Is Wanda Maximoff In ‘Avengers: Doomsday’? The Scarlet Witch Arc, Explained

Avengers: Doomsday (2006) is gearing up to be the movie event of the year, and from confirmation of the X-Men and Fantastic Four joining to the many rumors of other characters, there’s so much to speculate about. But for all the speculation, there are also genuine questions that fans want answered.

One of the biggest questions is tied to the status of Wanda Maximoff and whether she will be in the next big Avengers movie. But looking back on her arc in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s hard to give a straight answer when what was shown contradicts what fans want.

‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Is a Packed Film, But Is There Room For Wanda?

Everyone wants to see a character as powerful as the Scarlet Witch return to join the ranks of the Avengers. Not only is she one of the most important, but for a story as monumental and final as this one, it would make sense for her to make an appearance at full power.

The only thing holding her back, however, is that the film is already incredibly packed with characters and a massive narrative. Like Avengers: Infinity War (2018), the film feels like a race against time to stop the villain, and with that, three groups of heroes must come together to make a difference.

With the cast more or less established, it’s hard to see there being room for Scarlet Witch to appear when her return alone would mean a massive shift in the plot. More than that, if she did return without explanation, it would only frustrate fans who want to see that story as well. It’s not that we don’t want her to return in Avengers: Doomsday, but if she does, she deserves her time to shine.

What Happened to Wanda Maximoff After ‘Avengers: Endgame’?

Part of the reason that an easy return for Wanda just wouldn’t work is because of how much she endured in Avengers: Endgame (2019). Following the climactic defeat of Thanos, she tried to rebuild the pieces of what was lost, getting closure over the death of Vision. But her mental breakdown led to the events of WandaVision (2021) and her rise as the Scarlet Witch.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) saw the return of the Scarlet Witch, but as an enemy corrupted by the Darkhold. Trying to get the children she created back from another universe, it twisted her mind and motivations until she saw how far she had fallen. In the end, she buried herself in Mount Wundagore to right her wrongs and seemingly died.

Many have argued, and rightfully so, that Wanda’s narrative was simply rehashed from WandaVision and wasn’t as thought out either. Because of this, it’s led to a notion that she was incredibly misrepresented and undermined her incredible arc, amounting to a death that made absolutely no sense. The worst part is that these feelings are completely logical and prove that Wanda still deserves redemption in some capacity.

There’s Still Hope For Wanda Maximoff’s Return

One thing that has stood out in Scarlet Witch’s “demise” is that before the mountain fell completely, there was a red flash. As of now, we have no idea what that could mean, but it’s hard to believe it was her exploding in red energy. With her powers, she can rewrite reality, and we never saw the full extent of that.

With that in mind, there’s a window for Wanda to return, and one way she could easily do that is by coming back in Avengers: Secret Wars (2027). If the film follows the logic of the comics, Doom making Battleworld could lead to Wanda returning either as a peace offering by Doom or as a way to use her power.

Avengers: Secret Wars is the vessel that could lead to a new era of the MCU and a chance for Wanda Maximoff to return stronger than ever with a clear direction. She might not return in Avengers: Doomsday, but that doesn’t mean her future is bleak. In fact, it’s a good thing because it means that she wouldn’t be shoehorned into a set narrative but rather is part of another story and would possibly become one of the most important parts of that story.