Elizabeth Olsen Forgot She Helped Write One of Avengers: Infinity War’s Most Heartbreaking Lines
OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, some of its most powerful moments aren’t found in a script—they’re created in the heat of the moment. That was the case in Avengers: Infinity War (2018), when Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany improvised one of the film’s most devastating exchanges between Wanda Maximoff and Vision. What’s more, Olsen herself later admitted she forgot she even wrote one of the key lines.
Crafting the “Beating Heart” of the Film
The scene in question takes place during the climactic battle in Wakanda. With Thanos closing in, Wanda is faced with an impossible decision: destroy the Mind Stone embedded in Vision’s forehead—killing him in the process—or risk the Mad Titan completing his universe-ending plan. As Wanda braces herself to end the life of the man she loves, Vision reassures her with words that became the emotional centerpiece of the film.
But according to Bettany, the lines that brought fans to tears weren’t in the script at all. In a 2018 interview with MTV, the actor revealed that directors Joe and Anthony Russo pulled him and Olsen aside, telling them the moment carried “the entire beating heart of the movie.” Dissatisfied with the scripted dialogue, the Russos asked the pair to create something more authentic.
“I looked at Lizzie, and she looked at me, and I thought, ‘I’m a robot, and you’re a witch, how are we gonna do this?’” Bettany recalled. The two actors stepped away, brainstormed, and returned with improvised dialogue that became one of the MCU’s most memorable moments.
“I Just Feel You” — A Line Olsen Forgot She Wrote
The standout phrase, “I just feel you,” is first spoken by Wanda earlier in the film in Edinburgh, when she checks on Vision after an ambush. In Wakanda, Vision echoes the line as Wanda prepares to destroy the Mind Stone, imbuing the moment with gut-wrenching resonance.
Years later, during WandaVision’s promotional run, Bettany revealed in an interview that Olsen had actually helped create that dialogue. Olsen, however, confessed she had completely forgotten her role in writing it, a detail that only added to fans’ appreciation of her humility.
A Partnership Built on Trust
The seamless nature of the improvisation reflected the strong creative chemistry between Olsen and Bettany. Both actors have spoken about their habit of texting ideas about Wanda and Vision’s relationship off-set. “She’s incredibly punctual, and I am too… she always comes to set with an idea,” Bettany said of his co-star. Olsen, for her part, described their collaboration as natural and playful, likening it to tapping into their “inner children.”
That synergy carried over into WandaVision (2021), where the pair’s ability to shift effortlessly between sitcom comedy and devastating drama became central to the show’s success.
A Scene That Shaped Wanda’s Arc
The improvised dialogue in Infinity War did more than tug at audience heartstrings—it shaped the trajectory of Wanda’s character in the MCU. Her devastating choice, immediately undone when Thanos wields the Time Stone to resurrect and then kill Vision again, amplified her trauma. That grief became the cornerstone of WandaVision and later carried into Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Legacy of an Unscripted Moment
While Olsen may have forgotten her role in crafting the line, fans and filmmakers haven’t. “I just feel you” endures as one of the franchise’s most emotionally resonant phrases, embodying Wanda and Vision’s tragic love story. It’s a reminder that sometimes the most iconic lines in cinema aren’t written in advance—they’re born out of trust, creativity, and instinct between actors.
Would you like me to add fan reactions (from Reddit, X, or interviews) to show how this line still resonates years later, or keep the article focused strictly on the behind-the-scenes story?



