Doctor Strange 2 Has An Evil Multiverse Scarlet Witch – Theory Explained

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness might have a secret multiverse Scarlet Witch hidden in its marketing. The long-awaited sequel to 2016’s Doctor Strange brings Benedict Cumberbatch back to the star, but it is also set to include Elizabeth Olsen’s Wanda Maximoff. Her appearance comes after the events of WandaVision, which the first Doctor Strange 2 trailer directly references. However, it might also be teasing multiple versions of Scarlet Witch appearing thanks to the multiverse.

The idea that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness includes an evil Scarlet Witch has been around from the moment she was confirmed to appear. Her actions in WandaVision only fueled theories that she’ll make a villainous turn, whether by her own desire or through the influence of a more powerful magical being. The WandaVision finale showed her reading the Darkhold as a way to try and find her superpowered kids, Billy and Tommy. While Scarlet Witch might not be the one behind the MCU’s multiverse breaking as many expected, she will still play a massively important role in Doctor Strange’s adventure.

After the release of Doctor Strange 2‘s trailer, though, there are lots of questions about what exactly Scarlet Witch’s role is. The footage doesn’t feature her very often — it instead focuses on Doctor Strange’s journey — but when Wanda is shown, the trailer introduces intrigue. Whether or not Wanda will be a friend or foe seems to change depending on which scene is featured. While this might be the result of her playing both sides in the movie, it’s also possible this is because Doctor Strange 2 features an evil multiverse Scarlet Witch.

Scarlet Witch Looks Different In Doctor Strange 2

It’s clear that Scarlet Witch looks different in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse compared to how she last appeared in WandaVision. Her first appearance in the trailer shows her in another isolated location, but different from the lakeside and mountainous terrain she was at before. It appears that Wanda’s hair is more of a blondish red instead of the more pronounced red hair she’s had in the past. This could indicate a passage of time between WandaVision and Doctor Strange 2‘s events, which could take place roughly two years apart based on the MCU Phase 4 timeline. However, when she is next shown, the red hair is seemingly back and a different Scarlet Witch look is revealed.

Wanda only just gave herself a new costume in WandaVision‘s finale, but Doctor Strange 2‘s trailer gives her an updated look. The new Scarlet Witch costume has sleeves and more texture to the suit itself. It even appears to be darker in its color, and the differences for Wanda don’t stop there. Her fingertips are noticeably black while performing a spell. This is new for Scarlet Witch, but Agatha Harkness’ fingers turned black when she used dark magic in WandaVision. This could be the result of the Darkhold or Doctor Strange 2‘s villain corrupting the MCU’s Scarlet Witch, or it might support the idea of the movie including more than one version of Wanda.

Doctor Strange 2’s Poster Teases Multiple Scarlet Witches

The idea that Doctor Strange 2 features multiple versions of Scarlet Witch is even supported by its poster. Marvel debuted the first teaser poster alongside the trailer release and went a very different route than the traditional MCU posters. The Doctor Strange 2 poster shows Benedict Cumberbatch’s face three times and Elizabeth Olsen’s twice with each separated by some lines that have similarities to when Strange first accessed the Mirror Dimension. Beyond the poster having a cool design, using the two main characters’ faces repeatedly indicates that there are multiple versions of them featured in Doctor Strange 2.

It is already confirmed that Cumberbatch plays multiple versions of Doctor Strange in the sequel. The poster seemingly includes a glimpse at the three main versions of him that are confirmed: the MCU’s Doctor Strange, the evil Doctor Strange at the trailer’s conclusion, and a third variant known as Defender Strange. With that in mind, the decision to include Scarlet Witch twice is potentially quite telling. One of them likely represents the MCU’s main version of Wanda, but the other is presumably a version of Scarlet Witch from across the multiverse. Based on what else Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has shown, this could be an evil multiverse Scarlet Witch who acts as one of the movie’s main villains.

The Evil Doctor Strange Could Tease Scarlet Witch’s Twist

The Doctor Strange 2 trailer also supports the idea of an evil Scarlet Witch from across the multiverse being included with the tease of evil Doctor Strange. Audiences already saw a more evil version of the sorcerer in Marvel’s What If…?, but this appears to be a new version. Pitting Doctor Strange against an evil version of himself is an intriguing choice from a storytelling standpoint, especially since the trailer teases that evil Doctor Strange is the greatest threat to reality. However, this also proves that Doctor Strange 2 isn’t afraid of including drastically different versions of the same character. If there will be good and bad versions of Strange, it is reasonable to believe that an evil Scarlet Witch could also appear.

Marvel potentially even decided to show evil Doctor Strange in the trailer to distract viewers from the possibility of there being a second and evil Scarlet Witch. While Marvel may have traditionally held back on showing such a reveal, evil Doctor Strange’s inclusion could point to just how many surprises are in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. A second version of Scarlet Witch from the multiverse could be one of the many reveals Marvel is hoping to preserve for theaters. Even if that doesn’t happen, including another Wanda could be a smart move. It allows Marvel the opportunity of showing how dangerous an evil Scarlet Witch could be without turning the MCU’s regular version of her into a villain. Meanwhile, it could mean Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness can have Scarlet Witch fight an evil version of herself.

If the sequel does include an evil Scarlet Witch, it is unclear if she’ll be the main villain. There are multiple rumored villains for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and she could be working with the evil Doctor Strange potentially. If not, rumored villains like Shuma-Gorath, Mephisto, or Gargantos could use a multiverse Scarlet Witch to do their bidding and invade the MCU’s main timeline. Between all of the evidence previously mentioned and moments like Wong being bound seemingly by Wanda’s red glowing magic, it certainly looks like an evil Scarlet Witch will be in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness to some degree.

About The Author

Cooper Hood
(5627 Articles Published)

Cooper Hood is a news and feature writer for Screen Rant. He joined Screen Rant in late 2016 following a year-long stint with MCU Exchange, which came after first developing an MCU blog of his own. He graduated college in 2016 with a Bachelor’s degree in Media & Public Communication, with a minor in Media Production. Cooper’s love for movies began by watching Toy Story and Lion King on repeat as a child, but it wasn’t until The Avengers that he took an invested interest in movies and the filmmaking process, leading him to discover the world of film journalism. Every year Cooper looks forward to seeing the latest blockbusters from the likes of Marvel, DC, and Star Wars, but also loves the rush to catch up on Oscar films near the end of the year. When he isn’t writing about or watching new releases, Cooper is a fantasy football obsessive and looking to expand his Blu-Ray collection – because physical media is still king! Follow Cooper on Twitter @MovieCooper.

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