Scarlet Witch's Avengers: Doomsday Return Confirms An MCU First

Published Nov 12, 2026, 9:31 AM EST

Cooper Hood is the Associate Editor for all new movie releases, in theaters and on streaming. In addition to writing articles about these titles and upcoming releases, he also oversees content planning for each, ensuring that ScreenRant continues to cover major releases for months after their release.

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Warning: This post contains spoilers for VisionQuestScarlet Witch is officially back in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for Avengers: Doomsday, and Elizabeth Olsen's return as Wanda Maximoff confirms a long-awaited first. The powerful witch became one of the MCU's most popular characters throughout the Infinity Saga and WandaVision. That's why it came as such a devastating blow to many when Scarlet Witch died in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Given the magical aspect of her abilities, theories have persisted for years that Wanda would be back, despite being crushed by Wundagore. Marvel finally confirmed this hope was not misplaced, as VisionQuest episode 8's post-credits scene confirmed she is alive. This came as Doctor Doom (Robert Downey Jr.) was shown lifting the rubble and reviving Scarlet Witch, wanting her power for himself.

The scene and Marvel's Avengers: Doomsday countdown clock were used to confirm Wanda's return just over one month before the blockbuster hits theaters on December 18. She will be involved in another multiverse-threatening event, and seemingly sliding into a villain role once again under Doom's influence.

As exciting as it is to have Scarlet Witch back in any capacity, the nature of her role in Avengers: Doomsday is a bigger deal than many may realize at first. Her presence gives more insight into Doom's plan. In a first for the MCU, the Avengers are going to encounter a true supervillain team.

Doctor Doom Is Assembling The MCU's First Supervillain Team

Throughout the MCU, the Avengers have encountered some formidable villains. Loki, Ultron, and Thanos each made saving the world a difficult task for Earth's Mightiest Heroes. But in each case, they primarily operated alone and without the aid of additional superpowers. Thanos is the arguable exception here, as he had Ebony Maw's telekinesis to aid him a few times. Each of them instead relied on having massive armies to support their plans.

Previously, it was assumed that Doom would follow a similar path. After all, Victor von Doom is known for creating Doombots in the comics, so he could very easily have an entire legion of robots at his command to fight the Avengers when the time comes in Doomsday. Scarlet Witch's confirmed return and recruitment by the Latverian ruler shows he's taking a different approach.

This is now the second time Marvel Studios has shown Doom collecting a powerful MCU hero ahead of Doomsday. The first instance came in Avengers Endgame: Encore's new scenes, which revealed Doom has also taken Hulk. Those two scenes confirm that a key part of Doom's plan to conquer the multiverse is getting some of Earth-616's most powerful characters to fight for him.

Doom, Hulk, and Scarlet Witch are officially the MCU's first supervillain team, then. The franchise has never united multiple "villains" like this before, and the Avengers have never had to fight a group of opponents with their combined strength. This becomes an exciting way for Avengers: Doomsday to still feel fresh.

Doctor Doom's Team Helps Avengers: Doomsday Break Away From The MCU Mold

One of the seemingly unavoidable clichés of the Avengers movies previously is that each main villain needed an expendable army of cannon fodder so the films could achieve the level of action desired. The Avengers would have ended a lot faster if Loki didn't have the Chitauri army to fight the original Avengers. The same is true for Avengers: Age of Ultron, as Ultron would've been defeated even faster if not for the Ultron Sentries. Thanos wouldn't have been able to acquire the Infinity Stones as easily if not for the Black Order and The Outriders on his side.

Doombots may still be in Avengers: Doomsday and prove to be Doom's solution to needing enough enemies for the Avengers, Thunderbolts, X-Men, and Fantastic Four to fight at once. However, Hulk and Scarlet Witch being on his side means that there will be some additional powerful characters that the heroes have to focus on defeating. Wanda and Hulk could take on most of the heroes by themselves, so they, paired with Doom, give the Avengers an incredibly difficult task.

This should ensure that Avengers: Doomsday's third act battle goes beyond senseless action. There should be real stakes at play as the heroes are forced to confront old friends, which could go beyond just Hulk and Scarlet Witch. Even if Doom holds no personal connection to Iron Man for the heroes to struggle with, they will be in a tough spot as they have to fight their former teammates to try and stop Doom's plan.

Other MCU Characters Who Could Be On Doctor Doom's Side

Doom, Scarlet Witch, and Hulk are about as powerful a trio as you can form in the MCU, but it would be a surprise if this was the end of the supervillain team. Victor is clearly going after people who are incredibly strong and who could disappear from the MCU timeline without anyone really noticing.

It seems inevitable that Doctor Strange will expand Doom's team to a quartet. He was last seen entering the Dark Dimension to stop an incursion with Clea. Strange is one of the only sorcerers with the power to potentially stand up to Doom, so it would make a ton of sense for Victor to pull him onto his side. He might not even have to force Stephen to do this, as the former surgeon has shown he's willing to make controversial decisions and sacrifice others if it keeps more people safe.

We also know that Doom has three Latverian witches on his side in Doomsday. One of these is surely Scarlet Witch. One is presumed to be Sandra Hüller's mystery character. The other could be anyone from Clea to Sylvie to Agatha to a revived Ancient One, assuming they are true "witches" and have some form of magical powers.

Doom's team could also be how some of Doomsday's other biggest missing MCU characters enter the equation. He may have taken Captain Marvel to keep her power from stopping him. Spider-Man could have even been a target. His search for powerful teammates could have even taken him to other universes, with Halle Berry's Storm or Famke Janssen's Jean Grey other formidable heroes he may not want to face.

In any case, Avengers: Doomsday's finale has become a whole lot more interesting now. Seeing the Avengers, Thunderbolts, X-Men, and Fantastic Four have to fight Doctor Doom, Scarlet Witch, Hulk, and possibly more secret team members is an exciting prospect that could deliver one of the biggest and craziest third acts in MCU history.

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  Victor von Doom

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  Reed Richards / Mr. Fantastic

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  Thor

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  Vanessa Kirby

  Sue Storm / Invisible Woman