Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is finally out in theaters after what feels like forever, and Sam Raimi's re-entry into the MCU (if you now count the original Spider-Man trilogy as such) mixes the best of his horror filmography with the Marvel magic that Kevin Feige's films are known for. In the Doctor Strange sequel, Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) must deal with the consequences of someone opening the metaphysical door to gruesome creatures and powerful forces - something he knows is a problem after messing with the multiverse during Spider-Man: No Way Home.
The box office for the Doctor Strange sequel has been powerful, with audiences welcoming brand-new ally America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) with open arms. The most surprising - and divisive - element of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness may be Wanda's (Elizabeth Olsen) role in the film, however. Following the events of WandaVision, the Scarlet Witch is grieving her beloved Vision and has the Darkhold in her grasp. Will this spell trouble for Strange?
Screen Rant spoke to Olsen about Wanda's journey in the MCU thus far, and where - if anywhere - she might go after Doctor Strange in The Multiverse of Madness.
Screen Rant: First of all, what does it mean to know how many people love Wanda? For example, I was Wanda for Halloween, and it was so hard to find the pieces of the costume because they were sold out everywhere.
Elizabeth Olsen: That's so cool. I think that was something that Paul and I would joke about [when] we were filming WandaVision. We were just like, "We want costumes! We want kids! We want adults! We want everyone in costume!"
Between that - and there's a drag brunch that someone did somewhere as our characters - I think those are the two cultural pillars, when you feel like you've penetrated. Halloween and Drag.
We hear the words Scarlet Witch mentioned, I think for the first time, in WandaVision. We see her studying the Darkhold. The movie's out now, so how did you reckon or feel about who Wanda becomes, after getting hold of The Darkhold?
Elizabeth Olsen: She's just been given a huge amount of information that she's choosing to accept. She's kind of denied her own power for so long and has struggled with how to use it, and then she's received this information that she's a mythic witch, who has been written in script for before time.
With that information and that knowledge comes acceptance; comes confidence. I think she now has a lot of clarity and a very strong perspective of what she deserves from this world.
We explored so much genre in WandaVision, but now we're going kind of full Sam Raimi horror with some truly terrifying moments. What was it like exploring that?
Elizabeth Olsen: I mean, it was fun. Initially, I was like, "Oh no! Not our Wanda." But then it became something to lean into, and Sam definitely put me in situations where I was like, "I can't believe I'm doing this right now," when I was playing the alt-Wanda often.
I love having an evolution of the character. I love having a different tone to play. But Sam was always bringing me back to her humanity as well. As much as we were pushing elements, he always wanted to make sure that it was coming from a really pure place.
No matter what she does, I have so much empathy for her. I love her so much. Do you think we could get another season of WandaVision, or did you see that as more of a stepping stone towards her next chapter?
Elizabeth Olsen: I saw it, for me, as a stepping stone for Doctor Strange. And so, what comes from here? I have no idea.
As someone who was in Endgame, has been a part of these huge moments in the MCU, where do you rank Multiverse of Madness in terms of big moments for Wanda?
Elizabeth Olsen: Oh, I think Multiverse of Madness is her biggest moment. Yeah, it's pretty big.
Which leaves this huge question of what is next for her.
Elizabeth Olsen: Yes, and I want to know. I want to know. I want to hear ideas. I want the fans to have opinions. I don't know, I don't have an idea either.
I'm kind of in this place where I was happy with where we ended, and I want to know where we go from here. I'm really curious what we make, if at all.
We get introduced to America Chavez, played by Xochitl Gomez. What was it like working with her? She was just so incredible.
Elizabeth Olsen: She has so much energy and so much undeterred, youthful positivity and confidence. When I was 16, I was jaded, and maybe I was also more of a fool or something - I don't know what I was. But she, on her own, can do whatever she wants.
She's way more prepared than I was at 25 for the Marvel Universe. She's just really a light and an energy that was amazing to be around; just pure kindness and goodness. I'm excited for her. I'm excited to see what she gets to do with America.
Lastly, can you show me a hand movement? Because I was trying to master them at Halloween, and I don't think I got it.
Elizabeth Olsen: It's just about like fluidity. It's like water. It's like there's a ball in between your hands. And there's also - my favorite is to do the twitchy stuff.
I don't even know. Part of it's what my hands did when I did ballet, I think, because in ballet you're kind of always like this with your hands. And so part of it's that's a ballet hand, kind of. I just love playing with it.
Doctor Strange in The Multiverse of Madness Synopsis
Doctor Stephen Strange casts a forbidden spell that opens a portal to the multiverse. However, a threat emerges that may be too big for his team to handle.
Check out our interview with the stars of Doctor Strange in The Multiverse of Madness, Benedict Wong and Xochitl Gomez, and director Sam Raimi.
Doctor Strange in The Multiverse of Madness arrives exclusively in theaters on May 6.
