Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) enthusiasts are currently abuzz with the news that actress Elizabeth Olsen, famed for her portrayal of the Scarlet Witch, has expressed her eagerness for a potential crossover of her character with the X-Men.
According to The Direct, this surprising announcement was made during her visit to the TJH Superhero Car Show & Comic Con. Here, Olsen revealed a burning desire to unravel the enigmatic “Mutant narrative” and explore that particular aspect of her character’s tale, possibly leading to interactions with other MCU Mutants. Olsen stated,
“Oh gosh, I just want to figure out the whole Mutant thing. Like, that’s really…and none of us can do anything about it. Like, we can’t do anything about it. We’re not X-Men, but gosh. I just would love to explore that so much. I think, X-Men was definitely my first experience with superhero-type films.”
Since her alleged death in the 2022 film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness at Mount Wundergore, Olsen’s character has been out of the spotlight. Nevertheless, fans are eagerly awaiting the return of the Scarlet Witch, especially given the ongoing expansion of the Multiverse in the current Multiverse Saga.
This eager anticipation has only been further escalated by the forthcoming introduction of the X-Men to the MCU, due to Disney gaining the rights to the Mutant characters. Olsen’s expressed enthusiasm for a potential X-Men crossover is seen to resonate with this widespread fan anticipation, and it will be fascinating to observe Marvel’s reaction to these emerging prospects.
What is intriguing to note is that Olsen’s desire to explore the “Mutant narrative” emerges from her character Wanda Maximoff, who, in the comic books, is represented as a mutant and the offspring of the X-Men’s Magneto.
The potential of introducing the X-Men into the broader MCU also presents the opportunity to revisit and perhaps retcon the backstory of the Scarlet Witch. This is of particular significance since there have been hints from Marvel at the prospect of transitioning Wanda into a Mutant character, mirroring similar changes made to Iman Vellani’s Ms. Marvel, who in the MCU is now identified as having Mutant DNA.
Previously, Olsen has also expressed her interest in uttering the famous line from the Marvel Comics: “No more Mutants,” adding to the conjecture surrounding a possible X-Men crossover.
The Prospects for Scarlet Witch’s Comeback
The planned introduction of the X-Men into the MCU has sparked a multitude of theories regarding the potential interplay between Olsen’s Scarlet Witch and other Mutant characters. The forthcoming Deadpool 3 could offer a pathway for Olsen’s reappearance either through the manifestation of her Earth-616 character or another variant. This opens up the possibility of Multiverse variants of a number of characters from Marvel’s extensive repertoire.
The Avengers: Secret Wars is another eagerly-awaited project where fans might anticipate the return of the Scarlet Witch, especially since it is expected to introduce Mutant characters from past Marvel adaptations.
Regardless of how and when Olsen’s Scarlet Witch makes her grand reappearance, it appears highly probable that her Mutant lineage will be thrust into the limelight, especially if Olsen’s aspirations are taken into consideration.
In the meantime, fans can relish Olsen’s performances in WandaVision and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, both of which form part of MCU’s Phase 4 and are accessible on Disney+.
As they anticipate, fans can find comfort in the thrilling potential of a Scarlet Witch and X-Men crossover, as suggested by Olsen herself.
