This Person Must Lead Every Scarlet Witch Project From Now On

Wanda Maximoff’s return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) feels imminent, with Kevin Feige hinting it’s only a matter of when and how. Elizabeth Olsen is likely to return in a standalone Scarlet Witch movie, or possibly a second season of WandaVision. But whatever the project, one Marvel Studios writer/producer should be involved — ideally in a leading role.

In her last appearance in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Wanda sacrifices herself to destroy Mount Wundagore and destroy every copy of the Darkhold across the multiverse. Even Agatha All Along suggests that Wanda is gone for good. But in the MCU, no one is ever truly “dead,” especially with the multiverse still in play. So, imagining a “Scarlet Witch will return” title card has appeared, who should take the reins of her next project? The answer lies in looking back at someone who led the teams of both WandaVision and Agatha All Along: Jac Schaeffer.

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Who Should Oversee All Scarlet Witch Projects From Now?

Marvel Studios doesn’t need to look any further than Jac Schaeffer for any upcoming project involving the Scarlet Witch. As the creator of WandaVision and Agatha All Along, Schaeffer has proven her mettle, and the universal acclaim of both shows is proof of her talent. Her presence is crucial for any future film or series featuring the sorceress or related characters. In fact, if a standalone Scarlet Witch film is in the works, there’s a strong case for Schaeffer to take on the director’s role.

Although Wanda has been a significant presence in the franchise since her debut in Avengers: Age of Ultron, her arc arguably peaked in WandaVision, largely thanks to Schaeffer and her team of writers. As head writer and showrunner, she clearly understood the character and her potential. Schaeffer also excelled at adding other comic-related characters to the mix, such as Agatha Harkness — so much so that she went on to successfully lead Agatha’s spinoff series. She also seems adept at handling magic and witchcraft elements in the MCU, which establishes her potential for long-term involvement.

Jac Schaeffer Is Key To Wanda’s Future In The MCU

It’s worth noting that Jac Schaeffer wasn’t part of the crew for Multiverse of Madness — and that film, while decent, didn’t quite do justice to Wanda or her arc. This underlines just how essential Schaeffer is and will be for every Wanda-focused project going forward. In fact, there’s a growing buzz among fans on social media suggesting that Marvel should make her a Kevin Feige-like figure, overseeing not only the Maximoff family storylines, but also other key television projects. Many fans already see her absence from the upcoming Vision Quest show on Disney+ as a letdown.

Right now, even more than WandaVision, the success of Agatha All Along’s debut season is a sign of Jac Schaeffer’s growing demand. She didn’t just serve as head writer for that series; she also directed three episodes, including the notable episode 7, “Death’s Hand in Mine.” A standalone Wanda movie could bring in characters from AAA, such as Agatha, Teen (Billy Maximoff), and Aubrey Plaza’s Rio/Lady Death. It would set them up for exciting MCU prospects like Midnight Sons or even the Young Avengers. Not to mention, this could all tie into the upcoming Doomsday and Secret Wars events.

Could Schaeffer Take On A Larger Marvel Studios Role?

Schaeffer’s role in major Avengers projects could resemble how James Gunn served as an Executive Producer on Infinity War and Endgame, as a credit to how well he handled his Guardians of the Galaxy characters. Her record with MCU films, as the original writer for Black Widow and her uncredited writing additions to Captain Marvel, didn’t get off to the best start. However, after WandaVision earned an impressive twenty-three Emmy nominations (the most for any limited series that year), Schaeffer will now likely have more authority and autonomy within Marvel Studios.

There’s also the (somewhat far-fetched) potential for WandaVision to be renewed for another season if the standalone film idea doesn’t work out. Schaeffer even commented on this back in a 2021 interview with The Hollywood Reporter:

I cannot talk about a second season. That really fits in with the Marvel philosophy. Kevin is so great at coming out and being like, ‘Here’s what’s happening!’ to a point. ‘Here’s the field, and this is where the field drops off.’ A second season is not something that can be discussed that’s on the field quite yet.

The MCU is no longer the relatively simple universe it was a decade ago, when it focused on six or more Avengers and a singular threat to the planet. Now, with the multiverse and a growing list of heroes and their variants, it’s becoming a challenge to keep track of everything. Having someone like Jac Schaeffer take creative control over a specific type of Marvel project, such as supernatural stories, could help ease the burden on Kevin Feige. Regardless, the bottom line is clear: the MCU can’t afford to pursue any future Scarlet Witch story without Schaeffer’s involvement in some capacity.

Release Date

January 15, 2021

Creator

Jac Schaeffer

Network

Disney Channel