WANDAVISION Star Elizabeth Olsen Explains Why Marvel Is "Not Really The Art That I Consume"

Avengers: Endgame and WandaVision star Elizabeth Olsen has explained why, despite being grateful for her role as the Scarlet Witch, Marvel fare isn't necessarily "the art that I consume." Check ot out...

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By JoshWilding - Apr 05, 2025 04:04 AM EST

Filed Under: WandaVision

Elizabeth Olsen first played Wanda Maximoff in 2014's Captain America: The Winter Soldier. That was only a post-credits scene cameo, and she took centre stage in Avengers: Age of Ultron the next year.

From there, Olsen has become an MCU mainstay, appearing in both those franchises and as the lead of Disney+'s critically acclaimed WandaVision. The Scarlet Witch was last seen going rogue in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Olsen has never hidden her gratitude for the opportunities Marvel Studios has offered, but we know she's more inclined to star in indie fare. The actress acknowledged that in a recent interview with NPR.

"I think I haven’t always successfully made choices in my work that are aligned with my personal taste and that is something I feel like I’m still trying to prove when I meet people," she said of how her role as Scarlet Witch has changed the way people perceive her. "Especially if it’s a work type meeting and be able to express my personal taste in films and literature, and so I still think I have that to prove."

Olsen continued, "Because I have spent so many years doing Marvel that I feel like all the other jobs I have to do have to really reflect my personal taste because as much as I love being a part of this world - and I’m proud of what I’ve been able to do with the character - it’s not really the art that I consume. Which I have been very honest about."

The Captain America: Civil War star has received plenty of acclaim for her work as Wanda in the MCU, including an Emmy nomination for WandaVision. That's not lost on Olsen, and elsewhere in the interview, she talked about what drew her to Marvel in the first place.

"I thought they were such great Greek-type scale stories that reflected politics, culture in a really lovely way," she recalled. "And so I felt really proud to jump into it. And then, within the last 10 years, it’s taken on this narrative of like, it’s like a hot take, whether an actor says they want to, they would never do a Marvel movie or not."

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' approach to Wanda following her evolution into the Scarlet Witch in WandaVision didn't sit well with many fans. Writer Michael Waldron turned Wanda into a villain and enraged countless fans by seemingly killing the Avenger during the action-packed final act.

Rumours continue to swirl about a potential Scarlet Witch movie, and it's previously been reported that Wanda will make her MCU return in Avengers: Doomsday. Olsen has repeatedly denied that, though we'd imagine the character's return will be handled as a "surprise," seeing as she is meant to be dead.

It's hard to fathom the Scarlet Witch not playing a role in the next Avengers movies, especially as she's immensely powerful and has already torn through the Multiverse. It's been said that Wanda will be aligned with Doctor Doom, with Marvel Studios taking inspiration from the Avengers: The Children's Crusade comic.

You can watch the full interview with Olsen in the player below.

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28 Comments

ObserverIO - 4/5/2025, 4:33 AM

Glad to see her call out that trendy hot take of "Oh I'd never do a comic book movie that's beneath me," it's such a snobbish response. It's good to see that, even though it's not the art she consumes day-to-day (she called it "Art"😁) that she respects the material and recognises it's significance.

TDKRnry88 - 4/5/2025, 7:42 AM

@ObserverIO - "(she called it "Art"😁)"

Hmmm... well it IS a type of art, just like there's a Michelangelo painting & a Jim Lee splash page. Different types of art & one is an absolute masterpiece of beauty while the other is very striking & colorful, but it's art regardless. When at these movies are at their best, they're like Alex Ross, Lee Bermejo or Gabriele DelL'Otto. When they're slop, then... they're crappy art.

dragon316 - 4/5/2025, 8:02 AM

@ObserverIO - what material good vs bad goodd always win with comics different characters all time

DarthOmega - 4/5/2025, 9:46 AM

@ObserverIO - I thought actors would drop that crap once the likes of Anthony Hopkins, Angela Bassett, Morgan Freeman, Robert Redford joined the world of CBMs. We already had Alfred Molina, Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen. We now even have Denzel freaking Washington. If all of them could do it, then who the hell do you think you are lol.

Super12 - 4/5/2025, 1:06 PM

@ObserverIO - Yup, agreed. Classy, respectable answer. She doesn't put down the genre, in fact defends it, while still saying its not her personal cup of tea and wants to break out more. Cool.

MotherGooseUPus - 4/5/2025, 1:45 PM

@DarthOmega - BINGO!

IAmAHoot - 4/5/2025, 4:42 AM

If you’re a carpenter, building IKEA furniture can always be exceptionally rewarding and terribly fun, but building the real deal furniture from scratch is probably your passion. There is difference in the kind of acting she gets to do with these different sorts of movies, and the real fulfilling in-depth work often doesn’t come with these Marvel blockbusters just by nature of the productions.

SonOfAGif - 4/5/2025, 2:00 PM

@IAmAHoot - She's basically saying that when she plays Wanda she is limited in what she can bring to that character due to Wanda being the same in each entry. So when she gets a different role outside of Wanda she can really explore her range as an actress.

MartianManHuntr - 4/5/2025, 5:07 AM

Fans will unnecessary be up in arms if some actors, writers or directors say that they don't care about their comicbook characters.

Everyone one does some job which is just paycheck and there is nothing wrong with it.

