ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine featured a strange and surprising Marvel Universe reference to Scarlet Witch, and while the scene originally caused some controversy, I’m now convinced that it was an excellent way to honor her character and set her up for the future. Among the many Easter eggs in ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine, the film brought some notable attention to Elizabeth Olsen’s Wanda Maximoff, a beloved character who has been ᴅᴇᴀᴅ since Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. After so many projects have gone out of their way to reference Wanda, I can’t help but think she’s coming back soon.

Scarlet Witch’s fate has been confirmed in the MCU seemingly multiple times, yet this status still seems to be in question, with many convinced she will return. With all of this in mind, there is still hope that the character will one day reappear in the franchise. With Robert Downey Jr.’s return as the powerful Doctor Doom set for Avengers: Doomsday, there has never been a better time to bring back characters like Wanda Maximoff. Looking back at ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine, this unusual scene now may actually set up the character for the future in a surprising way.

ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine’s Scarlet Witch Reference Originally Felt Like An Insult

An Effigy Of Scarlet Witch Appears In The Film

ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine‘s reference to Scarlet Witch occurs when the тιтular characters enter the resistance hideout. They see an image of Wanda on the ceiling, in an effigy encased in stone, and the scene initially feels strange. Wanda had not been seen in the universe since her death in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and featuring her unceremoniously in this callous image seemed an odd choice. Without any plans yet revealed for Wanda’s future, many felt that using this image was in poor taste.

I’ve wanted to see Wanda return to the MCU for quite some time. Despite her ending in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness being effective, the character is simply too rich and compelling to leave off the table. With so much audience expectation and hope that Marvel will return to the character, including a simple effigy as an Easter egg felt like a cheap gimmick. Fortunately, Wanda has since been discussed further, in both MCU news and in Agatha All Along. This has helped to change the perception of this scene.

ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine’s Scarlet Witch Reference Explanation Honors Her MCU Legacy

The Scene Was Intended As A Fun Easter Egg For Fans

Fortunately, Wanda has been given some further attention in the MCU, with discussions of the character in Agatha All Along and a confirmed Scarlet Witch return coming in Marvel Zombies. This helps to make this scene feel less shallow, especially since conversations have continued concerning Wanda. More recently, Kevin Feige spoke to Omelete, where he addressed if Scarlet Witch is really ᴅᴇᴀᴅ, saying: “all I can say is we are excited to find out when and how Scarlet Witch can return.” With this in mind, it seems that only one chapter of Wanda’s story is done, not the entire thing.

The whole purpose of including this image in ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool 3 was as a reference for fans to enjoy, not to poke fun at Scarlet Witch’s disappearance from the universe. During ᴀssembled: The Making of ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine, production designer Raymond Chan explained the impetus for this image’s inclusion: “the brief from Shawn [Levy, director] and Wendy [Jacobson, executive producer] was ‘We’d like to put in some Easter eggs for our fans.'” With this in mind, the scene is only supposed to be a tribute, and with more Scarlet Witch returning to the MCU ahead, it can finally feel that way.

I’m Convinced ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine’s Scarlet Witch Reference Sets Up Her Return

This Idea Makes Thematic Sense Considering The Scene

Many characters in the history of Marvel films were given unsatisfactory endings, and this is referenced clearly in this ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool 3 scene. Jennifer Garner’s Elektra’s last appearance was in the disappointing Elektra, and Wesley Snipes’ Blade was last seen in what he considered the worst of his trilogy, the Ryan Reynolds-starring Blade: Trinity. Even Channing Tatum, who was previously confirmed as Gambit but never appeared in the role, follows this thematic link during the scene.

Simply, the hideout is a place that is set up for heroes with unresolved endings to come together for redemption. Putting Scarlet Witch’s image on the ceiling of that hideout feels very intentional with that consideration in mind. Just like many of these characters, Scarlet Witch’s final appearance in Doctor Strange 2 gave the character what seemed to many a rushed heel-turn, and a disappointing ending. Like the rest of these characters, it seems that Scarlet Witch has more story to tell, and there is finally hope that she will be able to tell it.

How Scarlet Witch Can Return In The MCU Despite Her Death Being Confirmed

Marvel Has Had Many Characters Return After Death

Some characters, including Wasp, may be recast in Avengers: Doomsday, but Elizabeth Olsen seems willing to return to the role at some point. It would be strange if she did not appear in a future project, especially with so many options for how this can be done. Agatha All Along saw Agatha Harkness return from death as a ghost, and this could easily work for Wanda as well. However, with the multiverse being blown open in the upcoming Avengers films, there are much easier ways to do this, exemplified by how Gamora returned to life in Avengers: Endgame.

There have been rumors that a Scarlet Witch variant will work with Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday, and this could be a great way to bring the character back. Bringing in an evil version of Wanda from another universe, but giving her the opportunity to see the error of her ways and join the Avengers team, could be an excellent inverse of what occurs in Multiverse of Madness. Following Billy Kaplan’s restoration in Agatha All Along, there are also even ways the original Earth-616 version of the hero could return.

Wanda’s MCU return is practically inevitable, and this scene in ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine may actually set it up perfectly. With so many variants appearing from other universes to redeem themselves, Wanda follows along this set path perfectly. Whether in Avengers: Doomsday, Avengers: Secret Wars, or another MCU project altogether, a live-action return by Wanda will surely occur sometime in the future. In the meantime, her character will next appear in Marvel Zombies in what I hope is an important role compared to her ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine reference.

Upcoming MCU Movies

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  Avengers: Doomsday (2026)

  
  
  
  
  

  
  

  
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