In “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” longtime Marvel Cinematic Universe heroine Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) is the most complex, as her relationship with the titular character (played by Benedict Cumberbatch) becomes entangled over the course of of the movie. But Olsen, whose portrayal of the mystical Scarlet Witch has made her a constant favorite with MCU fans, insists that no matter what Wanda is going through, she will continue to champion the character.
“I remember people saying at the end of ‘Wandavision,’ ‘She has no responsibility!'” Olsen said. Variety Senior entertainment reporter Angelique Jackson on the red carpet at the “Multiverse of Madness” premiere on Monday. “She’s going to take responsibility, she’s going to isolate herself, she’s going to think about it and she’s going to grow.”
Although “Multiverse of Madness” is a sequel to the 2016 film “Doctor Strange,” it also follows many of the plot threads of the critically acclaimed Disney+ series “Wandavision,” which saw Olsen and Paul Bettany in headlining as Wanda and the android Vision. Olsen embarked on filming “Doctor Strange 2” right after finishing “Wandavision.”
“To make ‘Wandavision’ and then go into this movie, my priority was, how do I continue the thread, but how do I make it different as well?” Olsen called back. “How is there an evolution, how do we keep it exciting for the fans? And how do we anchor it and show them something they haven’t seen yet? And I look forward to the reaction of the fans after this film. I think everyone is up for a ride.
“Wandavision” is one of the most beloved MCU projects, earning multiple Emmy nominations, including Olson, Bettany, and Kathryn Hahn. However, as the series premiered in early 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, Olsen was unable to experience the glitz and glamor of a premiere party or the in-person fan response to the show until the “Multiverse of Madness” press. round.
“It’s really surreal. I keep hearing about the answer, but it’s hard to tune into it until you’re at a premiere like this,” Olsen admitted. “It’s wild. It’s now been eight years for me with Marvel, and I feel so grateful to still be here and to have grown this character into what he has become. But I’m also grateful to Kevin Feige for giving me the opportunity to do ‘Wandavision’ and coming up with the idea.
In addition to continuing Wanda’s story, “Multiverse of Madness” features a new superhero, 16-year-old Xochitl Gomez as reality-jumping America Chavez. Olsen shared how impressed she was with the young actor’s confidence when he joined the MCU.
“She has such vitality to her, she has so much confidence in herself being so young,” Olsen said. “She has so much confidence in herself being so young. I was 25 when I started, and she’s much better off than I was when I started.
Olsen made his MCU debut in 2015’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron” (after a post-credits cameo in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”). Just as Gomez looked to her to learn the ropes of superheroism while filming “Multiverse of Madness,” Olsen studied franchise veteran Scarlett Johansson, who played Black Widow in multiple films.
“I remember being on ‘Ultron’ and seeing how she was with the crew,” Olsen explained. “I was just amazed by how easy and comfortable she is, and how she includes the team in everything, and how she makes everyone part of the team and feeling excited. about coming to work. And I’ve really taken that into my life ever since.
Olsen admitted it’s a bit “shocking” to now be in the position of a pseudo-mentor, but “it’s amazing that we’ve been through [iterations of the MCU] and it’s been so long now that we have these different ages of women.
“Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” is now in theaters. Watch the full interview above.
