Is Scarlet Witch Really Dead? What Happened to Scarlet Witch? Why did Marvel Remove Scarlet Witch? Will the Scarlet Witch Return?
by Aishwarya R
Updated Oct 28, 2023
Is Scarlet Witch Really Dead?
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), the character Wanda Maximoff, widely recognized as Scarlet Witch, is depicted as dead. Her apparent demise occurs in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness when Mount Wundagore collapses, seemingly claiming her life. This event is portrayed within the narrative of the film, leading to her passing. Marvel Studios has officially acknowledged Wanda's death within the context of the MCU.
However, despite her character's on-screen demise, there have been indications that Elizabeth Olsen, the actress who portrays Wanda, has reached an agreement to reprise the role in future MCU projects. Marvel has numerous upcoming films and television series where Wanda could potentially make a return.
While her death was portrayed in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the narrative implies that her story continues beyond this event, leaving room for her potential resurrection or return in future installments. Marvel has a history of employing various plot devices, such as alternate timelines and resurrections, to maintain the dynamic nature of its characters and storylines, often keeping fans guessing about the fates of their beloved superheroes.
Who is Scarlet Witch?
Scarlet Witch, also known as Wanda Maximoff, is a fictional character featured in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. She was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby and made her first appearance in The X-Men #4 (March 1964) during the Silver Age of Comic Books. Originally depicted as having the power to manipulate probability, Scarlet Witch has been portrayed as a potent sorceress since the 1980s, with the ability at times to manipulate reality by accessing powerful energy sources.
In her early depiction, Scarlet Witch is shown as a hesitant supervillain alongside her twin brother, Pietro Maximoff/Quicksilver, both of whom were founding members of the Brotherhood of Mutants. A year after her debut, she joined the Avengers superhero team and has since been frequently portrayed as a regular member of that team or related groups, such as the West Coast Avengers and Force Works. In 1975, she married her android teammate Vision, eventually using borrowed magical forces to become pregnant and give birth to twin sons, William ("Billy") and Thomas ("Tommy"). However, in 1989, a storyline eliminated Tommy and Billy from existence (later reintroduced as the heroes Wiccan and Speed) and removed Vision's emotions, leading to the annulment of his and Wanda's marriage.
Throughout most of her comic book history, Scarlet Witch has been depicted as a mutant, belonging to a fictional subspecies of humans born with an "X-gene" that grants them superhuman abilities and characteristics. However, various storylines suggest that her mutant powers were influenced by the High Evolutionary's experimentation during her childhood. A 2015 storyline revised Wanda's origin, establishing that her superhuman abilities are entirely the result of experimentation conducted by the High Evolutionary and inherited magical capabilities. Unlike characters such as Franklin Richards, standard tests for the X-gene inaccurately classify her as a mutant, indicating that she was not born as one.
Back Story of Scarlet Witch
The backstory of the Scarlet Witch, also known as Wanda Maximoff, within the Marvel universe has undergone various revisions over the years. Initially, during the 1960s, it was established that she and her brother Quicksilver were the mutant twin children of unnamed parents. Subsequently, it was revealed that they were entrusted to the geneticist known as the High Evolutionary, shrouding their true parentage in mystery.
In 1974, it was suggested that their parents were Golden Age heroes Bob Frank, also known as Whizzer, and Madeline Joyce Frank, who went by the moniker Miss America. Consequently, Wanda briefly adopted the name Wanda Frank. In 1979, it was disclosed that they were raised by Django and Marya Maximoff, human Romani parents. The storyline took a significant turn in 1982 when Magneto claimed to be Wanda and Pietro's father.
However, the AXIS crossover event in 2014 revealed that they were not biologically related to Magneto. In 2015, it was unveiled that the twins were not mutants and that their extraordinary abilities were the result of the High Evolutionary's experiments, coupled with Wanda's innate magical capabilities as a Witch. The Scarlet Witch series from 2015 to 2017 further explored their history, revealing that their adopted parents, Django and Marya Maximoff, were actually their aunt and uncle.
Moreover, their true mother was confirmed to be Natalya Maximoff, the previous Scarlet Witch, who was a Romani sorceress and the daughter of the Scarlet Warlock. Throughout her character development, the Scarlet Witch has been recognized as one of Marvel's most prominent and powerful heroes.
