WARNING: This article contains spoilers for Doctor Strange 2.
Elizabeth Olsen’s role as Wanda Maximoff ended with a tragic fate in Doctor Strange 2, though the actress’s Marvel contract helps clear up whether Scarlet Witch will return in the MCU. The contracts of many of the MCU’s original Avengers actors have come to an end, leading to the closing of their arc in the franchise, showcased best in examples such as Chris Evans’ Captain America retiring, and Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man dying. Following Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch’s apparent death in Doctor Strange 2, Elizabeth Olsen’s future in the MCU may be falling in line with her other Avengers cohorts.
Olsen first joined the MCU in 2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier, where Wanda Maximoff appeared in a quick post-credits scene. After starring in 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, where Wanda was initially posed as a foe to the Avengers, Olsen returned for five more Marvel projects: Captain America: Civil War (2016), Avengers: Infinity War (2017), Avengers: Endgame (2019), Disney+’s WandaVision series (2021), and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022). Now, after nearly a decade in the MCU, Olsen’s future in the franchise is less clear due to Scarlet Witch’s fate in Doctor Strange 2.
The Wanda Maximoff actress first joined Marvel for a two-movie and cameo contract, with her deal having been extended every time she appeared in another project. Olsen has extended her contract many times with Marvel, but has yet to reveal what the future holds for her in terms of yet another adjustment. While Elizabeth Olsen’s Marvel contract is over as far as the public is aware, she hinted to Collider that because her deal is “always adjusting,” she doesn’t think of Doctor Strange 2 as the end of her MCU appearances.
Will Scarlet Witch Return After Doctor Strange 2?
Although Elizabeth Olsen’s comments about her contract hint that Scarlet Witch will return after Doctor Strange 2, she has yet to confirm an extension and doesn’t want spoilers. Of course, this is in reference to Scarlet Witch’s death in Doctor Strange 2‘s ending, which saw Olsen’s character seemingly sacrifice herself while destroying the Darkhold for good. As such, Olsen herself seems to be in the dark about Wanda Maximoff’s future in the MCU. With the Scarlet Witch apparently dying in Doctor Strange 2, Olsen revealed that she has no idea what capacity she would return in if she were invited back as Wanda. Whether it be a cameo, full feature, TV appearance, or solo movie, Elizabeth Olsen isn’t sure what the future holds for Scarlet Witch in the MCU, but she seems to be confident that a return of her character is in order.
Since Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness‘ Illuminati-featuring story is still a new release, Marvel may be waiting until a sufficient amount of time has passed before revealing the status of Elizabeth Olsen’s contract. If the MCU were to immediately announce that she was signed on for another movie, it may undermine the impact of Scarlet Witch’s death at the end of Doctor Strange 2. However, rumors have already abounded about a Scarlet Witch solo movie, while others anticipate the idea of Wanda’s return opposite White Vision. The MCU is also notable for bringing back characters after death, with viewers knowing that if they didn’t see a body, the character isn’t confirmed dead. Since Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch fits in with this rule after Doctor Strange 2, the MCU cast member’s return seems inevitable.
