Unearthed concept art showcases chilling alternate designs for evil Scarlet Witch portrated by Elizabeth Olsen in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
In the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe, character designs play a crucial role in conveying the essence of the story. Elizabeth Olsen‘s portrayal of Wanda Maximoff, aka Scarlet Witch, in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness brought a chilling and corrupted version of the character to life. However, recently unearthed concept art from the film’s production reveals a different and even more menacing take on her evil persona.
Rejected Designs
In Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness – The Art of the Movie book, several rejected designs for the evil Scarlet Witch were unveiled, shedding light on the creative process behind bringing this character to the screen.
The first design maintains the signature black veins from the Darkhold’s influence, symbolizing Wanda’s struggle against her corrupted self.!
Another design presents Scarlet Witch as a vessel completely possessed by the Darkhold’s influence, appearing more like a ragged shell than a person.!
A third concept merges elements of Wanda’s original self with the darkness, showing her still succumbing to the malevolent forces.!
The artwork evolves to portray the evil spell book’s influence overwhelming Wanda, causing her transformation.!
The final image takes the darkness to the extreme, making Wanda appear horrifying and almost unrecognizable.!
Marvel Studios pushed the boundaries even further with this nightmarish version of the Scarlet Witch, creating a truly terrifying look.!
Notably, these designs work to seamlessly blend Wanda’s tiara into a more demonic appearance.!
Interestingly, some of these concepts bear a resemblance to Lilith, Mother of Demons, a prominent villain in the recent Marvel video game Midnight Suns.!
Untapped Potential
These discarded concept illustrations demonstrate the missed opportunities in exploring Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch’s transformation in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. While the film hinted at the Darkhold’s influence visually, it could have delved even deeper into these terrifying designs.
Although these extreme versions were likely intended for a mind sequence within Professor Xavier’s head, they could have enriched the film by showcasing the gradual and horrifying transformation of Wanda under the Darkhold’s sway. Imagine the suspense of witnessing one of these nightmarish Scarlet Witch iterations facing off against an undead Doctor Strange in the film’s finale.
However, the chance to explore such a demonic-looking Scarlet Witch may have passed. In future MCU installments, the focus is likely to shift towards her redemption arc and reuniting her with her reincarnated son.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness offers a captivating glimpse into the world of the MCU, and these concept designs underscore the intricate thought process behind character development in this cinematic universe.