Only 5-10% comicbook movies are good, rest are just garbage. Recent Spider-Man made bank but that movie was garbage and there is nothing wrong if some writer or director points that out.

TDKRnry88 - 4/5/2025, 7:29 AM

@MartianManHuntr - You had me until you called No Way Home garbage. Is it great? No. The 1st half could have been a little harder hitting. Garbage? Not at all.

MartianManHuntr - 4/5/2025, 11:55 AM

@TDKRnry88 - In my humble opinion it was garbage. There was no story there, just bunch of cameos.

JurassicClunge - 4/5/2025, 5:40 AM

How dare she!

I'd rather hear from Gwyneth Paltrow!.

she's a true fan 😌😌😌

Skestra - 4/5/2025, 11:13 AM

@JurassicClunge - This gets my vote for best post of the day.

JurassicClunge - 4/5/2025, 12:34 PM

@Skestra - why thank you sir!🫡🫡🫡😌

MadThanos - 4/5/2025, 6:08 AM

What drew her to Marvel in the first place? The desperation to be relevant in this industry.

Thing94 - 4/5/2025, 6:55 AM

It's definitely the cash you receive tho

harryba11zack - 4/5/2025, 7:24 AM

it cause shes not a phucking nerd and she knows its shit

she probably won't marry me

dagenspear - 4/5/2025, 7:44 AM

Say as a young child she and her brother were swapped into other bodies and use this to bring back Quicksilver, recasting both:

Jenna Kanell or Marisa Abela or Emmy Rossum as Wanda Maximoff

Fabien Frankel as Pietro Maximoff/Quicksilver

ObserverIO - 4/5/2025, 1:37 PM

@dagenspear - Good choices. But they don't really need a convoluted in-story reason to recast beyond Secret Wars. I mean other than the convoluted in-story reason that Secret Wars already provides that is.

dragon316 - 4/5/2025, 8:05 AM

She does make good point will ferrall unfunny he is did some serious unfunny movies which I like look at Liam neeeson no one expect him do Lethal weapon remake

TheVisionary25 - 4/5/2025, 8:10 AM

I think that’s perfectly fine & understandable..

She didn’t diss the genre or the projects she has done for Marvel so far but just said that it isn’t really her thing which is fair since it doesn’t appeal to everyone just like I’m sure the art that appeals to her may or may not to us.

Everyone’s got their own tastes & sensibilities so as long as we were respectful about that to each other then it’s ok I think.

bobevanz - 4/5/2025, 8:35 AM

The only actor who probably actually wanted to be a superhero is the Ms. Marvel actor, everyone else likes money and sometimes to pretend. Obviously you don't want to do this forever, actors don't really do it for the money. That's a perk. RDJ winning the Oscar for Oppenheimer was probably and eye opener for all of them. Chris Evans hasn't been in a good movie since Knives Out. Sebastian Stan will be just fine. People like Mackie are [frick]ed long term. Cbm's aren't art, they're content. I'd argue only a fee are actual art. Like Infinity War and The Dark Knight

DarthOmega - 4/5/2025, 9:52 AM

Actors are there to act.

Not read a hundred comics. Not realize every arc of their characters over the course of 50 years of publication history. Not to even like the character they're portraying. When you read the script, all you need to understand is that character on that page.

If reading a hundred comics helps, then by all means read it. Some amazing stories there. But it's not a mandate. Elizabeth is awesome in the MCU. I don't think she gets enough credit.

MakeAmericaGrea - 4/5/2025, 9:55 AM

Not enough deviancy for her.

McMurdo - 4/5/2025, 10:16 AM

They ruined her char and she's now uninterested.

Typhoon20 - 4/5/2025, 11:19 AM

Whenever an actor talks about ''art'' it immediately makes me roll my eyes.
How pretentious can you be lol. The films can be art but you're pretending to be someone else. At least Tom Cruise is actually doing the thing and not even pretending. It's talent to be able to portray that but some of them are way too pretentious man. Directors create art so they can call it that but when it comes from actors it's just makes me roll my eyes.

Just say you do CBMs for the money and move on. We all know CBMs are shit for the most part but the continous cicle of I do this not because I want to because I have to is tiring while also getting paid big bucks in her and some others' case. Then just say you're done with CBMs and will never do them again and I would have actually respected that.

My fav quote when it comes to talented actors is ''You can pretend to be serious but you can't pretend to be funny''.
The real artists are the ones who can do both.

CreateNowSlpL8r - 4/5/2025, 12:42 PM

I wouldnt take her seriously. People forget, shes grown up in show business. Shes the same person who complained about Wanda's cleavage while showing her boobs in every red carpet. Shes married and getting older. Its normal to want to concentrate on different things but if they call, shes coming.

AllsNotGood - 4/5/2025, 1:08 PM

It's not art

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WANDAVISION Star Elizabeth Olsen Explains Why Marvel Is "Not Really The Art That I Consume"

Avengers: Endgame and WandaVision star Elizabeth Olsen has explained why, despite being grateful for her role as the Scarlet Witch, Marvel fare isn't necessarily "the art that I consume." Check ot out...

IRON MAN Star Faran Tahir Talks VISION Return, Working With James Spader, And 2008 Movie's Legacy (Exclusive)

Elizabeth Olsen Hints At - But Still Won't Confirm - MCU Return As The Scarlet Witch

DISCLAIMER: As a user generated site and platform, ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and "Safe Harbor" provisions.