Few characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) have had a journey as intense, heartbreaking, and awe-inspiring as Wanda Maximoff, aka the Scarlet Witch. Introduced as a side character in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Wanda has transformed into one of the most powerful and complex figures in the entire franchise.

But how did she get here? From a vengeful antagonist to a grief-stricken hero, and ultimately, a terrifying force of chaos, let’s break down Wanda Maximoff’s incredible evolution in the MCU—and what’s next for her.

🔴 Phase 1: The Tragic Villain Turned Avenger (2015–2016)

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) – Wanda’s Introduction

We first meet Wanda (played by Elizabeth Olsen) alongside her twin brother Pietro Maximoff (Quicksilver). Both orphans from Sokovia, they volunteered for HYDRA experiments after their parents were killed by a Stark Industries bomb. This gave Wanda telekinetic, telepathic, and mind-altering abilities, while Pietro gained super speed.

At first, Wanda and Pietro blamed Tony Stark for their parents’ deaths and sided with Ultron to destroy the Avengers. However, Wanda’s morality quickly came into play. When she realized Ultron planned to wipe out humanity, she and her brother switched sides, fighting alongside the Avengers.

💔 Pietro’s death in the final battle marked the beginning of Wanda’s tragic arc. Despite this loss, she officially joined the Avengers, standing beside Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.

🌀 Phase 2: Wanda’s Growing Power & Tragic Love Story (2016–2019)

Captain America: Civil War (2016) – The Outcast Avenger

As part of the new Avengers team, Wanda continued to train under Captain America. But her increasing power made her feared and misunderstood.

A tragic accident in Lagos—where Wanda unintentionally killed civilians while trying to stop a bomb—led to the Sokovia Accords, forcing superheroes to register with the government. This tore the Avengers apart, and Wanda, distraught and manipulated, sided with Captain America against Tony Stark.

Key Moment: Wanda was imprisoned after the battle but was rescued by Vision, her growing love interest.

Avengers: Infinity War (2018) – Love and Sacrifice

By Infinity War, Wanda and Vision were deeply in love, living in secret. But Thanos and his army came hunting for the Mind Stone—embedded in Vision’s forehead.

✔ Wanda’s Heartbreaking Choice: To save the universe, Wanda was forced to destroy the Mind Stone—killing Vision in the process. However, Thanos rewound time and killed Vision again, making Wanda watch helplessly.

✔ Wanda’s Power Level Skyrockets: Despite her grief, she held her own against Thanos, nearly killing him single-handedly. Even he was shocked by her strength.

But it was too late—Thanos won, snapped his fingers, and Wanda was dusted out of existence.

Avengers: Endgame (2019) – Pure Rage Against Thanos

Five years later, Wanda returned in Endgame and immediately went after Thanos, furious over Vision’s death. She was one of the only heroes to make Thanos panic. He even ordered his army to attack specifically because he feared her.

Although Wanda helped defeat Thanos, her grief was far from over. Vision was still gone, leaving her utterly alone.

🔮 Phase 3: Wanda’s Descent into Madness & the Scarlet Witch Rises (2021–Present)

WandaVision (2021) – The Birth of the Scarlet Witch

After losing Vision, Wanda completely broke. In WandaVision, we saw how she created an entire reality in the town of Westview, trapping its citizens inside a sitcom-like illusion where Vision was alive.

But this wasn’t just grief—this was chaos magic at an unimaginable scale.

✔ Wanda’s True Power Awakens: Through Westview, Wanda finally became the Scarlet Witch, a being prophesied to be more powerful than the Sorcerer Supreme (Doctor Strange).
✔ Agatha Harkness vs. Wanda: A powerful witch, Agatha, tried to steal Wanda’s magic, but Wanda defeated her—fully embracing her destiny as the Scarlet Witch.
✔ The Cost of Power: In the heartbreaking finale, Wanda gave up her dream life, erasing Vision and her twin sons, Billy and Tommy, to free Westview.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) – Wanda’s Darkest Chapter

At this point, Wanda had completely fallen into darkness. Corrupted by the Darkhold, she became the film’s main villain—hunting down America Chavez to steal her ability to travel the multiverse.

✔ Wanda vs. The Illuminati: In one of the film’s most shocking scenes, Wanda slaughtered the Illuminati, proving herself as one of the most terrifying villains in MCU history.
✔ Final Redemption: After realizing she had become a monster, Wanda destroyed the Darkhold across all universes and seemingly sacrificed herself.

But did she really die? Her fate remains unknown.

🛑 What’s Next for Wanda Maximoff?

✔ Is Wanda Dead?
Marvel never confirmed her death, and considering her reality-warping powers, she could return at any time.

✔ The Return of the Scarlet Witch?
Rumors suggest Wanda will appear in Avengers: Secret Wars (2027) or even get a solo movie exploring her redemption arc.

✔ Her Children Still Exist in the Multiverse!
Wanda’s biggest motivation was her lost children—who do exist in alternate realities. Could she find a way back to them?

👑 From Avenger to Villain to Legend

Wanda Maximoff’s journey in the MCU is unlike any other. She started as a broken orphan, became a hero, fell into grief and darkness, and emerged as the Scarlet Witch—one of the most powerful beings in Marvel history.

Whether she returns as a hero or villain, one thing is certain: Wanda Maximoff’s story is far from over.

🔥 What do you think? Should Wanda return? Will she redeem herself—or become an even bigger threat? Drop your thoughts below!