5 Future MCU Properties For The Return Of WandaVision's Breakout Villain
Marvel Studios and Disney +'s WandaVision was a massive success for not only spotlighting supporting Avengers Scarlet Witch and The Vision but bringing yet another classic Marvel Comics villain to the screen in the form of acting veteran Kathryn Hahn (Step Brothers) 's devious witch Agatha Harkness, formerly known as Wanda's nosey neighbor Agnes.
Though Agatha managed to rival the Scarlet Witch herself in magical abilities, Marvel Studios wisely chose to keep Agatha's character on the table, leaving the newly introduced personality impotent yet available to appear for future storylines within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). However, with Marvel's slate of plans extending to 2023 and Scarlet Witch only confirmed for one film, the selection for Hahn to make a villainous (or friendly) return is somewhat limited. But, the MCU has long established a precedent for unlikely characters to show up where fans least expect.
5. What If? (2021)
Premiering sometime this summer on Disney +, Marvel Studios' first animated TV series What If will revisit several past MCU events, albeit with added twists to characters and storylines. Whether it occurs in the debut season or a follow-up, WandaVision's experimentation of the MCU formula makes it a natural candidate to be included at some point in the series. In order to do complete justice to the stories being screened in a new light, the show will see the return of several MCU favorites, voiced by their designated actors and actresses. Throughout WandaVision, Agatha Harkness frequently manipulated Wanda and quite nearly succeeded in her defeat of the young witch toward the series' end. A potential avenue could entail, "What if Agatha Stole the Magic of the Scarlet Witch?" The outcome would likely have been disastrous, but then viewers get to see more Kathryn Hahn chew up the scenery in the role so you have to take the good with the bad.
4. Loki (2021)
Similar to What If, June's Disney + TV series release Loki (starring Tom Hiddleston as the trickster god) will be an episodic adventure across various points in Marvel Cinematic Universe history. Alongside the time cops known as the Time Variance Authority, Loki will likely be helping to restore the damage inflicted onto separate timelines throughout the ever-shifting Marvel Multiverse. Now, Kathryn Hahn is currently not a part of the main Loki cast but there should exist a timeline wherein Agatha is not yet under Wanda's magical control. Aside from his deceased half-mother Frigga (Rene Russo) and the sorcerer Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), Loki has yet to meet another magic-user on his level and a malicious one at that. Fans cannot deny the possibility of having Loki teamed up with another magic user just as malicious if not more so than himself; the mischief that the two would have...
3. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Though Spider-Man may be a hero based in New York City's Queens, the nature of the superhero-infested world in which he occupies will occasionally take the teenage champion from the five boroughs to other realms entirely. Set for a tentative release of December 2021, No Way Home promises to have just as solid a connection with WandaVision as the next Doctor Strange film. WandaVision left off with Scarlet Witch and seemingly planning to locate her children, which may or may not require an attempt of colliding her world with another. A larger hint of this connection to WandaVision lies in two recent additions to the cast; Jamie Foxx as the electrical human conductor Electro and Alfred Molina as a gentle scientist turned eight-armed supervillain Doctor Octopus. Foxx and Molina are two former comic book movie, alumni having played and perished as central antagonists in separate Spidey franchises.
2. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
The clear and most likely immediate option for Agatha to make a follow-up appearance in spring 2022's Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, directed by Sam Raimi (remember him?). Not only will the film expand on the multiverse ideas referenced in WandaVision and the upcoming Loki series but will see WandaVision star Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) act as co-lead alongside actor Benedict Cumberbatch's titular Doctor Strange. The Scarlet Witch's journey on the show involving Agatha has set the witch in training on a greater path of unlocking the true potential within her. Now that Wanda has gained a new set of magical upgrades from Harkness's sinister book of forbidden magic known as the Darkhold, Wanda is now perhaps on equal footing with Strange himself. If Doctor Strange does end up on Scarlet Witch's bad side by chance, the good doctor may be in need of a stable insurance plan to take care of the Avenger... in the form of a nosy neighbor.
1. Fantastic Four (TBD)
In the world of Marvel Comics, Agatha Harkness was not introduced as the archenemy of Scarlet Witch but the elderly babysitter of Franklin Richards, the Fantastic Four's youngest family member. Though Agatha's Fantastic Four connection has diminished quite a bit in recent years, the team of adventurers will soon be making their way to the MCU. With her magical abilities all but extinguished, for the time being, Agatha may not find herself on the magical battlefield anytime soon. Depending on whether the Fantastic Four are introduced as established heroes with children in their first outing, Agatha can serve as a lynchpin to tie both the whimsical 9 episode Disney + series and new film together. An appearance from Westview's Agatha may even entice audiences to watch the latest entry of Marvel's First Family, after their three past box office misfires.
The benefit of Marvel Studios expanding their terrain to Disney + are the extended library of characters and stories that can be introduced, before setting them off into the feature films. After the praised reception of Kathryn Hahn's performance, it's not so much a question of if the character will return but when. Disney would be remiss in not attempting to top WandaVision's breakout hit.
Opinions and Perspectives
They could really expand on the witch community through her character. There must be more like her out there.
If they do bring her back for Fantastic Four, they need to keep her as complex as she was in WandaVision.
