Marvel Studios has subtly confirmed the return of Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch, reigniting speculation about the character’s future following her apparent demise in 2022’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Olsen made her Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) debut in the post-credits scene of Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) before fully stepping into the role of Wanda Maximoff in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015).
Over the years, Wanda’s journey took her from an uncertain hero to a key figure in the franchise, ultimately leading WandaVision—Marvel’s first Disney+ series—in 2021. The show, which co-starred Paul Bettany as Vision, remains one of the most critically acclaimed projects in the MCU’s streaming catalog.
In Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Wanda shifted to a darker path, becoming the film’s primary antagonist in her desperate bid to take America Chavez’s (Xochitl Gomez) dimension-hopping abilities. Her tragic arc culminated in a moment of redemption, as she seemingly perished while destroying the Darkhold.
Since then, Wanda’s fate has been a major topic of debate. In 2024, rumors swirled about Marvel Studios developing a Scarlet Witch solo film for 2026, while the Disney+ series Agatha All Along further teased her uncertain status. The show confirmed that Wanda’s son, Billy Maximoff, was alive and suggested Wanda was “gone” but stopped short of calling her outright dead.
Now, nearly three years after her presumed death in the live-action MCU, Scarlet Witch has made a surprising comeback—though not in the medium fans may have expected. Marvel Comics’ “TVA” series, which began in December 2024, has introduced a number of familiar faces to its storyline.
“FOR ALL TIMES, ALWAYS!” reads the official synopsis of the comic, via Marvel.com. “The Time Variance Authority has long watched over the timeline, protecting it from dangerous variations that could cause the end of EVERYTHING.”
“Now, as the organization begins to expand its tolerance of variants, it’s enlisted some new recruits from timelines that have been wiped from existence: Captain Peggy Carter, Super-Soldier of her world; Gambit, despondent and aimless from the loss of his lady love; and…this can’t be right…Spider-Gwen?!? Has her world been destroyed?!?”
Written by Loki Season 2 writer Katharyn Blair and illustrated by artist Pere Pérez (“Carnage,” “Spider-Woman”), “TVA” is a five-issue series exploring the agency introduced in Loki Season 1, most recently seen in Shawn Levy’s Deadpool & Wolverine (2024).
The third issue, which hit shelves earlier this week, delivered a major revelation: Scarlet Witch is back. Fans were quick to point out her unmistakable likeness to Elizabeth Olsen’s version of the character, prompting MCU Film News (@MCUFilmNews) to share confirmation from artist Pere Pérez himself:
“Marvel Comics artist Pere Pérez confirms that the Scarlet Witch in the TVA comic is indeed Elizabeth Olsen’s Wanda!”
Though this incarnation of Scarlet Witch may not be the exact same Wanda who sacrificed herself in Multiverse of Madness, it could be from another part of the timeline, for example, the TVA’s reputation as a hub for Marvel Variants opens intriguing possibilities. With Avengers: Doomsday set for 2026, Olsen’s return to the live-action MCU seems more likely than ever.
But before that, Wanda Maximoff will make her next official appearance—this time in animated form (again). Marvel Zombies, set to premiere on Disney+ on October 3, 2025, will bring back Olsen’s Scarlet Witch in an undead-filled world. A spinoff of What If…?, the series will be rated TV-MA and helmed by What If…? director Bryan Andrews, continuing the alternate universe established in the show’s first season.
Initially, only Iman Vellani’s Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel had been confirmed for the project. However, Marvel recently unveiled a star-studded cast, including Awkwafina (Katy), David Harbour (Red Guardian), Simu Liu (Shang-Chi), Randall Park (Jimmy Woo), Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova), Hailee Steinfeld (Hawkeye), Dominique Thorne (Ironheart), and Todd Williams in an undisclosed role.
Marvel Zombies is just one of several series bolstering the MCU’s Disney+ slate in 2025. The show will launch alongside Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Daredevil: Born Again, Ironheart, Eyes of Wakanda, and Wonder Man. Meanwhile, Marvel’s theatrical releases for the year include Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts* in May, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which will kick off Phase Six in July.
What do you think of this subtle return for Scarlet Witch? Could this pave the way for Elizabeth Olsen’s live-action comeback? Let us know in the comments!
