WandaVision Theory: Magneto Saves Scarlet Witch, Not SWORD

It may be Magneto – and not SWORD – who saves Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) from her fake world in WandaVision. Thus far, the Master of Magnetism has no connection to Wanda Maximoff in the MCU, but one could be established in the Disney+ series, which is sure to include at least a few big surprises.

The MCU’s first Disney+ show has placed Scarlet Witch in a situation that feels brand-new to the MCU. Inexplicably, Scarlet Witch is living in a suburban community with Vision, who died in Avengers: Infinity War. Currently, the two are enjoying married life in a world that humorously mirrors classic sitcoms like I Love Lucy, Bewitched, and more. Certain moments in the show, such as a voice that speaks to Wanda through a radio and color bleeding through the black & white atmosphere, have made it clear that everything is not what it seems. It appears that Wanda is somehow living in a fake world, possibly of her own creation. That wouldn’t be a stretch, based on the fact that she possesses reality-warping powers in Marvel Comics.

All indications in both the first two episodes and the trailers point to the organization known as SWORD being the ones who help Wanda snap out of it. It looks like SWORD is investigating what’s happening with Wanda, and are already getting themselves involved. SWORD members like Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) will have their work cut out for them if they hope to pull Wanda out of this strange reality. However, it may be that all their efforts will be in vain. It could be that the character who will receive the credit for saving her will instead be Magneto, who for decades was regarded as her father in the comic books. Here’s how that could work in WandaVision, and what it would mean.

How Magneto Can Be Scarlet Witch's Father In The MCU

Scarlet Witch and Magneto in Marvel Comics

For a long time, the comic book versions of Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver believed that their parents were Django and Marya Maximoff, who lived in Eastern Europe. In the 1980s, the twins were told that they were in fact the children of their foe and former leader, Magneto. He too was unaware of this for a long time. Apparently, he became separated from his lover years ago, who gave birth to Wanda and Pietro on the peak of Mount Wundagore. In the 2010s, Marvel Comics retconned this out of continuity by having them find out that they really were the Maximoffs’ kids all along. However, it was perceived that this change was made to keep them closer in line with their Avengers: Age of Ultron backstory. Since X-Men characters were off-limits at the time, there was no way that Marvel could reveal or even hint that Magneto was their father. For this reason, their origin stories were rewritten. Instead of being mutants, Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver were metahumans given super powers by the Mind Stone. As for their parents, they were killed during a military conflict in their home country, Sokovia.

Now that the X-Men are on the table in the MCU, Marvel could theoretically tie Magneto to Scarlet Witch if they had the inclination. That could work, since the MCU backstory for Wanda and Pietro isn’t set in stone. It could be discovered that the mother and father they lost in Sokovia weren’t their biological parents. She could learn that she and her brother were adopted, and that their real parents are still out there somewhere. That would open the door for Magneto to be introduced, and for Wanda to finally be established as one of the MCU’s mutants. She got her powers from the Mind Stone in Age of Ultron, but it could be always be uncovered that what the Stone actually did was unlock latent abilities she already possessed as a result of the mutant gene. Marvel could begin exploring her true origin when it starts explaining why Scarlet Witch has new powers in Phase 4.

How Magneto Can Save Scarlet Witch In WandaVision

Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch accompany their father Magneto. Wanda is seen to be holding onto Magneto's shoulders

If Marvel does intend to bring Magneto into Scarlet Witch’s life, there wouldn’t a better opportunity for than that than a TV series that has her as the central character. It could be that he’ll enter the picture toward the end of the series to save Scarlet Witch. This would be a path that’s consistent with how he’s used in Scarlet Witch stories in the comics. He and Wanda have long had a troubled relationship, but even so, he’s still someone who cares for her deeply. When Scarlet Witch went insane and wreaked havoc in “Avengers Disassembled”, Magneto arrived at the end of the story and took her away with him. Scarlet Witch had become a loose cannon and a danger to everyone around her, but being her father, Magneto was willing to take the risk of sheltering her. He was also one of several characters who went looking for her when she was missing in The Avengers: Children’s Crusade.

It’s possible that Magneto will make a shocking grand entrance in WandaVision and have a face-to-face meeting with Wanda. It may be that he either recently learned about her being his daughter, or knew about her from the start. Regardless of the reason, he could enter her fake world and try to talk to her. Saving her won’t be easy, considering that Scarlet Witch doesn’t seem to want to be saved. The scene of Wanda saying “No” and rewinding back to before the Beekeeper’s arrival in WandaVision episode 2 suggested that she’s keeping herself trapped there. She may not be receptive of SWORD’s attempts to stop her, but could have an interesting reaction to Magneto if he were to appear. The shock of seeing him and having a father in her life again could be enough to get Scarlet Witch back to reality.

What Magneto Would Mean For The MCU

Who would play the MCU’s Magneto? Because of the multiverse and what Marvel is doing with Spider-Man 3, using past live-action versions of the character isn’t out of the question. An aged Michael Fassbender or Ian McKellen could be used if their plan is for Magneto to not get much more than a cameo, but if they want to build new stories with him in Phase 4 and beyond, it would make more sense for a new actor to be cast. Whoever this person is, he may be the mysterious actor that was discussed by Paul Bettany.

Given how popular he is in Marvel Comics, Magneto’s introduction in WandaVision would be of vast importance to the MCU and its future. Aside from becoming the first major X-Men property to be added, his addition would set up more mutants and the debut of the X-Men. He could continue to be a part of Scarlet Witch's future, especially as the MCU further explores her power, but he’d also be a character that Marvel could revisit in the X-Men movies as a villain (or as a reluctant ally).

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