I just want more of those witty one-liners. Her dialogue was always so sharp and memorable.
Her powers combined with the multiverse could lead to some really interesting storylines.
Maybe they're saving her for something we don't even know about yet. Marvel always has surprises up their sleeve.
The fact that she survived WandaVision makes me think they have big plans for her.
I'm betting she shows up where we least expect her. That would be very on-brand for both the character and Marvel.
A prequel about the Salem witch trials would be fascinating, especially with her perspective.
I think she'll definitely be involved in whatever they do with the Darkhold moving forward.
The idea of her in What If is interesting, but I'd rather see her continue in the main timeline.
Whatever they do with her character, I just hope they keep that dark sense of humor.
Does anyone else think she might team up with Wanda eventually? They could be a powerful duo.
Her backstory episode was one of the best in WandaVision. I'd love to see more of that explored.
The best villains are the ones who think they're right, and Agatha definitely falls into that category.
I'm curious about how they'll handle her powers being suppressed. That's got to come into play somehow.
She brought such a fresh energy to the MCU. We need more characters like her.
Doctor Strange 2 seems like the obvious choice, which is exactly why I think they might do something else with her.
The Fantastic Four idea is interesting but I think it might be too soon to revisit that aspect of her character.
Her being trapped as Agnes is such a perfect setup for future stories. She's like a loaded gun waiting to go off.
I think they'll surprise us with where she shows up next. Marvel's good at subverting expectations.
Whoever made the decision to cast Kathryn Hahn deserves a raise. She was perfect.
They could use her in so many ways. That's what makes her such a great character to keep around.
We need to see more of her powers. The witch battle in WandaVision was just a taste of what she can do.
A Loki and Agatha team-up would be amazing, but I think she works better as a solo antagonist.
The chemistry between her and Elizabeth Olsen was amazing. They need to share more scenes together in whatever comes next.
I'm surprised they didn't mention the possibility of her getting her own Disney+ show. I'd definitely watch that.
Maybe she'll break free when Wanda starts messing with the multiverse. That would make sense.
The whole Darkhold storyline needs to be explored more. That book is too important to just disappear.
I'd actually love to see her in some kind of mentor role, but still maintaining her mischievous nature.
The fact that they left her alive means they definitely have plans for her. Marvel doesn't usually keep villains around without reason.
A What If episode where she successfully steals Wanda's powers would be absolutely terrifying and I need to see it.
Whatever they do, I just hope they don't water down her character. She needs to keep that edge that made her so compelling.
The Salem witch trials backstory was barely touched on. There's so much potential there for a standalone series.
I'd love to see her interact with other magic users in the MCU. Not just Strange and Wanda, but maybe some new ones too.
The multiverse angle gives them so many options. We could even see multiple versions of Agatha.
We're all forgetting that she's still trapped in Westview as Agnes. That has to be addressed at some point.
I actually think introducing her to the Fantastic Four as a villain first, then revealing her babysitter connection later would be clever.
Doctor Strange needs powerful allies and enemies. Agatha could be either one, which makes her return in that film so intriguing.
If she shows up in Fantastic Four, I hope they modernize her role. The whole elderly babysitter thing feels dated.
The article makes some good points but I think there are even more possibilities than what they listed.
Honestly, I just want to see more of those catchy songs. It was the best part of WandaVision!
The Darkhold is definitely going to play a bigger role in future stories. I bet that's how they'll bring her back.
What If seems like the safest bet to me. They could experiment with her character without affecting the main timeline.
I think they'll save her for something big. Her character is too good to waste on a small cameo.
A Loki and Agatha team-up would be absolutely chaotic and I'm here for it. Their personalities would clash in the best possible way.
The way Kathryn Hahn played both Agnes and Agatha was brilliant. I'd watch her in literally anything they put her in.
Am I the only one who wants to see her remain a villain? I feel like they might try to redeem her, but her being evil was so much fun.
Everyone keeps talking about Doctor Strange 2, but I think having her in What If would give us a chance to see different sides of her character.
The Fantastic Four angle is interesting but I worry it might diminish her character development from WandaVision. She's way more than just a babysitter now.
I really want to see her original backstory with the Salem witch trials explored more. Maybe they could do that in a prequel series?
You've got a point about Spider-Man being too crowded, but remember how interconnected Phase 4 is supposed to be. I wouldn't rule anything out.
Not sure about her being in Spider-Man. That feels like a bit of a stretch to me, considering how packed that movie already seems.
The Loki series would be perfect for her! Can you imagine the chaos of Loki and Agatha working together? That's something I'd definitely want to watch.
I actually disagree about Doctor Strange 2 being the best option. I think having her in What If would be more interesting. We could see what would happen if she actually succeeded in taking Wanda's powers.
Does anyone else think she might show up in Loki? The time travel aspect could be really interesting with her character.
The Fantastic Four connection actually makes a lot of sense. I never knew she was originally Franklin's babysitter in the comics. That would be such a clever way to bring her back!
I absolutely loved Kathryn Hahn as Agatha! Her performance was just incredible. I'm really hoping we'll see her in Doctor Strange 2, especially with all the multiverse stuff happening.