Could 'Agatha: Darkhold Diaries' Be Adapting The 2016 'Scarlet Witch' Comic Run?

Agatha Harkness, a centuries-old witch and the ultimate villain of WandaVision, is considered by many to be one of the breakout characters of the MCU's Phase 4, helped greatly by Kathryn Hahn's memorable performance. So, it didn't take long for a spin-off series, with Hahn reprising the role of Agatha, to be confirmed. The series has been through a few different subtitles, first known as House of Harkness, then Coven of Chaos, before finally settling on the title Agatha: Darkhold Diaries earlier this year.

The series will see Agatha freed from the spell placed on her by Wanda Maximoff at the end of WandaVision, only to discover that she is now powerless. Agatha sets out to regain her powers, gathering a coven of unlikely allies along the way. Among these allies is Billy Kaplan, a teenage boy with magical potential who may be playing host to the reincarnated soul of Wanda's son, Billy Maximoff. The series will also see many of the residents of Westview, New Jersey, reprising their roles from WandaVision.

Through rumours and set pictures, fans are noticing elements and locations that seem to have been lifted from James Robinson's 2016 Scarlet Witch comic run. Given Marvel Studios' penchant for remixing and reimagining the comics, some even believe that Agatha: Darkhold Diaries could be adapting a version of that story. Here are a few clues that this could in fact be the case.

Agatha Harkness is a major character in that comic

The major overarching plot of the 2016 Scarlet Witch run featured Wanda on a globe-trotting adventure trying to fix a major issue with Earth's witchcraft. She is joined on this quest by the ghost of her long time mentor, Agatha Harkness. Wanda is responsible for Agatha's death, having murdered her during a period of mental instability at the beginning of the 'Avengers: Disassembled' storyline, and in a piece of recurring dark humour, regularly needles Wanda about this during her quest to save Witchcraft. Wanda, due the aforementioned mental instability, claims to have no memory of this murder.

It is isn't that difficult to imagine the story being reworked with Agatha at the centre, and 'saving witchcraft' shrinking in scale to simply saving Agatha's own magic. For MCU Agatha, who had been powerful for so long, being suddenly powerless would be akin to a sort of death, and she may tease and taunt Billy Kaplan for 'his Mother's' role in the loss of her powers. However, like Wanda in the comic, Billy wouldn't understand due to most likely not remembering the events of WandaVision.

Green Witch=Emerald Warlock

Darkhold Diaries is set to see fan favourite actress Aubrey Plaza join the MCU as a character called Rio Vidal. Rio is centuries old, and the very first Green Witch, a master of Earth magic. It is rumoured that she is a former lover of Agatha, and once belonged to a coven with Agatha and Patti Lupone's character, Lilia Calderu. Rio is also strongly believed to be the main villain of the series.

With this in mind, and the character's status as a Green Witch, some fans have come to the conclusion that Rio Vidal could be a loose adaptation of the Emerald Warlock, a recurring villain in the early part of the 2016 comic run.

Mommy Issues

A large part of James Robinson's Scarlet Witch comic involves Wanda delving into her past, including the previously untold story of her biological Mother, Natalya Maximoff, the original Scarlet Witch. Wanda learns that she and her twin brother, Pietro, were snatched at birth by the High Evolutionary. Natalya was killed while trying to rescue them, but Wanda meets a young Natalya while travelling the timeless realm of the Witches' Road.

Two characters in Darkhold Diaries could potentially have storylines dealing with their Mothers in the series. Kate Forbes, who played Agatha's Mother Evanora Harkness in a WandaVision flashback, is set to reprise her role in Darkhold Diaries. This suggests that there may be further flashbacks to Agatha's past in the new series, possibly exploring what the relationship between Mother and daughter was like before Agatha became corrupted by the Darkhold.

Meanwhile, Billy Kaplan may have to reckon with the possibility that he is the son of the Scarlet Witch in the series, and may even plan to seek her out for answers.

A Walk down the Witches' Road

In the 2016 Scarlet Witch comic, Wanda and Agatha venture onto the Witches' Road on multiple occasions, once to defeat the Emerald Warlock by luring him into the realm of the Mother Goddesses, and again to save the Goddess of Magic from a Chaos entity.

Thanks to set photos, we know that Agatha and her coven are set to visit the Witches' Road at some point during Agatha: Darkhold Diaries, although the reason for their visit is not yet clear.

Interestingly, it was rumoured some time ago that the Scarlet Witch's next appearance in the MCU would take place on the Witches' Road. Marvel have repeatedly denied Wanda Maximoff's appearance in this series, and according to the new official timeline book, the character is believed dead. However, a deleted Instagram comment thread between actor Asif Ali (who plays Abilash Tandon/'Norm') and a fan, in which Ali claims Wanda will appear, has sent the rumour mill back into overdrive.

A Tale of Redemption

In James Robinson's comic, Wanda sees her quest to save witchcraft as an important step on her path to redemption, following a memorable villainous turn in earlier stories. By the end of the tale, she is ready to rejoin the Avengers following a self-imposed extended absence from the team.

It is quite possible that Agatha: Darkhold Diaries could mark the beginning of a redemption arc for Agatha Harkness. She is now likely free from the influence of the Darkhold after Wanda destroyed it in Multiverse of Madness, and may slowly discover or remember that she was a different person without it.

It seems important at this point to note that in the comics, Agatha Harkness is not usually a villain. She is often mysterious, and will sometimes manipulate situations to her own ends, but ultimately she cares for and is a good mentor to Wanda. If Agatha does meet Wanda again on the Witches' Road in Darkhold Diaries, it may actually be the beginning of an MCU redemption for both characters, placing them on a path towards the Mentor-Student role they traditionally share in the comics.

Even if it is not a direct adaptation of the 2016 Scarlet Witch run, Agatha: Darkhold Diaries has definitely borrowed elements from it, and will absolutely be one to watch when the series hits screens in 2024.