There could have been a lot more to the Scarlet Witch‘s villain turn than the Marvel Cinematic Universe showed, as a new MCU theory explains that a hidden villain that could be an even bigger threat than Doctor Doom would make sense of Wanda’s controversial storyline. Elizabeth Olsen’s Wanda Maximoff was equal parts hero and villain in Disney+’s WandaVision. Her role in one of the MCU’s best TV shows saw Wanda turn into the Scarlet Witch and defeat Agatha Harkness, but before then, she had put Westview and its residents under a hex.
There were two ways Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness could go to continue the Scarlet Witch’s MCU story. The first would have seen her trying to heal from all the tragedies she has endured. The other, which was the one the MCU decided to take with the character, was to have the Scarlet Witch serve as the main villain of the Doctor Strange sequel. All of it was due to her wanting to take America Chavez’s powers to travel to a universe where her sons were alive. An MCU theory adds a new layer to Wanda’s villain turn.
The Scarlet Witch Was Not Doctor Strange 2’s Original Villain
The MCU Movie Had A Very Different Role In Mind For Wanda
Benedict Cumberbatch’s first Doctor Strange movie was directed by Scott Derrickson. The creative was originally announced to be helming the sequel, which would have seen Olsen join the franchise as the Scarlet Witch. However, due to the director and Marvel Studios having different visions of how the story should go, they parted ways. Sam Raimi, who helmed Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man movie trilogy and is well-versed in horror, was brought in to replace Derrickson. That led to changes to the story, and after Doctor Strange in the Multiverse was released, the Scarlet Witch’s original role was revealed.
X-Men ’97‘s original showrunner, Beau DeMayo, was the one to explain on Twitter how Wanda’s role was originally not that of a villain in the Doctor Strange sequel. DeMayo claims that the movie’s villain was meant to be Nightmare, not Wanda. In fact, the Scarlet Witch would have been a hero, teaming up with Doctor Strange and Wong to take him down after recovering from WandaVision‘s events. Instead of hunting America Chavez throughout the multiverse, DeMayo revealed that Wanda was meant to tutor her, which goes to show just how much of her storyline was changed for the final film.
The Scarlet Witch’s Villain Turn Gets A New Explanation That Brings Nightmare Into The MCU In Marvel Theory
Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness’ Original Villain Could Finally Debut
With WandaVision, Agatha All Along, and more new MCU projects delving further into the franchise’s magical and mystical corners, Nightmare would make a lot of sense. A new MCU theory shared on Reddit by user Key_Cattle_5525 connects the villain’s MCU debut to the latest chapter in Scarlet Witch’s confusing Marvel Comics foray. Marvel’s TVA comic book series includes many references to the MCU, and one of its biggest is Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch, as a version of Wanda that looks exactly like she did in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness had been put in stasis by the TVA.
As soon as Wanda is freed, Nightmare appears, and thanks Spider-Woman for freeing her for him. Basing itself on that connection, the MCU theory suggests that Nightmare could have been involved with the Scarlet Witch’s villain turn, controlling her, and he is now back to do so once again. The Doctor Strange sequel showed that she had been corrupted by the Darkhold, and her multiverse travels could cause incursions. The theory presents Nightmare and Eternity, which is the multiverse as a form, as opposites. Every ᴅᴇᴀᴅ universe would give Nightmare power, and he uses the Scarlet Witch to destroy them.
How The Theory Redeems The Scarlet Witch
Wanda Can Be A Hero Again In The MCU
Nightmare’s MCU debut, as the theory suggests, would be the perfect way to continue Wanda’s redemption arc. It started at the end of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The Scarlet Witch used all of her power to destroy the Darkholds of every universe, preventing others from being corrupted by the book as she had been. If the MCU were to reveal that not only was Wanda corrupted by the Darkhold, but she had also been manipulated and controlled by Nightmare, then it would be easier for her to become a hero again.
It would also make it so Wanda was manipulated by two villains consecutively, Agatha Harkness and Nightmare.
After all, the Scarlet Witch left a path of destruction all over the multiverse. She killed many, including Earth-838’s Illuminati, in a brutal fashion. It would take a lot for her to come back from that, and revealing that Nightmare played a key role in the Scarlet Witch’s multiversal rampage would make the road back to her being a hero easier. It would also make it so Wanda was manipulated by two villains consecutively, Agatha Harkness and Nightmare. Avengers: Doomsday could then not only bring her back, but be a story about the Scarlet Witch reclaiming her power and autonomy.
Scarlet Witch
Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the Scarlet Witch debuted, along with her twin brother, Quicksilver in X-Men #4 (March 1964). Also known as Wanda Maximoff, she first appears as a member of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, before she eventually became a member of the Avengers. In the comics, she is a mutant who uses chaos magic to alter reality.
Scarlet Witch is played by Elizabeth Olsen in the MCU, having debuted in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
- Cast
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Elizabeth Olsen
- RELATIONSHIPS
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Vision (Lover), Quicksilver (Brother)
- Movies
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Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness
- TV Shows
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WandaVision
All Announced Upcoming MCU Movies
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Thunderbolts*
- Release Date
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May 2, 2025
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The Fantastic Four: First Steps
- Release Date
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July 25, 2025
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Avengers: Doomsday (2026)
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MCU Spider-Man 4
- Release Date
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July 24, 2026
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Avengers: Secret Wars
- Release Date
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May 7, 2027
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