Elizabeth Olsen Lost Out on Oscar Movie Roles as a Side Effect of Playing Scarlet Witch for Marvel

Landing a role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe would be a dream for any actor. Not only does it bring an actor international fame, but it would also be possible job security for a number of years. Elizabeth Olsen as the Scarlet Witch has become one of the most important characters for Marvel and one that fans enjoy seeing. However, Olsen recently shared that she has lost out on other movie roles due to her contract with Marvel.

Elizabeth Olsen plays the Scarlet Witch in ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’

Olsen debuted as Wanda Maximoff/ Scarlet Witch in a post-credit scene in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Her first main role came with Avengers: Age of Ultron. Since then, Olsen reprised the role in Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, and Wandavision. Wandavision cemented her as one of the most impactful characters in the MCU and as a fan-favorite character. 

Her most recent appearance as the character is in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. While it’s labeled as a Doctor Strange movie, Wanda has almost the same amount of screen time as the main hero. She also takes on a more villainous role, instead of being the hero as we normally see her. Her fate is left open-ended, so it may be a while until we see Olsen in this role again. 

Elizabeth Olsen has lost out on other movie roles due to her contract with Marvel

In an interview with The New York Times, Olsen told the media outlet that her contract with Marvel to play Scarlet Witch has cost her other movie roles. One of these included a starring role in Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Lobster. It’s unclear who she may have played, but those who have seen that film know that it would have taken Olsen’s career in a very different direction. 

“I started to feel frustrated,” Olsen explained. “I had this job security but I was losing these pieces that I felt were more part of my being. And the further I got away from that, the less I became considered for it.”

Since beginning her role as Wanda, Olsen has appeared in other smaller projects like Wind River and Ingrid Goes West. While the actor did not say she doesn’t enjoy her role in the MCU, it’s not the movie career she imagined.

“It took me away from the physical ability to do certain jobs that I thought were more aligned with the things I enjoyed as an audience member,” Olsen said. “And this is me being the most honest.”

Is Olsen out of the MCU after ‘Doctor Strange 2’?

For those who have seen Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, you would know that Scarlet Witch’s fate is left unconfirmed. Olsen has not officially confirmed the status of her character as she isn’t clear about what’s going to happen with Wanda next. However, she did tell The New York Times that she would be interested in returning for a solo movie if the story was right. 

“I think I would,” Olsen shared. “But it really needs to be a good story. I think these films are best when it’s not about creating content, but about having a very strong point of view — not because you need to have a three-picture plan.”

Still, since there will most likely be a sizeable gap until we see Wanda next, this may give Olsen the time she needs to find other roles that speak to her as an actor.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is in theaters now.