In the first trailer of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, a detail seems to tease Scarlet Witch as a key ally to Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sorcerer. Spider-Man: No Way Home introduced us to America Chavez, the Minotaur, and Dr Strange. However, it was easy to overlook the Scarlet Witch’s villain twist in this second trailer for Doctor Strange. And it could have a profound impact on the future of the MCU.
Scarlet Witch’s Villain Twist
Unlike the other Avengers, Scarlet Witch’s role as a hero has always been more complicated: she began as an enemy of Ultron. However, it was later used to ally with the Avengers. Although her sacrifice in Avengers seemingly saved her: Infinity War and the role she played in defeating Thanos, she was broken by the experience of accidentally killing citizens in the opening of Captain America: Civil War. There’s no way to tell precisely where Wanda’s moral compass lies, even after WandaVision and the cries of her children ringing out across the multiverse.
On display was Scarlet Witch in her complete magical form, sitting cross-legged in the centre of what appears to be a temple with candles surrounding her. The fact that Wanda’s fingers are black should be taken as a warning rather than an indication that she is lending her powers to save the universe from an unknown multiverse threat. When Agatha Harkness attempted to drain Wanda of her magic in WandaVision, the discolouration she suffered mirrors that of Wanda’s skin. The discolouration of Agatha’s spell and Wanda’s hands changing in the trailer for Doctor Strange 2 suggest that something sinister is going on. This may be proof that she’s become evil.
Wanda Will Go The Extra Mile
WandaVision’s tragic plot may be a problem for fans of the MCU’s Scarlet Witch. However, the retcon serves Wanda’s story arc. A catastrophic break from reality and Wanda’s use of her powers have been hinted at in Scarlet Witch’s MCU story.
However, WandaVision’s show of Scarlet Witch’s powers in Westview wasn’t entirely on that level. And it now feels more like a tease of her powers than an actual demonstration. Assuming she can break bad, she has all the ingredients in place to do so. Thanks to her final encounter with Agatha and the mysterious magic she learned in WandaVision’s post-credits scene. WandaVision has already established that Wanda is willing to go to great lengths to achieve her desires.
Scarlet Witch’s Fate
WandaVision may have appeared to be a redemption story for Scarlet Witch. Nonetheless, acceptance of Vision’s death was not a solution for her trauma. She’s in a similar position to when WandaVision first opened, and she’s still alone without the support of other heroes. This may also be professional support like that offered to Bucky Barnes. This, with the added trauma of knowing her children, are “alive” somewhere in the multiverse, as Bucky Barnes discovered.
There’s no rule that says you can’t break through to them. These may be so by exploiting what Doctor Strange’s spell unintentionally did in NWH. Additionally, it could also be by taking advantage of America Chavez’s multiversal powers. Because of this, the fate of the Scarlet Witch’s villain twist in Doctor Strange 2 is particularly worrying.
