The Marvel fandom is buzzing once again — and it’s all thanks to Elizabeth Olsen.
In a new interview with InStyle, the actress reflected on her journey as Wanda Maximoff, a.k.a. the Scarlet Witch, while offering a carefully worded update on whether fans can expect to see her again in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
After her apparent death in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022), the question of Wanda’s survival — and potential return — has remained one of the biggest mysteries in Marvel’s Multiverse Saga. With Avengers: Doomsday slated for 2026, speculation about Olsen’s comeback has reached a fever pitch.
Olsen’s Response on Scarlet Witch’s Fate
When asked directly if she believes Scarlet Witch is still alive, Olsen kept things ambiguous:
“No idea,” she told InStyle.
The short but telling answer keeps Wanda’s fate open-ended, which has become a trademark of Marvel secrecy. Olsen then reflected on how it felt embodying Wanda over the past decade, noting that she’s always willing to return if the story feels right.
“It’s ridiculous,” Olsen said. “We’re grown people behaving like children on a playground. We’re flying, 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.”
Her comments reaffirm what fans have suspected — while Wanda’s future isn’t officially confirmed, Olsen’s interest in returning remains strong.
Why Fans Believe Scarlet Witch Will Return?
Rumors of Olsen’s MCU comeback intensified after director Matt Shakman, who helmed WandaVision, teased in early 2025 that the character’s story was “far from over.” Industry insiders have hinted that Avengers: Doomsday will serve as the culmination of the Multiverse Saga, possibly uniting characters presumed dead or lost across timelines.
According to MCU analyst Grace Randolph, multiple sources have described the upcoming Avengers films as “multiversal reunions,” making Wanda’s reappearance all but inevitable.
Entertainment critic Ben Travis of Empire Magazine notes:
“If the Avengers are fighting a multiversal threat, the Scarlet Witch is too powerful a wild card to stay buried. Her absence would feel like a missing puzzle piece.”
Wanda Maximoff’s Journey So Far
| Movie / Series | Year | Role / Development |
|---|---|---|
| Avengers: Age of Ultron | 2015 | Introduced as a Sokovian experiment with telekinetic powers. |
| Captain America: Civil War | 2016 | Chooses independence over government control. |
| Avengers: Infinity War | 2018 | Suffers heartbreak after Vision’s death. |
| Avengers: Endgame | 2019 | Returns post-blip to face Thanos. |
| WandaVision (Disney+) | 2021 | Creates a false reality to process grief; becomes the Scarlet Witch. |
| Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness | 2022 | Becomes a villain in pursuit of her children across realities. Fate left ambiguous after Mount Wundagore collapses. |
By the end of Multiverse of Madness, Wanda appeared to sacrifice herself — but Marvel never confirmed her death on-screen. In true MCU fashion, “no body, no death” remains a guiding fan theory.
Olsen on the Marvel Experience
Olsen described her MCU tenure as “surreal yet rewarding,” acknowledging the enormous coordination that goes into each project:
“The insane camera movement, stunt work, and visual effects happening in real time — it’s hundreds and hundreds of people on set working toward one goal. The people doing the visual effects are artists. It’s a powerful thing to be a part of.”
The actress, who joined the MCU in 2014, said she feels proud to have played a character that evolved from sidekick to one of the universe’s most complex antiheroes.
Film historian Dr. Clara Ellison observes:
“Wanda Maximoff became a symbol of emotional depth in superhero storytelling. She represented grief, power, and moral duality — themes that defined Marvel’s Phase 4.”
Upcoming Roles: Olsen’s Post-Marvel Career
Since Multiverse of Madness, Olsen has diversified her portfolio with independent and dramatic roles, stepping away from blockbusters to focus on character-driven projects. Her post-MCU filmography includes:
| Project | Type / Genre | Release |
|---|---|---|
| His Three Daughters | Drama | 2023 |
| Love & Death (HBO) | Crime Drama | 2023 |
| The Assessment | Sci-Fi Thriller | 2024 |
| Eternity (A24) | Romantic Comedy | Nov 26, 2025 |
Despite enjoying this creative shift, Olsen admits she often misses the energy and community of Marvel’s large-scale productions — hinting that she’d “love to return” if given the chance.
Avengers: Doomsday — What We Know So Far
The next major MCU crossover event, Avengers: Doomsday, is set to release on December 18, 2026. Directed by Shawn Levy, the film will reportedly unite legacy characters from across the multiverse — including Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange, and possibly Olsen’s Scarlet Witch.
Industry insiders suggest that Doomsday will serve as a bridge between Secret Wars (2027) and the end of the Multiverse Saga. Marvel leaker CanWeGetSomeToast recently claimed that Wanda may return “in a redeemed form,” helping the Avengers combat Doctor Doom and a fractured reality caused by incursions.
“Wanda’s arc has always been about redemption,” says Levi Portman, senior writer at ScreenGeek. “If Multiverse of Madness was her fall, Doomsday could be her resurrection.”
The Power of Fan Demand
The #BringBackWanda campaign has trended multiple times since 2023, with millions of fans expressing their desire to see Olsen return. On social media, fan art and speculative posters for Scarlet Witch: Resurrection continue to circulate.
Marvel analyst Erin Han points out:
“Fan enthusiasm plays a huge role in MCU decisions. Wanda’s fanbase is massive, and Marvel knows the cultural pull of Elizabeth Olsen’s performance.”
Given Marvel’s history of reviving popular characters, few believe Wanda’s story is truly over.
Why It Matters?
Elizabeth Olsen’s comments are more than nostalgia — they’re a reminder of how vital Wanda Maximoff has become to modern superhero storytelling. Her nuanced portrayal turned a side character into one of Marvel’s emotional anchors, influencing everything from WandaVision’s Emmy-winning success to fan theories still dominating the internet.
Whether she returns in Avengers: Doomsday or a future standalone project, one thing is certain — the Scarlet Witch’s story isn’t finished.
FAQs
Her death was never explicitly shown on-screen. Given Marvel’s history of reversals, it’s widely believed she survived the collapse of Mount Wundagore.
Nothing is confirmed, but strong industry rumors and narrative hints suggest she may return in a pivotal role.
She’s expressed interest in reprising the role, saying she “misses” playing Wanda and would “jump at the opportunity” to return.
Wanda’s chaos magic and reality-warping abilities make her one of the few heroes capable of repairing or destroying timelines — essential to Doomsday’s storyline.
If not in Avengers: Doomsday (2026), she could return in Avengers: Secret Wars (2027) or a solo Disney+ revival exploring her resurrection.
