‘Doctor Strange 2’ Writer Admits the Scarlet Witch ‘Makes Good Points’ in the Film
Marvel Cinematic Universe fans are split over the Scarlet Witch’s story arc in Doctor Strange 2. Some love the direction Marvel took with Elizabeth Olsen’s character, and others aren’t too happy with her storyline in the film. However, the Doctor Strange sequel writer stands firmly in the decision they made, and he even admitted that he’s Team Wanda.
[Spoiler alert: This article contains spoilers from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.]
Scarlet Witch became a villain in ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’
Doctor Strange 2 quickly made it clear that the Darkhold had turned the Scarlet Witch over to the dark side. She wanted to steal America Chavez’s power to travel throughout the multiverse for herself, killing America in the process. However, Doctor Strange did everything to prevent that from happening.
In the end, Wanda realized the error in her ways and destroyed all copies of the Darkhold in every universe, which apparently killed her.
Multiple Scarlet Witch fans were conflicted over her storyline in the Doctor Strange sequel. They felt as though her descent into madness didn’t feel earned. And many were unhappy with the way Marvel portrayed Wanda as a cold-hearted villain.
‘Doctor Strange 2’ writer defends the Scarlet Witch’s story arc in the film
While speaking with TheWrap, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness writer Michael Waldron explained why the Scarlet Witch was the villain.
“We were excited about the idea of making her the primary antagonist in the film because it felt like there was no stronger antagonist,” he said. “And it felt like to have her as just a member of an ensemble only to turn bad at the end would actually be shortchanging both versions of that journey. You’d get maybe a lousy version of her fall from grace, and also maybe a lousy version of her being a villain, as opposed to the really fun version of her being the villain.”
Waldron added, “My feeling was that WandaVision pushed her to the place where she reckoned with this grief. But maybe what she hadn’t reckoned with was her anger over all of it, and that was something that I discussed with [Elizabeth Olsen]. And I think that that’s what the Darkhold seized on, was that anger, and that really clouds Wanda’s decision-making.”
“I also think she’s making good points throughout the movie,” the writer concluded. “Stephen did give Thanos the Time Stone. Did he have to? Could there have been another way? That question is posed a lot throughout the movie. If he hadn’t given Thanos the Time Stone, I mean, Wanda killed Vision. The Mind Stone was gone. It’s just to say, I think that she’s making good points, and it just felt like a really delicious conflict to explore.”
Like Michael Waldron, many fans pointed out that the Scarlet Witch was justifiably angry in Doctor Strange 2. Of course, as Waldron said, the Darkhold took advantage of that anger, which led to her killing many people.
Where does Wanda go from here?
Unfortunately, the future is not looking good for the Scarlet Witch following Doctor Strange 2. She seemingly sacrificed her life to destroy all copies of the Darkhold, but many fans believe Wanda didn’t actually die. However, Michael Waldron might have bad news for fans.
“There isn’t always a fully satisfying ending to the entire audience, especially when you have a villain that everybody loves and cares about,” the writer explained. “The ending in a lot of ways is probably going to be sad, and it’s a tragedy. But I hope what was satisfying is the feeling that at the end of this thing, you do see Wanda break free of the Scarlet Witch’s hold on her, of the Darkhold.”
Based on Waldron’s comments, it sounds like the Scarlet Witch might have actually died at the end of Doctor Strange 2. But knowing Marvel, anything is possible.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is now playing in theaters.
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