Elizabeth Olsen’s Wanda Maximoff has become a prominent character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe over the past few years. WandaVision helped Marvel fans connect with her on a whole different level, and introduced the world to her Scarlet Witch avatar. It was the standalone project she rightfully deserved, giving fans insight into her backstory. What Marvel needs to focus on next is giving Wanda her own story moving forward.

As part of the MCU, some characters have received the recognition a hero deserves. But, there are still some that hide in the shadows of the more prominent heroes. Scarlett Johansson’s Natasha Romanoff is the perfect example of a character who was overshadowed for years, before finally getting Black Widow as a standalone project. The studio should avoid the same mistake when it comes to Wanda and should make an effort to establish her story beyond WandaVision and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

RELATED: New Doctor Strange 2 Featurette Spotlights The WandaVision Connection

How Black Widow Was Mishandled In The MCU

Johansson’s Romanoff first appeared in 2010’s Iron Man 2 and went on to become an integral part of the MCU over the course of the following decade. She has since appeared in at least eight other MCU films, before making her final appearance in 2021’s Black Widow. For years, she was added to the cast roster on multiple films, but was never the lead protagonist. She was a part of all The Avengers movies, and also played important roles in standalone projects of other heroes, including Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, and Captain Marvel.

Natasha Romanoff appearing as Black Widow in Iron Man 2

Every time Romanoff appeared onscreen, fans wondered whether she would ever get her own standalone film. For years, fans and critics praised Johansson’s portrayal of the character, and the actress showed up time and again to bring Romanoff to life for various MCU projects. But Marvel waited too long to give her a solo movie. Similar to other heroes, like Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark and Chris Evans' Steve Rogers, Romanoff deserved the opportunity to tell her backstory. She was a part of the original Avengers in the MCU, but fans didn’t learn about how she got there or what her background was until 2021.

Before Black Widow released, Romanoff’s character arc had already come to an end with 2019’s Avengers: Endgame. In order to undo Thanos’ Snap from Avengers: Infinity War, Romanoff puts together a team of Avengers along with Captain America and organizes the Time Heist to retrieve the different Infinity Stones. With Jeremy Renner’s Clint Barton, Romanoff travels to Vormir to get the Soul Stone, but in order to do so, they have to make a deal with the Red Skull. Despite Barton’s disapproval, Romanoff sacrifices herself so that her team of heroes can obtain the Soul Stone and carry on with their mission of saving humanity.

Black Widow sacrifice in Avengers Endgame

The Soul Stone is just one of the six Infinity Stones, and in the comics, it has been under the Red Skull’s protection since 1945. In 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War, Thanos sacrificed his daughter Gamora to obtain the stone. However, Zoe Saldaña’s character returned in Avengers: Endgame due to the time travel. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like Johansson’s Romanoff will ever be receiving the same treatment. Fans thought they had seen the last of her in the 2019 film, but her standalone film arrived two years later.

Yet though Romanoff finally got her standalone film in the form of Black Widow, it felt like an afterthought on Marvel’s part. The character was already dead in the MCU’s timeline, and the film was just a way to offer closure to the fans. Her backstory should have been explored a long time ago, not a decade after she first became a part of the MCU. Many fans complained that it was too little, too late. It’s unfortunate that the popular film then led to some controversy as well, with Johansson launching a lawsuit against Disney over payment disputes.

How Can Wanda's Story Be Different?

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Wanda was first introduced in 2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier as part of the film's mid-credits scene. She later appeared in four MCU films, including Avengers: Age of Ultron, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. She has most recently been seen playing an integral role in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. However, there are no talks of a solo movie and so far, it seems like she will just be a part of other heroes' stories. This was exactly the mistake that Marvel made with Black Widow. Marvel should be more proactive with Wanda’s story, and not repeat the same mistake that they made with Natasha Romanoff.

While WandaVision was a step in the right direction, it was once again brought to fruition several years after Wanda’s first MCU appearance. The Disney Plus series received fantastic reviews, and fans loved the first Marvel series, which also launched Phase 4 of the MCU. Judging by its popularity, it is obvious that fans would appreciate seeing Wanda on her own. She is one of the most powerful characters in the MCU, even more so after coming into her Scarlet Witch avatar, and can easily stand her own against mighty villains. Therefore, it makes sense to offer her a standalone film and allow her to go on her own journey, without having to rely on other Avengers.

Wanda Scarlet Witch Cropped

Even though her role in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is far more important than any of her other MCU appearances, it is ultimately a film meant to further the story of Benedict Cumberbatch’s titular character. With Multiverse now at play, it seems like crossovers are becoming more common in the MCU and the perfect formula for success. Spider-Man: No Way Home was the previous film that brought multiple heroes together, and it is now one of the biggest films in Hollywood history. The expectations for the Doctor Strange sequel are also quite high, and Wanda could be credited for some of its success. But, is that enough? Or should she feature in a solo film to really explore her characer?

WandaVision is streaming on Disney Plus.

MORE: Will Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness Explain Its Connections to WandaVision?