Marvel Studios
- Disney is reportedly developing a Scarlet Witch TV series spinning off from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Elizabeth Olsen is expected to reprise the role.
- The series could signal that Disney is considering the possibilities of its merger with Fox, which owned the X-Men characters.
- In the comic books, Scarlet Witch is the daughter of X-Men villain Magneto.
- Her current MCU origin is that she was experimented on with the Mind Stone - but what if that only unlocked powers that were already there?
Elizabeth Olsen will reportedly reprise her role as the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Scarlet Witch in a limited series for Disney's upcoming streaming service, and it could finally signal the introduction of the X-Men to the MCU.
Variety reported on Tuesday that Disney is developing multiple TV shows spinning off of the MCU for the service, which is expected to drop in 2019. Among them would be series starring Tom Hiddleston's Loki and Olsen's Scarlet Witch, who has been a mysterious supporting character during her time in the MCU since she was introduced in 2015's "Avengers: Age of Ultron."
But shining a spotlight on Scarlet Witch could signal that Disney is considering the possibilities of its merger with Fox, which owned Marvel superheroes the X-Men and Fantastic Four. Now that Disney will own Fox, those characters could be included in the MCU if Disney chooses to do so.
In the comic books, Scarlet Witch, a.k.a. Wanda Maximoff, and her brother Pietro (who was played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson in "Age of Ultron" and died) are the children of X-Men villain Magneto. Of course, comic book reboots throughout the years have muddled this backstory quite a bit, but it provides an easy way for the MCU to introduce the X-Men or, at the very least, mutants.
Marvel hasn't been able to refer to Scarlet Witch as a mutant on the big screen because Fox owned the X-Men characters. The current origin of her powers in the MCU is that she and Pietro were experimented on with the Mind Stone by the terrorist organization HYDRA.
But what if the stone only unlocked powers that were already there? Mutants, both in the comic books and Fox's "X-Men" movies, are people born with powers. That's what separates them from the likes of Captain America, Spider-Man, and others. Scarlet Witch's TV series could explore her hidden past and unlock memories she may have forgotten, including her upbringing.
While the X-Men franchise has been popular for nearly two decades under Fox, it has hit a slump. The next two movies, "X-Men: Dark Phoenix" and "The New Mutants," are both undergoing extensive reshoots after their release dates were pushed back. The franchise's timeline is a convoluted mess at this point, and only works when the movies ignore it completely ("Logan," "Deadpool").
As the X-Men are in need of new life, the MCU will be in need of new faces once veteran actors like Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. depart, as they're expected to after the "Avengers: Infinity War" sequel next year.
It seems like a perfect time for the Disney/Fox pairing.