Alleged details from earlier versions of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness present a much less controversial role for Wanda Maximoff. After WandaVision, Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch became one of the most popular characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Wanda's journey in the Disney+ series was followed by a major role in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. However, the MCU's exploration of the multiverse featured a villain turn for the Scarlet Witch, and that became one of the franchise's most controversial decisions. Now, it seems like that could have been avoided.
According to former X-Men '97 showrunner Beau DeMayo on Twitter, Scarlet Witch was originally meant to be a hero in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Since DeMayo has been fired by Marvel and is currently at odds with the studio, his claims remain unconfirmed. However, they fall in line with the original Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness director, Scott Derrickson, having left over creative differences. According to DeMayo, the MCU's former Sorcerer Supreme would have used Wanda's help to stop the villain Nightmare across the multiverse. Scarlet Witch would have trained America Chavez instead of hunting her.
What These Scarlet Witch Story Details Mean For The MCU
Wanda Maximoff's Current Situation Would Have Been Totally Different
As it stands, Wanda Maximoff is currently dead, having sacrificed herself to destroy all versions of the Darkhold across the multiverse. That might not have happened if Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' original plans had been kept. The early versions of the movie seem much more in line with WandaVision's ending, connecting to Scarlet Witch's MCU timeline in a better way than making her a murderous force like was seen in the Doctor Strange sequel.
Wanda could have now been developing a loving relationship with America Chavez as her mentor.
The newly-revealed Scarlet Witch story details would have made her current situation in the MCU very different, also affecting other characters. For instance, Wanda could have now been developing a loving relationship with America Chavez as her mentor, perhaps also staying at Kamar-Taj with her instead of trying to kill America and destroy the temple like she did in the movie. Wanda's sadness over losing her kids would also have been explored in a much less destructive way, reaching a similar conclusion she did in the released movie, but with no bloodshed coming off it.
Helping save the multiverse, finding a new young character to keep her going, and seeing multiverse variants of her happy with her kids could have given Wanda the catharsis she needed. The alleged original story details from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness would have been the natural continuation of WandaVision, addressing the Scarlet Witch's trauma in a much healthier way. Wanda's villain turn proved itself extremely controversial, hurting the MCU. Perhaps a version of that story could happen if/when Wanda returns from the dead, with her and Strange working together as she attempts to redeem herself.
