Elizabeth Olsen says Marvel killed other movie roles but offered job security


Wanda Maximoff’s role in the MCU continues to grow now that she’s accepted her role as the chaotic Scarlet Witch. However, the character’s expanding role does come with a caveat as Elizabeth Olsen reveals she has lost a number of acting jobs due to her contract with Marvel Studios.

Olsen’s lost roles

Despite major roles in WandaVision and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Olsen says her part in the MCU meant not taking more meaningful jobs. Olsen mentions how she lost a big acting role in Yorgos Lanthimos' critically acclaimed The Lobster in 2015 due to her Marvel contract, leaving her feeling “heartbroken” and “frustrated” over the matter.

The actress admits that staying with Marvel gave her job security but limited what roles she could realistically star in. Prior to her MCU work, Olsen starred in indie movies, blockbusters like Godzilla and even odd films like Spike Lee’s awful remake of Oldboy.

While Olsen is becoming more comfortable with Marvel and even likes the character of Wanda Maximoff, she does want to take part in more movie roles.

“I started to feel frustrated,” Olsen tells The New York Times. “I had this job security but I was losing these pieces that I felt were more part of my being. And the further I got away from that, the less I became considered for it.”

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WandaVision was a massive moment for Olsen's Scarlet Witch.

Read More:Elizabeth Olsen thought Avengers: Endgame was going to be a huge flop

WandaVision and staying with the MCU

Originally, Elizabeth Olsen’s contract as Wanda Maximoff was limited to two movies and a cameo. All of these were fulfilled with the subsequent releases of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers: Age of Ultron, and Captain America: Civil War. While Olsen could have left and ventured into more indie movies, the actress opted to stay after hearing Kevin Feige’s pitch for WandaVision.

Marvel’s WandaVision was one of the studio’s more creative projects, experimenting with the sitcom genre while delving into Wanda’s psyche. The Disney+ series was risky but allowed for some creative freedom and that’s what Olsen liked about the role. It hit two birds with one stone by giving Wanda character development while also turning her into the Scarlet Witch and setting up the Doctor Strange sequel.

"We thought what we were doing was so weird and didn't know if we had an audience for it, so there was a freedom to it," Elizabeth said. "There was no pressure, no fear. It was a really healthy experience."

Elizabeth Olsen’s MCU future

Though the actress does have her grievances, Elizabeth Olsen is open to doing more MCU work. For example, the actress has confirmed that due wants to work with the X-Men as well as helm a solo Scarlet Witch movie. However, Olsen says latter idea would need to have a great story. Echoing the thoughts of many Marvel critics, Olsen says that the MCU is at its best when servicing a story and not a contract.

“I think I would,” Olsen said. “But it really needs to be a good story. I think these films are best when it’s not about creating content, but about having a very strong point of view — not because you need to have a three-picture plan.”

Fans can see how Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch does in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. This loving tribute to all things Marvel is now showing in cinemas.

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