Warning: the following contains SPOILERS for Doctor Strange 2.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness ends in the death of Avenger-turned-Avengers-level-threat Wanda Maximoff – but this could just be a step towards the rise of Earth-838 Wanda as the Scarlet Witch of MCU prophecy. Unlike Stephen Strange who inhabits multiple versions of himself in the Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness cast, Wanda possesses but one other Scarlet Witch in a different universe: Earth-838 Wanda. While Earth-616 Wanda presumably destroys herself along with Mount Wundagore and all knowledge of the Darkhold, Earth-838 Wanda is still alive with Billy and Tommy in their home universe.
Indeed, the events in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness could have been a set-up for the origin story of the MCU's real Scarlet Witch. Back in 2020, the Scarlet Witch prophecy was detailed by the centuries-old witch Agatha Harkness in WandaVision, who explains that Wanda is destined to either rule over or destroy the world. Wanda nearly fulfills this prophecy in her ill-fated quest to steal her own children from a different version of herself in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness – until she was stopped by Doctor Strange's intervention and the awakening of America Chavez's powers.
Doctor Strange 2 is unlikely to be the end for Wanda Maximoff. Even if the reports about a developing Scarlet Witch movie turn out to be false, Wanda can still appear in any number of upcoming MCU movies and series, whether in Phase 4 or Phase 5 of the MCU. In fact, Earth-838 Wanda is not only still alive, but has also begun to discover her own powers.
How Earth-838 Wanda Can Become The Scarlet Witch
Earth-838 Wanda's powers appear to have been awakened after she was possessed by Earth-616 Wanda, and this could lead her down the path to realizing her potential as the true ruler or destroyer of the multiverse. Similar to Stephen Strange, it's possible that the original or Earth-616 version of Wanda Maximoff isn't really the most dangerous version of the Avenger in all reality. Apart from implying that only Wanda can truly destroy herself, Scarlet Witch's death under the collapse of Mount Wundagore also destroyed all other copies of the Darkhold across the multiverse – presumably putting an end to dreamwalking. That said, Earth-616 Wanda has a history of unlocking yet-unknown powers in certain individuals, as seen in the changes to Monica Rambeau and the birth of White Vision in WandaVision. After Earth-616 Wanda possesses and inadvertently unlocks Earth-838 Wanda's powers in Doctor Strange 2, Scarlet Witch might have birthed a version of herself that doesn't even need the Darkhold.
At first glance, the two versions of Wanda have little in common; however, it's clear that both will do anything for their sons. Although Earth-838 Wanda hasn't gone through the traumatic experiences that eventually drove Earth-616 Wanda to realize her true potential, Earth-838 Wanda could be motivated to seek power in order to protect Billy and Tommy from other multiversal threats. Moreover, following the brutal deaths of Doctor Strange 2's Professor X and most of the Illuminati, there might be no one left in Earth-838 to stand in Wanda's way – let alone teach her to control her powers. Considering all the multiversal incursions caused by Wanda and Stephen's irresponsible use of the Darkhold, the possibilities are endless for the dark future of the Scarlet Witch.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is possibly just the first chapter in the story of the inevitable death of the multiverse. On the other hand, once Earth-838 Wanda realizes how much power she has over all reality, she might gain access to Earth-616's Wanda's memories and experiences – possibly leading to Wanda's redemption. Whether she becomes an Avenger or the Scarlet Witch of prophecy, Earth-838 Wanda is bound to return to the MCU. In fact, the way things ended in Doctor Strange 2 suggests that Earth-838 Wanda will have a huge role to play in Doctor Strange 3.
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