Scarlet Witch TV series could introduce X-Men to Marvel Cinematic Universe

Marvel
Studios

• Disney is reportedly developing a Scarlet Witch TV
  series spinning off from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and
  Elizabeth Olsen is expected to reprise the role.
• The series could signal that Disney is considering the
  possibilities of its merger with Fox, which owned the X-Men
  characters.
• In the comic books, Scarlet Witch is the daughter of
  X-Men villain Magneto.
• Her current MCU origin is that she was experimented on
  with the Mind Stone — but what if that only unlocked powers
  that were already there?

Elizabeth Olsen will reportedly reprise her role as the Marvel
Cinematic Universe’s Scarlet Witch in a limited series for
Disney’s upcoming streaming service, and it could finally signal
the introduction of the X-Men to the MCU.

Variety reported on Tuesday that Disney is developing multiple TV shows
spinning off of the MCU for the service, which is expected to
drop in 2019. Among them would be series starring Tom
Hiddleston’s Loki and Olsen’s Scarlet Witch, who has been a
mysterious supporting character during her time in the MCU since
she was introduced in 2015’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron.”

But shining a spotlight on Scarlet Witch could signal that Disney
is considering the possibilities of its merger with Fox, which
owned Marvel superheroes the X-Men and Fantastic Four. Now that
Disney will own Fox, those characters could be included in the
MCU if Disney chooses to do so.

In the comic books, Scarlet Witch, a.k.a. Wanda Maximoff, and her
brother Pietro (who was played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson in “Age of
Ultron” and died) are the children of X-Men villain Magneto. Of
course, comic book reboots throughout the years have muddled this
backstory quite a bit, but it provides an easy way for the MCU to
introduce the X-Men or, at the very least, mutants.

Marvel hasn’t been able to refer to Scarlet Witch as a mutant on
the big screen because Fox owned the X-Men characters. The
current origin of her powers in the MCU is that she and Pietro
were experimented on with the Mind Stone by the terrorist
organization HYDRA. 

But what if the stone only unlocked powers that were already
there? Mutants, both in the comic books and Fox’s “X-Men” films,
are people born with powers. That’s what separates them from the
likes of Captain America, Spider-Man, and others. Scarlet Witch’s
TV series could explore her hidden past and unlock memories she
may have forgotten, including her upbringing.

While the X-Men franchise has been popular for nearly two decades
under Fox, it has hit a slump. The next two
films, “X-Men: Dark Phoenix” and “The New Mutants,” are both
undergoing extensive reshoots after their release dates were
pushed back. The franchise’s timeline is a convoluted mess at
this point, and only works when the films ignore it completely
(“Logan,” “Deadpool”). 

As the X-Men are in need of new life, the MCU will be in need of
new faces once veteran actors like Chris Evans and Robert Downey
Jr. depart, as they’re expected to after the “Avengers: Infinity
War” sequel next year.

It seems like a perfect time for the Disney/Fox pairing.