Elizabeth Olsen Reveals Why Marvel Projects Aren’t Her ‘Cup of Tea’—And What Art She Truly Loves!

Elizabeth Olsen, renowned for her role as Wanda Maximoff, aka Scarlet Witch, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), has recently shared her personal film preferences and the challenges she faces balancing them with her blockbuster Marvel commitments. In an interview with NPR’s Wild Card with Rachel Martin, Olsen opened up about the disconnect between her work in the Marvel franchise and the kind of art she truly consumes, offering a nuanced perspective on her career and artistic aspirations.

A Decade in the Marvel Universe

Olsen’s journey in the MCU began over a decade ago, with her breakout role in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015). Her portrayal of Scarlet Witch, a character she has since reprised in numerous MCU films and the critically acclaimed series WandaVision (2021), has been a defining part of her career. Through her work in Marvel, Olsen has become one of the most recognizable actresses in Hollywood, playing a central role in a billion-dollar franchise.

However, in a recent interview, Olsen expressed a shift in her perception of these projects, signaling a growing divergence between her work in the MCU and her personal artistic inclinations. “Because I have spent so many years doing Marvel, I feel like all the other jobs I have to do have to really reflect my personal taste,” Olsen explained, acknowledging her pride in being part of the Marvel world but emphasizing that “it’s not really the kind of art I consume.” This statement, made public on April 3, 2025, underscores Olsen’s ongoing journey to balance her professional commitments with her evolving creative preferences.

The Pressure to Align with Personal Taste

Olsen’s comments on Wild Card also touched on the pressure she feels to align her choices with her personal taste, especially in light of the projects she takes on outside of Marvel. She admitted, “I think I haven’t always successfully made choices in my work that are aligned with my personal taste and that is something I feel like I’m still trying to prove when I meet people, especially if it’s a work-type meeting and be able to express my personal taste in films, literature, and so I still think I have that to prove.”

This sentiment, highlighted by entertainment outlets like Variety and India Today, suggests that Olsen is actively working to shape her career to better reflect her personal preferences, particularly in her pursuit of roles that are more in line with the type of art she truly values.

From Marvel Enthusiasm to Shifting Perception

When Olsen first joined the Marvel franchise, she expressed genuine enthusiasm for the films. She described them as “so, so great” and likened them to grand Greek-scale stories that reflected politics and culture—an approach that made her proud to be part of the MCU. However, over the past decade, Olsen’s perspective has shifted. She now views Marvel projects differently, describing them as part of a “hot take” genre, with discussions often revolving around whether actors want to be involved in the franchise at all. As she mentioned in her interview with IndieWire, this change in perception has contributed to her feeling that Marvel movies no longer align with her personal artistic consumption.

Balancing Marvel with Personal Projects

Despite these comments, Olsen is far from distancing herself from her iconic role as Wanda Maximoff. She is set to reprise her character in the upcoming animated series Marvel Zombies, premiering on October 3, 2025. This indicates that while Olsen is exploring more personal and artistic roles, she remains committed to the MCU in a way that reflects her current career trajectory.

Olsen has also sought out roles in projects that align more closely with her evolving artistic preferences. Notably, she starred in the 2023 Netflix series Love and Death, where she played a housewife involved in a shocking crime. She is also set to appear in the upcoming sci-fi thriller The Assessment, in which she portrays a woman in a post-apocalyptic society undergoing a test to qualify for motherhood. Alongside these, Olsen has been involved in indie films such as His Three Daughters, which reflect her desire to explore more nuanced and artistic roles that diverge from the mainstream blockbusters she has become known for.

Looking Ahead

Olsen’s ability to maintain a successful career in both big-budget franchises and smaller, more personal projects speaks to her versatility as an actress. As she continues to carve out a space for herself in the industry, her transparency about the disconnect between her Marvel work and her artistic preferences highlights her desire for creative growth and a deeper connection to the roles she plays.

With upcoming projects that align more closely with her personal taste, Olsen’s career seems poised for a new chapter—one that reflects not only her ability to entertain global audiences but also her commitment to making choices that are meaningful and true to herself.