Avengers: Doomsday Without Elizabeth Olsen

Whether we like it or not, "Avengers: Doomsday" will have to do without a very popular character. A large part of the cast has already been known for a while, but many big names have yet to be officially announced.

Now, actress Elizabeth Olsen has been quite clear in an interview with The Playlist: Wanda Maximoff, aka Scarlet Witch, will not be appearing in "Doomsday". However, this doesn't seem to be down to her. She stated:

"I want to see her return in this role because I think what they've done with her is really great, and I love the journey she's taken. [...] I just have no idea how or when, for sure."

Of course, statements like these should be taken with a grain of salt – Marvel is well known for keeping secrets, after all. And actors have also lied outright about their involvement in new MCU films in the past.

So we continue to wait eagerly – especially for the first trailer of "Avengers: Doomsday". It is expected to debut in theaters ahead of "Avatar 3" on December 19, nearly a year before the release of the MCU event.

Elizabeth Olsen as Scarlet Witch: the tragic heroine of the Marvel Cinematic Universe

Since her debut in 2015, Elizabeth Olsen has embodied one of the most complex and emotional characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as Wanda Maximoff, better known as Scarlet Witch. Her development from a traumatized young woman to the most powerful magician in the universe – tells a story of loss, love and the search for identity. Below is an overview of all of Olsen's MCU appearances, including the acclaimed series "WandaVision", which finally made Wanda's character a legend.

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

Olsen made her MCU debut in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Together with her twin brother Pietro Maximoff (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), Wanda is initially introduced as an opponent of the Avengers. Influenced by the traumas of her childhood - her parents were killed by Tony Stark's weapons – she joins Ultron, an artificial being who wants to destroy humanity.

But Wanda quickly realizes Ultron's true intentions and turns against him. Her brother dies in the final battle and she joins the Avengers. The basic motif of her character is already evident here: loss and the desire to make amends.

Captain America: Civil War (2016)

In Civil War, Wanda fights as a permanent member of the Avengers. But after a mission in Lagos in which innocent civilians die as a result of her unchecked power, she becomes a symbolic figure in the debate about responsibility and control.

The introduction of the Sokovia Accords forces the Avengers to position themselves. Wanda chooses Captain America and resists government control – out of a desire to control her own life. The film makes it clear that Wanda remains vulnerable despite her powers, a woman who struggles for acceptance and is feared at the same time.

Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Wanda lives in hiding with Vision, the android she loves. But their relationship is destroyed by the war against Thanos. Since Vision carries the Mind Stone that Thanos needs, Wanda has to make a cruel decision: she kills Vision to save the world – only for Thanos to turn back time and kill him again. Within seconds, she loses everything. This double tragedy shapes Wanda's state of mind and leads directly to the events of "WandaVision".

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

After a five-year absence, Wanda returns during the final battle – stronger and more determined than ever. She brings Thanos to the brink of destruction and shows that she is one of the most powerful beings in the universe. Despite her victory over Thanos, Wanda remains broken: Vision is dead, and she stands alone again.

WandaVision (2021)

With the Disney+ series "WandaVision", Wanda was finally given the stage to fully unfold her story. The series picks up directly after "Endgame" and shows Wanda in a deep state of grief. Unable to accept the loss of Vision, she unconsciously creates an entire small town – Westview – in which she simulates an ideal world: Vision is alive, they have twins, and everything is reminiscent of classic US sitcoms.

But the ideal façade begins to crumble when reality intrudes. Wanda is forced to confront her feelings and destroy her self-created illusion – and lose everything once again. In the final episode, she finally assumes her true identity: the Scarlet Witch.

"WandaVision" is considered a milestone in the MCU: a mixture of mystery, psychological drama and love story that puts grief and mental health at the center of a superhero story. Olsen's nuanced performance earned her worldwide recognition and several award nominations.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

In "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness", Wanda shows her darkest side. Corrupted by the Darkhold, a book of dark magic, she desperately searches for a universe in which she can live with her sons Billy and Tommy. As the antagonist, she embodies a tragic mixture of motherly love, rage and madness. She confronts Doctor Strange, destroys entire worlds and kills without mercy – driven by her longing for family.

But in the end she realizes what she has become. In an act of contrition, Wanda sacrifices herself and destroys the Darkhold in all universes to end its power. Her fate remains open, but her willingness to sacrifice underlines her transformation from anti-heroine to tragic legend.

A legacy between pain and love

Over the course of six appearances, Elizabeth Olsen has transformed Wanda Maximoff from a minor character into an emotional pillar of the MCU. No other character embodies the human side of superheroes so impressively: their mistakes, their loss, their struggle for redemption. Wanda represents what elevates the MCU beyond mere action – complex characters who love, grieve and grow. Her story reached its climax with WandaVision, but her legacy lives on: as a symbol of strength in vulnerability and hope in darkness.

Whether she will return one day remains uncertain. But one thing is certain – Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch is indelibly etched in the history of the Marvel Universe as a powerful magician, grieving mother and immortal soul of the MCU.