Marvel Comics May Have Just Re-introduced The Perfect Villain For A Scarlet Witch Solo Movie

For years now, fans have expressed a desire for an MCU solo film for Wanda Maximoff, aka the Scarlet Witch. These desires increased after the success of the Disney Plus limited series WandaVision, and ever since, rumours have swirled that a film was in development.

While Wanda's supposed death in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness would appear to have put an end to any solo film plans, few believe that the character is actually dead, and a few remaining empty slots along Marvel Studios' current release schedule have kept fans hoping that a film is still in the works. If such a film is eventually made, Marvel Comics may have just re-introduced the perfect villain for it.. The Scarlet Witch herself.

Let us explain.

Meet Lore

First introduced in issue #1 of the 1993 Scarlet Witch comic run, Lore is a dark variant of the Scarlet Witch, hailing from an alternate universe where Necromancy, the practice of raising or communicating with the dead, is common. Like the Wanda Maximoff of Marvel Comics core 616 reality, Lore is the Nexus being of her universe, but despite being variants of the same person, that is where the major similarities between 616 Wanda and Lore end. Lore jumps between realities, stealing the spirits of other Nexus beings and claiming their powers for her own.

Lore planned this fate for the 616 Scarlet Witch as well, however, unknowingly linked across worlds through magic, Wanda senses the demise of Lore's previous victim, a Witch-Queen named Eleyne, and as such, she is more prepared fore Lore's arrival than her earlier targets. Thrown when the Scarlet Witch proves a tougher opponent than she expected, Lore summons the spirits of the Nexus beings she has absorbed to gain the upperhand, but this plan backfires when the spirits turn on Lore, seeking revenge for their deaths. With this spiritual assist, Wanda is able to end Lore as a continuing threat.. at least until a recently revealed new design confirmed the character's impending return.

Look Familiar?

Lore is set to reappear in Scarlet Witch #3, due for release in August 2024, with a new redesign by the book's lead artist, Russell Dauerman. While 616 Wanda's current design is 'magical, vibrant, and super heroic', Dauerman understandably went in the opposite direction with Lore, drawing the evil variant as 'dark and sinister, with a goth, undead vibe'.

Many have noted the similarity between Lore's new design and the Darkhold-corrupted Scarlet Witch in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. On top of this, at least one variant cover showcasing Lore has been drawn bearing more than a passing resemblance to Elizabeth Olsen, who plays Wanda Maximoff in the MCU.

Some fans wonder if the resemblance is intentional, and Lore is being set up for an MCU appearance.

Why Lore could be the perfect villain for a 'Scarlet Witch' solo movie

Well, there's no denying that when she isn't on your side, the Scarlet Witch is a dangerous opponent. In fact, notably, in neither film in which she appears as an antagonist has her dealt with by defeat. In Avengers: Age of Ultron she causes a number of mind manipulation issues before switching sides near the end of the film, while in Multiverse of Madness, she singlehandedly destroys both Kamar-Taj and the Illuminati of universe 838, before she gives up her dark crusade on her own during the film's climax, purging the multiverse of the Darkhold.

Any villain in a Scarlet Witch solo film would need to be a threat equal to or greater than Wanda herself. Given how powerful she is, a variant of herself, like Lore, is one of only a few workable options, especially if they want to save a bigger name Big Bad, like Mephisto or the demon Chthon, for a potential sequel.

An MCU version of Lore could also be reworked into a more introspective journey for Wanda, as a physical manifestation of her own dark side rather than a variant. She must purge the darkness within herself before she will feel free to fully pursue a path to redemption. This would be somewhat in line with the 2016 Scarlet Witch comic run, during which, alongside a journey to save Witchcraft, Wanda works through many of her personal issues, eventually reaching a place where she feels ready to rejoin the Avengers.

There are some great Scarlet Witch stories with big screen potential. We'll just have to wait and see what unfolds.