Elizabeth Olsen's meteoric rise from Avengers support to MCU's top diva

There was a time, not so long ago, when Elizabeth Olsen played the soft-spoken Wanda Maximoff, a side character in the colossal Avengers franchise. Fast forward a bit, and the onset of 2021 saw her rising like a phoenix with WandaVision, becoming an overnight sensation. The mere mention of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) today inevitably brings Elizabeth to the forefront. The ripple effect that WandaVision created was undeniable. "I’m still surprised by the 'WandaVision' response. It was a shocker," confessed Olsen, reminiscing her journey from films to TV, as reported by The Washington Post. This fresh Disney Plus series was the first of its kind, and with it came the daunting challenge of not knowing how the audience would react. The result? A smashing hit.

The aftermath of WandaVision's success was Olsen diving straight into the making of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. “The response from 'WandaVision,' I think, is an incredible fuel for this film,” she reflected, highlighting the newfound set of expectations that came her way.

Also read: Elizabeth Olsen clapped back at Marvel critics, Martin Scorsese & Francis Ford Coppola 

An artist's experimental realm

What was groundbreaking about WandaVision was its experimental nature. A platform where, according to Olsen, they could risk failure. “I felt like we were in a place where we could fail. It felt very freeing," she recollected with a touch of nostalgia. It wasn't just about showcasing Wanda but revealing the myriad layers to her persona. The metamorphosis of Wanda from the series to Doctor Strange was thus envisioned to be non-repetitive, intense, and emphatic.

With the advent of multiverse plots in MCU movies like Spider-Man: No Way Home and the Doctor Strange sequel, Olsen hopes for these stories to possess a depth beyond mere superhero antics. “As long as these films continue to mean something... then if the stories are worth telling then they make an impact," she remarked, acknowledging Marvel Studios President, Kevin Feige's vision.

Also read: 'I Just Want to Come Back': Elizabeth Olsen Teases Scarlet Witch’s Mysterious MCU Future 

Cumberbatch & Olsen: A marvelous duo

Elizabeth's collaboration with Benedict Cumberbatch in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was a compelling dynamic. "They’re both kind of independents in a way," she mused, hinting at the exciting chemistry in the film. After all, Olsen's rise might be new, but her dedication to her craft and her characters is time-tested. The real question that now lingers in the air: Where can the Scarlet Witch go from here? As time has shown, with Elizabeth Olsen in the role, the sky's the limit.

(Several parts of the text in this article, including the title, were generated with the help of an AI tool.)