In the vast and ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe, few characters have left as profound an emotional mark as Elizabeth Olsen’s Wanda Maximoff, aka the Scarlet Witch. From her introduction in ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ to her full transformation into the multiverse-shaking Scarlet Witch in ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’, Wanda’s story has been a rollercoaster of power, redemption, and tragedy.
However, after her apparent death in ‘Multiverse of Madness’, fans have been left wondering: Is Scarlet Witch truly gone from the MCU? According to ‘WandaVision‘ director Matt Shakman, the answer is full of hope as told SR, “Wanda’s never gone.”
Why Wanda Maximoff Aka The Scarlet Witch Deserves Redemption
The emotional journey of Wanda Maximoff is one of the most human and heartbreaking arcs in superhero cinema. Audiences have witnessed her lose everything. ‘WandaVision’ gave us an intimate, deeply moving portrayal of trauma and healing, where we saw Wanda embrace her identity as the Scarlet Witch, even as she was forced to say goodbye to the life she longed for, however, just when we thought her story had reached catharsis, ‘Multiverse of Madness’ shocked fans by turning her into a full-blown villain.
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Consumed by the Darkhold’s corruption and grief, she killed, manipulated, and tore through the multiverse in search of her sons. And in a final act of contrition, she seemingly sacrificed herself to destroy all Darkholds across existence. Still, her death was ambiguous. Nobody was shown, no funeral held. In comic book storytelling, and especially in the MCU, “no body” almost always means “not really dead.” Even within the narrative, ‘Agatha All Along’ subtly pokes at the finality of her “death.” Additionally, Wanda’s story can’t end here, not like this.
Why A Scarlet Witch Reboot Is Very Much Possible
While Elizabeth Olsen has expressed interest in returning, the ever-evolving MCU may have more ambitious plans for Wanda Maximoff. With the upcoming Mutant Saga on the horizon, and ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ promising reality-shattering consequences, Marvel has a golden opportunity to reboot the Scarlet Witch. In Marvel Comics, Wanda is not only a powerful magic-wielder, but also deeply intertwined with the mutant mythos as the daughter of Magneto and a long-time member of the X-Men.
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The MCU notably sidestepped her mutant heritage in the Infinity Saga, likely due to licensing restrictions at the time. However, now that Marvel Studios owns the full rights to the X-Men, a rebooted Wanda could be reintroduced as a mutant from the beginning. This approach would allow Marvel to explore a new side of Wanda, not as a grief-driven antagonist, but as a strong, principled hero with mutant ties. It would open the door to iconic storylines like House of M, where her chaos magic reshapes reality itself. And more importantly, it could place her at the center.
Matt Shakman’s comment that “Wanda’s never gone” may hold more weight than fans realize. As the director of both WandaVision and the upcoming ‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’, Shakman is no stranger to building worlds. Additionally, Wanda Maximoff resonates because she’s not just a superhero; she’s human. Her pain is real. Her struggles make her one of the most relatable characters in the MCU. So, this can’t be the end. Whether Elizabeth Olsen returns or a new face dons the mantle of Scarlet Witch, one thing is clear: Wanda Maximoff’s story is far from over.
