Elizabeth Olsen Says Marvel Keeps Her in the Dark — Will Scarlet Witch Ever Return?

Elizabeth Olsen’s portrayal of Wanda Maximoff, aka Scarlet Witch, has been a defining role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) for over a decade. Yet as fans eagerly speculate about her future in the sprawling franchise, Olsen herself remains uncertain—revealing that Marvel Studios keeps her largely in the dark about what’s next.

Olsen first appeared as Wanda Maximoff in Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) and went on to star in six MCU films, culminating in the Emmy-winning Disney+ series WandaVision (2021). Her most recent live-action outing as Scarlet Witch was in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022). Since then, Olsen’s statements about her character’s future have been mixed, painting a picture of both pride in her work and a possible break from the role.

Back in 2023, during the Actors on Actors series with Variety, Olsen remarked she didn’t miss playing Wanda. “I think it’s been almost 10 years of playing her. And I’ve loved it. But I’m really proud of what we were able to do,” she said, hinting at a desire to step back after a decade-long journey.

The uncertainty grew in March 2025, when Olsen confirmed she will not appear in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday (2026) or Avengers: Secret Wars (2027), as reported by several outlets including Entertainment Weekly. This marked a clear indication that Scarlet Witch’s story may be on pause for now.

Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has not ruled out further exploration of Wanda’s character—particularly following the Agatha: Coven of Chaos Disney+ series, which expands on the universe around Scarlet Witch’s lore. However, as of mid-2025, no specific projects involving Olsen have been announced.

The MCU’s culture of secrecy around casting and plot details adds another layer to the mystery. Actors such as Dafne Keen and Andrew Garfield have previously denied involvement in major MCU projects, only to surprise audiences later. Similarly, Benedict Cumberbatch and Chris Evans famously kept their returns under wraps, and Robert Downey Jr. was recently announced as Victor von Doom in Avengers: Doomsday. Against this backdrop, Olsen’s candid admission—“They don’t tell me anything”—is consistent with how Marvel often operates behind closed doors.

For now, fans remain hopeful. Olsen says she “hopes” to return but acknowledges that she simply doesn’t know what the future holds. Whether Scarlet Witch will re-emerge in the MCU or pass the torch remains one of the franchise’s best-kept secrets—one that only time and Marvel’s famously tight lips will reveal.