secret Wars, we all know how Marvel likes to keep secrets and surprise us. A sudden, dramatic entrance in a later phase or film is always on the table for a character as powerful and popular as the Scarlet Witch.
For now, fans can look forward to Elizabeth Olsen's next big-screen venture, Eternity, an A24 romantic comedy, hitting theaters this Thanksgiving. But the bigger, more electrifying question remains: When will we next hear "Wanda Maximoff" echo through the halls of the MCU, and what kind of havoc or heroism will she bring with her?
The Multiverse Saga is just getting started, and it feels increasingly unlikely that such a central and beloved character would be left out of its epic conclusion. Keep your eyes peeled and your theories ready, Marvel fans – it seems like the Scarlet Witch is getting ready for her next act!
Frequently Asked Questions About Scarlet Witch's Future
Sources
- InStyle
- The Hollywood Reporter
- NPR's Wild Card podcast
- IGN
- Deadline
- ScreenRant
- The Independent
- FandomWire
- GeekTyrant
- Murphy's Multiverse
- Marvel Entertainment (Social Media)