Doctor Strange 2: How Elizabeth Olsen Made Sequel Fit WandaVision Story

Elizabeth Olsen explains how she helped Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness fit with WandaVision. In both Marvel Studios projects, Olsen plays her MCU character Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch, a role she has held since a cameo appearance in 2014's Captain America: The Winter Soldier. WandaVision became Marvel's first Disney+ series back in 2021, and Doctor Strange 2 will continue her character's story when it releases wide this Friday, May 6.

Despite appearing in multiple Captain America and Avengers movies, Olsen's Wanda had yet to headline a project until the release of WandaVision, which used a mystery format to explore her grief following the death of her great love, Vision. Earning significant acclaim for Olsen's performance in particular, the series finale saw Wanda come into her own as the Scarlet Witch after learning that her powers were, like Doctor Strange's, based in magic. Now, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness picks up with her after having studied the Darkhold, a powerful spell book that threatens to have a corrupting influence over those who use it.

In an interview with The Independent, Olsen reveals that she took it upon herself to keep the through-line between WandaVision and Doctor Strange 2 intact. Speaking to Marvel's collaborative movie-making environment, she says there were multiple instances where she pushed back on a scene choice, due to what had already been explored in the series. Rather than ignoring her, Olsen says director Sam Raimi was very open to her input, and made multiple changes to accommodate her concerns. Check out her full quote below:

Marvel’s truly a very collaborative space, and we’re constantly being put with other directors and other writers. So they actually do listen when you go, ‘I don’t know, in WandaVision, we did this so I don’t think it really makes sense for us to do this then here.’ And Sam Raimi would just be like, ‘Great, I’m glad you explained that to me.’ That happened a lot on Doctor Strange 2 because there was this thread I was trying to pull on WandaVision.

Elizabeth Olsen as Scarlet Witch in Doctor Strange 2 Multiverse of Madness

While WandaVision certainly left her in a difficult position, having had to let go of the versions of both Vision and their children she had conjured, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness trailers suggest she's headed to an even darker place. Wanda's twin boys also feature in the film, at least in a nightmare that she has repeatedly, and her desire to bring them back could send her spiraling. Additionally, some footage has featured Chthon, the Elder God responsible in the comics for writing the Darkhold, and many have theorized that he could be using it to turn Wanda into an antagonist for Cumberbatch's sorcerer.

Given that Raimi never finished watching WandaVision, fans of the show will be glad to know that Olsen was looking out for their interests on set. Whether viewers are pleased with Wanda's Doctor Strange 2 storyline remains to be seen, but there is bound to be some excitement over Olsen getting to play Wanda variants, including some that seem to be outright villainous. Here's to hoping that Scarlet Witch gets to duel Doctor Strange and prove once and for all who is the most powerful magic-wielding Avenger.

Next: Why Scarlet Witch Is So Different In Doctor Strange 2 From WandaVision

Source: The Independent