The MCU has already found replacements for some of its biggest superheroes, but there’s one that Marvel won’t be able to replace, no matter what.
As the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to expand, some of its biggest characters have either died or retired, and while Marvel has found replacements for some of them, there’s one from Phases 1 to 3 that is truly impossible to replace. After the events of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, the MCU struggled to get back on track as it had a lot of questions to answer, but now it’s fully focusing on its multiverse and the many mysteries and dangers that live in it, and in the process, it has found and introduced replacements for some of its most popular heroes, though not all of those who are no longer active in the MCU will be easy to replace.
Some of the most important superheroes introduced in the MCU’s Infinity Saga are no longer around to continue their heroic missions, the most notable cases being those of Iron Man, Black Widow, and Captain America, with the first two sacrificing themselves in Avengers: Endgame to save the universe and the latter retiring at the end of the Infinity Saga. All of them have already been replaced in the Multiverse Saga, but there’s one character who will be near impossible to replace given her impact on the MCU and her unique superpowers: Wanda Maximoff a.k.a. Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen).
Scarlet Witch Cannot Be Replaced In The MCU
Wanda Maximoff was introduced in the Avengers’ second movie, Avengers: Age of Ultron, part of the MCU’s Phase 2. Born in Sokovia, Eastern Europe, Wanda was the twin sister of Pietro Maximoff, and tragedy hit their family when a Stark Industries missile hit their home, killing their parents. Years later, the Maximoff twins volunteered for HYDRA’s enhancement program, and after being exposed to the Mind Stone, Pietro developed super-speed while Wanda’s magic was amplified. Wanda and Pietro started as enemies of the Avengers as they were on Ultron’s side, but they eventually realized their mistakes and joined the Avengers, though that led to Pietro’s death. Wanda formerly joined the Avengers at the end of Age of Ultron, but she continued to struggle with a lot of trauma. Wanda’s story reached its peak in the TV series WandaVision, where she fulfilled a prophecy and became the powerful (but dangerous) Scarlet Witch, which was also the beginning of her downfall.
Scarlet Witch is unlike any other character in the MCU, even those who also have magic powers, like Doctor Strange and Agatha Harkness. Scarlet Witch’s story was all about trauma and grief and finding your purpose in life, and there was an aura of tragedy around her all the time that she couldn’t shake off. Wanda’s powers were amplified even more once she became Scarlet Witch, to the point where, with the help of the Darkhold, she was able to sleepwalk through the multiverse, causing incursions and chaos in different timelines, and she can create illusions, provoke visions, and more. Scarlet Witch, then, is impossible to replace in the MCU, and not even characters like fellow witch Agatha Harkness or even her son Thomas Maximoff, who has powers similar to hers, could take her place in the MCU.
What Is Scarlet Witch’s MCU Future?
The chaos Scarlet Witch unleashed in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness eventually led her to realize all the damage she had caused across the multiverse and how much the Darkhold had corrupted her, so she destroyed the Darkhold and all its copies throughout the multiverse, which caused the Darkhold Castle to crumble and collapse on her as a red burst of magic flashed. It’s unclear if that was the death of Scarlet Witch or if she survived and will either be rescued or if she will make her way out of the remains of the castle, so her future is unknown, and not even Elizabeth Olsen knows if she will return. However, it’s unlikely that was the end of one of the MCU’s most powerful, tragic, and important characters, but for now, Scarlet Witch’s return hasn’t been confirmed, and Marvel won’t be able to replace her.
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