How is Scarlet Witch So Powerful?
Scarlet Witch, both in the Marvel Comics and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, derives her formidable powers from a combination of genetic inheritance and exposure to cosmic forces. Her mutant abilities, a genetic anomaly, grant her the power of reality manipulation, enabling her to shape reality, create energy fields, and manipulate matter at the molecular level. Her powers were further enhanced in the MCU through exposure to the Mind Stone, one of the powerful Infinity Stones. This amplification played a crucial role in her transformation into the Scarlet Witch, endowing her with unparalleled abilities to alter reality itself.
Her abilities include reality warping, energy manipulation, telekinesis, creation of energy constructs, force field generation, and energy blasts. She is renowned for her chaos magic, capable of manipulating probability and time, along with psychic powers such as telepathy and mind control. Additionally, she has demonstrated advanced magical prowess, enabling her to cast spells and access mystical forces. Scarlet Witch's combination of innate genetic potential and exposure to cosmic energies has led to her status as one of the most powerful characters in the Marvel Universe.
Who Played Scarlet Witch in the MCU?
Elizabeth Olsen, an American actress, has portrayed Wanda Maximoff, also known as Scarlet Witch, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since 2014. She gained global recognition for her portrayal of Wanda Maximoff in various films, including Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Captain America: Civil War (2016), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Avengers: Endgame (2019), and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022). Additionally, she starred in the critically acclaimed miniseries WandaVision (2021). Olsen's performance in WandaVision earned her nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award.
Apart from her work with Marvel, Olsen has appeared in other notable films, including the monster film Godzilla (2014), the mystery film Wind River (2017), and the dramedy Ingrid Goes West (2017). She also served as an executive producer and starred in the drama series Sorry for Your Loss (2018–2019), for which she received a Critics' Choice Television Award nomination for her portrayal of a widow.
Olsen, born in Sherman Oaks, California, commenced her acting career at the age of four. She made her debut film appearance in the thriller Martha Marcy May Marlene in 2011, for which she received critical acclaim and earned a Critics' Choice Movie Award nomination, among other accolades. This was followed by a role in the horror film Silent House. Olsen was nominated for a BAFTA Rising Star Award and graduated from New York University two years later.
What Happened to Scarlet Witch?
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Scarlet Witch, also known as Wanda Maximoff, is depicted as deceased in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Wanda's passing was acknowledged by Marvel Studios after she seemingly perished when Mount Wundagore collapsed. Despite her on-screen demise, actress Elizabeth Olsen has reportedly agreed to reprise the role, leaving the possibility open for Wanda to return in upcoming Marvel films and television series.
Why did Marvel Remove Scarlet Witch?
Marvel Studios portrayed Scarlet Witch's demise in the MCU to serve the narrative of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, where Wanda is seemingly crushed by Mount Wundagore. Despite her apparent death, Elizabeth Olsen's reported agreement to reprise the role suggests the character's potential return in upcoming Marvel projects, reflecting Marvel's tendency to maintain a dynamic storyline for its characters.
Will the Scarlet Witch Return?
There is no official information about Scarlet Witch's return in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as of now. However, given the nature of comic book storylines and the history of Marvel's characters, it is possible for characters to return even after apparent demises or departures. With the dynamic and ever-expanding nature of the MCU, there may be opportunities for Scarlet Witch to reappear in future projects.
Is Scarlet Witch Really Dead - FAQs
Within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Scarlet Witch is portrayed as deceased in "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness." However, the possibility of her return remains open for future projects.
In "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness," Scarlet Witch seemingly perishes when Mount Wundagore collapses. The storyline suggests her demise, but her character's journey might continue in upcoming Marvel projects.
Marvel Studios portrayed Scarlet Witch's apparent demise to serve the narrative of "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness." However, the character's potential return remains a possibility, considering the dynamic nature of Marvel's storylines.
While there is no official confirmation, Elizabeth Olsen's reported agreement to reprise the role suggests the potential for Scarlet Witch's return in future Marvel projects, in line with Marvel's history of bringing back characters even after apparent departures.
As of now, Scarlet Witch is depicted as deceased within the MCU. However, her story may continue or be revisited in the franchise's upcoming films and television series, leaving room for her potential return or resurrection.