Elizabeth Olsen Says She Misses Playing Scarlet Witch and Would Return to the MCU

Elizabeth Olsen, the actress behind the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s beloved Scarlet Witch, has once again opened the door to returning as Wanda Maximoff – and this time, her comments feel more heartfelt than ever. In a recent interview with InStyle, Olsen reflected on the decade-long journey she’s had with the character, admitting that while she’s enjoyed stepping away, she can’t help but miss playing one of the MCU’s most complex heroes. “It’s good to put her down,” Olsen said, “and then I miss her, and I want her back.

I’d jump at the opportunity to be in her shoes again.”

Olsen last appeared in 2022’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, where Scarlet Witch’s fate was left deliberately ambiguous. The film seemingly ended with Wanda sacrificing herself beneath Mount Wundagore – crushed under collapsing stone after realizing the horror her dark magic had caused. Yet Marvel fans, ever hopeful, never bought the finality of her death. “You see a red flash when the mountain falls,” one viewer pointed out at the time. “She’s alive. Come on, she’s the Scarlet Witch!”

Since then, Olsen has voiced the character in the animated Marvel Zombies series, though those recordings were done years ago. Her absence from the live-action MCU has fueled constant speculation about when – or if – she’ll reappear. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige only fanned the flames with a cryptic tease: “We had Agatha Forever on Disney+ just now, and that series got people talking about Wanda again. All I can say is we’re excited to find out when and how the Scarlet Witch might return.”

That teasing, combined with Olsen’s affection for the role, has convinced many that her comeback is inevitable – perhaps even necessary. After all, Doctor Strange and WandaVision made Wanda one of the MCU’s most layered and tragic figures. A woman who lost everything, embraced chaos, and finally saw herself as the monster she feared she’d become. “It’s like breaking up with your long-time lover,” one fan mused online. “You think you’re ready for something new, but months later you realize you miss the old one. That’s Olsen and the Scarlet Witch.”

Still, Olsen has been cautious. She has publicly stated she won’t be filming for Avengers: Doomsday or its sequel, Secret Wars – both currently in development. But as MCU veterans know, denials can often be strategic. The franchise thrives on secrecy, and surprise cameos are practically a tradition. Robert Downey Jr. is set to return – albeit not as Iron Man, but as Doctor Doom – a casting twist that redefines expectations for Phase 7. If Marvel can reimagine Tony Stark as a villain, Wanda’s rebirth hardly seems out of reach.

Moreover, the multiverse concept now gives writers endless flexibility. Even if the 616 version of Wanda truly died, variants across realities could step in. Fans have floated countless theories: one version redeemed and mentoring young heroes, another serving as a reluctant ally to Doctor Strange, or even a corrupted Scarlet Witch acting as the ultimate antagonist in Secret Wars. “In the comics, she’s an omega-level mutant who can rewrite reality,” a fan wrote. “A pile of rocks isn’t going to stop her.”

Olsen herself appears more reflective than ever. She described MCU filmmaking as “ridiculous and beautiful at once – grown adults pretending to fly and shoot magic.” Yet she also praised the sense of community and continuity that Marvel provides. After ten years in and out of Wanda’s mind, Olsen sounds ready for closure – or a new beginning. Whether her next step is redemption, resurrection, or reinvention, the Scarlet Witch remains one of the MCU’s most fascinating mysteries.

As for the future, Avengers: Doomsday is slated for May 2026, with Secret Wars following in May 2027. The Russo brothers promise a “new beginning,” hinting that this next phase may redefine what heroism and villainy mean in a multiverse fractured by choice and consequence. If so, bringing back the woman who once destroyed – and nearly remade – reality could be the perfect symbol for that new age. Whether Olsen truly knows Wanda’s fate or not, fans are certain of one thing: the MCU isn’t the same without her.