Is the MCU's Scarlet Witch Immortal?

The Immortality of Scarlet Witch

Marvel Studios' What If...? season 2 may have unveiled a surprising revelation about Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Despite her apparent demise in Phase 4, the series hints at the possibility of Scarlet Witch being immortal.

Kahhori in What If...? season 2 episode 6

Elizabeth Olsen made her debut as Wanda Maximoff, a.k.a. the Scarlet Witch, in the post-credits scene of 2014's Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Since then, she has evolved from an Avenger to a fugitive and even a villain in 2022's Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. However, a previously-unseen ability for Wanda Maximoff may have just been revealed, suggesting that her journey in the MCU is far from over.

Wanda Maximoff looking at the Mind Stone in WandaVision

Despite speculation surrounding Elizabeth Olsen's return as the Scarlet Witch in the MCU's live-action future, her role has already been reprised in Marvel Studios' What If...? season 2, which premiered on December 22, 2023. This season has introduced new variant heroes into the MCU's Phase 5, shedding light on the potential longevity of the Scarlet Witch.

Kahhori landing on a ship in What If...? season 2 episode 6

What If...? Hints at Immortality

In episode 6 of What If...? season 2, titled 'What If... Kahhori Reshaped the World?,' a new character named Kahhori, voiced by Devery Jacobs, is transported to Sky World, a place affected by the Space Stone energy contained within the Tesseract. Within Sky World, residents who have been exposed to the Tesseract-infused Forbidden Lake have been gifted remarkable abilities, including a regenerative healing factor and a halt in the aging process.

Atahraks in What If...? season 2 episode 6

Kahhori learns from another superpowered resident, Atahraks, that those with these abilities no longer experience aging and consequently do not die. This revelation raises the question of whether the Infinity Stones, including the Mind Stone that empowered Scarlet Witch, bestow immortality upon individuals. If so, this could suggest that the Scarlet Witch possesses an elongated lifespan, hinting at her potential return despite her apparent demise in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Kahhori lifting a creature in What If...? season 2 episode 6

Implications and Retcons

The potential revelation of Scarlet Witch's immortality raises intriguing implications for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. If the Mind Stone, which enhanced Wanda Maximoff's abilities, also grants immortality, it could explain the possibility of her survival beyond Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Kahhori with the Tesseract portal in What If...? season 2 episode 6

However, this revelation poses a challenge to the narrative of the MCU's Phase 2, particularly with the conventional death of Pietro Maximoff, also known as Quicksilver, who gained his abilities from the Mind Stone. The apparent contradiction between Pietro's mortality and the potential immortality of Scarlet Witch presents an intriguing conundrum that could be addressed in future episodes of What If...? season 2.