Marvel is making the movie we’ve all been waiting for

Marvel is making the movie we've all been waiting for

As a long-time Marvel fan who has been following the MCU since its inception, I can’t help but feel a mix of excitement and anticipation at the news that a Scarlet Witch solo movie is reportedly in development at Marvel Studios. For years, we’ve heard whispers and rumors about this project, and it seems like the stars are finally aligning for its realization.

Marvel Studios is currently working on numerous upcoming projects, exciting news for fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, this abundance of projects has led the studio to revise some of its release plans lately, as a few box office disappointments – an uncommon occurrence for the franchise – have sparked concerns about prioritizing quantity over quality.

Some projects are currently paused, while others are still underway. This could be because they were originally planned for the Multiverse Saga but are waiting until it concludes, or perhaps Marvel is uncertain about how to move forward with these specific projects at the moment (such as Blade and Armor Wars, which have been in development for quite some time).

Despite rumors persisting for years, there’s been one Marvel project that hasn’t received an official confirmation. Speculations about its development have lingered, even as events in certain MCU projects seemed to contradict these speculations. However, recent developments may have just provided the most substantial and exciting update yet.

A Scarlet Witch movie is reportedly in development at Marvel Studios

Based on a recent update from Production Weekly, it appears that Marvel Studios is moving forward with a standalone Scarlet Witch film featuring Elizabeth Olsen. If this development holds true, fans might look forward to its release in 2026. Interestingly, Jac Schaeffer and Megan McDonnell, the creative minds behind ‘WandaVision’ and ‘Agatha All Along,’ are tapped to pen the screenplay for the movie.

While it’s always wise to approach reports with a degree of skepticism, Production Weekly is usually a trustworthy source of production news. However, as in all productions, details can change. But this time, the fact that the release date for the alleged movie is 2026 gives it more credibility. Marvel has three films scheduled for release in 2026, one of which is Avengers: Doomsday on May 1st. The other two, as yet unnamed, are set to be released on February 13th and November 6th. It’s speculated that one could be Spider-Man 4, leaving the other to potentially be the long-awaited Scarlet Witch movie.

Marvel is making the movie we've all been waiting for

To fully appreciate and understand the evolving storyline of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), it would be wise to watch the movie during the Multiverse Saga, as the character of Wanda Maximoff has been established as a key figure in this saga. In the Disney Plus series “WandaVision,” she transformed into the Scarlet Witch, becoming one of the main characters in the MCU. Subsequently, in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” her character underwent significant changes due to her encounter with the Darkhold, ultimately turning her into the film’s antagonist.

Viewers found it disappointing that the movie portrayed Wanda’s transformation into a villain and subsequent apparent death, especially since she sacrificed herself to save Doctor Strange, America Chavez, and the world from the Darkhold. This sudden development felt rushed, given how significant Phase Four had built up Wanda’s character beforehand. Consequently, the film didn’t get favorable reviews due to this aspect of its storyline.

Even so, the rumors of that Scarlet Witch movie have persisted. And Olsen herself has spoken of how eager she would be to return to the MCU franchise at some point, telling Dublin radio station FM104 that she was blessed by how well Marvel had used the character since her introduction in 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron and that she would be happy to return if they had the right storyline for her:

So if there’s a good way to use her I’m always happy to come back, however they can make that make sense,

In the upcoming spinoff of “WandaVision,” titled “Vision Quest,” it is anticipated that Olsen will once again take on her character’s role, with filming scheduled for 2025. However, these scenes are likely to be presented in a flashback format. It seems this could just mark the start of her return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Should the speculations about a Scarlet Witch film prove accurate, there’s little doubt that Marvel enthusiasts would be overjoyed at its release. Given her pivotal role in the early stages of the Multiverse Saga, it seems essential to reintroduce her character, ensuring her storyline receives the treatment it deserves. Now could well be the opportune moment to realize this.

Go on Marvel, you know the fans are ready for it!

2024-09-14 00:31

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