Marvel Theory: Iron Man 3’s Villains Are Responsible For WandaVision

Warning: SPOILERS for WandaVision episodes 1 & 2.

Iron Man 3‘s villains might be behind the events of WandaVision. Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe began with the first Marvel Disney+ show starring supporting characters from the films: Wanda Maximoff aka Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) are at the center of WandaVision. While multiple episodes have been released already, Marvel Studios is slowly unraveling the mystery behind the show’s unique makeup.

The first episodes of WandaVision are each designed to feel similar to classic American sitcoms. So far, the episodes have been very committed to emulating the style of these shows. As funny as the episodes have been, they have barely teased WandaVision‘s larger story. Viewers have seen Wanda and Vision adjust to their domestic lifestyles and prep for a talent show, but plenty of mystery about their surroundings remain. Since the show takes place after Avengers: Endgame, it has yet to be explored how Vision is alive or how Wanda came to be in this seemingly altered reality with him.

The answers that WandaVision viewers seek have yet to arrive, and the weekly rollout of the MCU’s first Disney+ show allows a lot of time for theories to be created. This has so far put a lot of focus on figuring out what is going on with Westview, the suburban town Wanda and Vision now reside in. There are plenty of theories about who could be behind this world. Still, a recurring detail in WandaVision could be teasing that Iron Man 3‘s villainous organization AIM is behind the fake reality.

WandaVision’s Fake Reality Is A Big Mystery

There’s no question that among all the weirdness WandaVision contains, the truth behind this fake reality is the biggest. Even before the show began, the prevailing theory among fans is that Wanda is responsible for this new life. Following the death of Vision in Avengers: Infinity War, her growing powers and continued trauma could push her to create a safe place for her to experience happiness. Each episode even teases that Wanda has some level of control over the world, possibly even making her the one to reset the reality. And while WandaVision could still easily reveal that she is responsible for bringing herself and Vision to Westview, there has also been set up that she’s not totally aware of what is happening either.

During the second episode of WandaVision, Wanda hears a voice on the radio asking her who is doing this to her. It is believed that this is the voice of Jimmy Woo (Randall Park). At face value, this suggests that someone else is behind what is happening in Westview. Marvel could purposefully be trying to mislead audiences and confuse Wanda with such a moment. But one must also consider that Woo could have some information about what is going on that WandaVision has yet to reveal. Fans have started to debate possibilities like WandaVision being the work of Agatha Harkness or Mephisto, but the show has already potentially set up an answer that veers away from magic.

WandaVision’s Credits Hint At Iron Man 3 Villains

Marvel Studios has so far concluded the first two episodes of WandaVision in the same way. Wanda and Vision are shown together in their house, and the frame transitions to have a hexagon close in around the happy couple. This feels like a purposeful decision on Marvel’s part, as shapes like circles and squares are much more traditional. It’s also worth noting that for as faithful as WandaVision has been in matching the styles of old sitcoms, these hexagons are not of that time. The shows WandaVision has copied so far didn’t close in this fashion, which makes the hexagons a bit more noteworthy. Plus, there is a potential Marvel connection for the hexagon, as that shape has been used as the main part of the logo for Advanced Idea Mechanics. The hexagon shape was even incorporated into AIM’s logo for the recent Marvel’s Avengers video game.

Theory: AIM Is Responsible For WandaVision

If the hexagon shape is meant to mean anything about WandaVision and the fake TV reality the show exists in, this could signify that AIM is responsible for what is happening. Iron Man 3 is the only MCU property to include AIM at this point, but it did do a good job at setting up what they are after. AIM is a bit more tech-based in the comics, but for the MCU they were using that technology to get involved in the superhero arms race. They were behind Extremis and clearly had an interest under Aldrich Killian’s command to create enhanced individuals. That would explain why AIM could potentially have an interest in Wanda Maximoff and go to such lengths as to experiment on her to find answers potentially.

The Mind Stone unlocked Wanda’s powers, so AIM could be looking for a way to recreate such an experiment or harness Scarlet Witch’s powers for their own good. How they managed to subdue her is anyone’s guess at the moment, but it’s been a decade in the MCU since they were last seen. There is no telling what kind of technology they have now or who is leading such a charge. It’s even possible episode 2 teased more of AIM with the “Beekeeper.” Even though the character had a SWORD logo on his suit, AIM’s suits in the comics have commonly been referred to as beekeepers due to their design.

There’s also the chance that AIM wants something else entirely from Wanda: information on Vision’s body. It is unknown what happened to his lifeless synthezoid body after Thanos killed him. However, its vibranium base and the other technology built into it could be valuable in AIM’s mind. If they determine replicating Scarlet Witch’s powers are not an option, finding Vision’s body to do experiments on it could be the next best option. AIM could even need both of them to create their desired superhero/supervillain. Perhaps they’ll even be responsible for the introduction of Simon Williams aka Wonder Man.

How AIM Can Appear Throughout Phase 4

Should AIM play a role in WandaVision, it could be one of a few different MCU properties that the organization appears in during Phase 4. Fans have started to think that they might play a key role in the upcoming slate of movies and TV shows ever since a possible Easter egg in Black Widow was discovered. The trailers for the movie, which originally launched Phase 4, showed Yelena Belova strapped to a table and something nearby appears to have “A.I.M.” painted on it. Its possible AIM will experiment on Yelena at some point in Black Widow, which could be tied to whatever they potentially do in WandaVision.

There are also theories that AIM will appear in a few other Phase 4 properties, such as The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. The upcoming Disney+ show’s trailer showed men in yellow flying suits chasing after Falcon. While the suits go by too quickly to see any AIM identifiers, they have a hint of yellow, which is the organization’s primary color in the comics. If AIM is involved in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, then this could be a piece of connectivity between Marvel’s first two Disney+ shows.

Wherever AIM potentially appears in Phase 4, WandaVision could be the beginning of Marvel Studios bringing them back. AIM is a recurring threat in the comics, and they deserve a chance to be more than a one-and-done Iron Man 3 villain organization. And if WandaVision does reveal that they are behind the show’s events, this will be quite the way for AIM to be reintroduced to audiences and the MCU.

About The Author

Cooper Hood
(5660 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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