The Marvel Cinematic Universe has a long and successful history of bringing some of the most iconic comic book crossover events to the big screen. Massive storylines like Age of Ultron, Civil War, and the universe-shattering Infinity War have been adapted to form the backbone of the franchise’s overarching narrative. This trend is set to continue with the upcoming culminations of the Multiverse Saga, Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, which are expected to draw inspiration from classic comics to deliver a soft reboot of the cinematic universe. This reboot will finally merge the long-awaited Mutants and X-Men into the Sacred Timeline, opening the door for a whole new slate of comic book storylines to be adapted. One of those potential future crossovers, a notoriously controversial one, now has a powerful advocate within the MCU’s own roster of stars.
During a panel at ComicCon LA alongside her MCU co-star Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen expressed her desire to see one of Wanda Maximoff’s most significant comic book arcs come to life. “I think House of M is just the coolest,” Olsen stated. “I just think it could be so fun to deal with X-Men and Avengers and ‘No more mutants.’ It would be fun.”
House of M was a 2005 limited series that saw a mentally unstable Wanda Maximoff, grieving the loss of her children, reshape reality into a world where mutants were the dominant species and every hero was given their heart’s desire. The storyline is infamous for its conclusion, where a distraught Wanda utters the phrase “No more mutants,” instantly depowering the vast majority of the world’s mutant population and leaving them an endangered species. The event had a cataclysmic impact on the X-Men line of comics for years. An MCU adaptation could remix the storyline, though it might be too soon to decimate a population of characters that are still just being introduced to the cinematic universe.
Elizabeth Olsen Teases Wanda’s Return (But Will It Happen?)
For any adaptation of House of M to occur, Wanda Maximoff would first need to make her return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The character was last seen seemingly sacrificing herself at the conclusion of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, bringing Mount Wundagore down upon herself while destroying every copy of the Darkhold across the Multiverse. However, her death has been a subject of debate among fans, and the recent Disney+ series Agatha All Along has only added to the mystery, leaving the fate of Wanda unknown. During the same ComicCon LA panel, Olsen offered another clue to Wanda’s return.
“I hope we continue to surprise ourselves and the audience,” Olsen said about the future of Marvel Studios and how to keep the franchise alive. “I think that’s what keeps people coming back, is not to rely on old tricks. So that’s what I hope for.”
Olsen’s use of the word “we” suggests a continued involvement with the franchise, hinting that she may be aware of plans for Wanda’s eventual comeback, even as Marvel Studios remains silent on the matter. A return for the powerful Avenger is long overdue, and the recent introduction of her son, Wiccan (Joe Locke), in Agatha All Along provides a clear narrative path. The MCU could now adapt the Children’s Crusade storyline from the comics, which saw a teenage Wiccan and his Young Avengers teammates search for the missing Scarlet Witch in hopes that she could be redeemed. Furthermore, Wanda’s recent appearance as the primary antagonist in the animated Marvel Zombies series proves that the character remains a fan-favorite and a formidable presence in the Marvel multiverse.
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