Exclusive: Evan Peters was never meant to become the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Quicksilver, with his role in Wandavision always intended as a fake out. Peters' casting in Disney+'s first MCU show was "leaked" early on, and it set the internet ablaze with theories that it would herald the introduction of the X-Men to the MCU. Peters had played Quicksilver in the Fox X-Men movies, and when he turned up in WandaVision episode 4 as the "recast" Pietro, it was assumed the X-Men would be introduced.

However, it was all revealed to be a fake out in WandaVision's finale, which revealed Peters was merely a puppet for Agatha Harkness, and his real name was Ralph Bohner. The news has angered some audiences, but others think the joke was worth it. No matter what ends up happening with the X-Men in the MCU, there's no doubt that casting Peters in the role was an incredibly smart move, as it threw audiences off the scent, and got the conversation around WandaVision going. There are some, though, who still believe Peters was perhaps originally cast to be the new MCU Quicksilver, before the creative team changed their minds.

Related: WandaVision's Fake Pietro Explained: Who Is Evan Peters' Quicksilver?

Speaking exclusively to Screen RantWandaVision creator and showrunner, Jac Schaeffer, says the plan was never for Peters to be playing the MCU's Quicksilver. She explains the plan was always that he would secretly be Ralph, who is a random young man Agatha has captured and is using as a puppet. She adds that the decision was in service of Agatha's character, revealing how "mean" she is by complaining about her unseen husband Ralph throughout the show when he was really someone she had enslaved. You can read Schaeffer's full comments below:

It was always the intention that Evan be fake Pietro. That he was not, in fact, the MCU Quicksilver. Then beyond that, I can't actually remember when those decisions were made. It was very early tied to his storyline that he was Agatha's puppet. He was a young man living nearby; she had taken over his house and was holding him hostage. We really loved it. It was at the service of Agatha's character, because we loved the idea that every time she would complain about her husband, she was actually speaking out loud about the man she was holding hostage. It's just so mean; it's so mean.

Pietro Maximoff staring sideways at Billy and Tommy while Wanda looks on in WandaVision

The fact that Schaeffer was able to get Peters on board to play the character certainly helped add to the deception, as it was assumed by most audience members that his appearance meant the X-Men crossover was happening in WandaVision. If Peters wasn't available, though, it still wouldn't have ruined the joke, but there would have been far more speculation about just who this man was, and audiences would have been less convinced he was in fact Quicksilver.

The casting worked, though, and even WandaVision star Elizabeth Olsen was convinced Peters' casting meant a crossover. It was not to be, however, and fans will likely have to wait a bit longer for the X-Men to appear in the MCU, with reports that a movie called The Mutants will cover their introduction to the universe.

Next: WandaVision's Ralph Bohner Twist Is Better Than A Quicksilver X-Men Reveal