A new Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) timeline book has reignited the debate over whether Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch is alive or dead after the events of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
The new book, Marvel Studios' The Marvel Cinematic Universe: An Official Timeline, details the chronology of the MCU, including Scarlet Witch's showdown at Mount Wundagore. Per Culture Crave, it reads: "[Wanda] destroys Wundagore — and collapses it upon herself — ending two great threats to all of the Multiverse."
The last time we saw the Scarlet Witch, she destroyed the Darkhold and brought down Wundagore Mountain on top of her in what appeared to be a redemptive death. But there was a hint of red misty energy under the rocks, leaving the slightest of possibilities that Earth-616's Wanda is not really dead and will return.
Some people have taken the line of text in the new Marvel book as official confirmation that Scarlet Witch sacrificed herself during the act and is now deceased. Others have interpreted it as putting an end to the threat that Scarlet Witch posed rather than the character meeting her demise because of the incident.
h/t @scotthoqe pic.twitter.com/nBrYY7h0Py
— Culture Crave ? (@CultureCrave) October 25, 2023
Symbol is included. It’s confirmed pic.twitter.com/VrdFo71EN1
— Culture Crave ? (@CultureCrave) October 26, 2023
Wanda Maximoff, the Scarlet Witch, is dead. pic.twitter.com/GuEhilCOm6
— Chief Mackenzie Bock (@GothamChief) October 25, 2023
They killed one of the most powerful mfs in the mcu like this? Wild
— Tired (@_D0NTC4RE_) October 26, 2023
They'll find a way to bring her back. They know fans love Elizabeth Olsen as Scarlet Witch
— Screen Wizard ?♂️ (@screenwizardz) October 26, 2023
Technically, this doesn't mean she's dead.
— MT (@MasterTainment) October 25, 2023
It just means she's no longer a threat to the multiverse.
She overcame her corruption by the Darkhold and destroyed the original Darkhold engravings.
No more threat.
That's why the Scarlet Witch prophecy can go two ways. https://t.co/G4C5QEm9jV
Even if she's actually dead, Scarlet Witch can resurrect herself. pic.twitter.com/pv9RuCsI0w
— Scarlet Witch Updates (@ScarletWitchUpd) October 25, 2023
There’s no way she’s actually dead. We didn’t see a body!
— Idris Elijah (@theidriselijah) October 25, 2023
Until pic.twitter.com/RKXQ1TQhdk
— Charlie (@rcweston) October 25, 2023
While the book includes the "major character dies" symbol alongside the timeline entry, Reddit discussions were shrouded in doubt. "She is dead until/if the writers decide she no longer needs to be," one person commented, as another added: "Even if they'd show us a bloody corpse, I'd still be like 'She's gonna come back'."
A third person chimed in on the debate: "You'd think Marvel wouldn't think so little of us. They very carefully failed to mention Wanda's name in relation to who actually dies." Someone else said: "Hate to break it to you, but no matter how 'official' the timeline is, Marvel would never allow supplemental materials to spoil future plans."
Olsen previously hinted that she could return to the MCU and wants redemption for Scarlet Witch, tapping into the more humourous side of her character. Agatha: Darkhold Diaries is perhaps the most likely project that could bring her back, but she could also return in Vision Quest, another reported WandaVision spinoff.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe: An Official Timeline hit shelves on October 24, with both the Kindle and Hardback format versions available to purchase on Amazon. In the meantime, IGN has a comprehensive guide to watching all the Marvel movies in chronological order that should help to fill in any gaps in your knowledge leading up to the next MCU Phase 5 film, The Marvels, releasing in theaters on November 10.
Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on X @AdeleAnkers.
