Elizabeth Olsen Reveals Why She Keeps Returning to the MCU

Elizabeth Olsen, known for enchanting audiences as Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch, isn’t saying goodbye to the Marvel Cinematic Universe just yet.

During a chat with Vulture, Olsen opened up about why she keeps reprising her role in the blockbuster franchise. Spoiler: it’s not just about the super-powered thrills but the creative freedom it allows her to explore other projects.

“I’d never really had the mentality of ‘one for them, one for me,’” Olsen spilled. “Marvel has been such a consistent thing I’ve been able to return to and has created — what’s the word? — some feeling of insurance in my life that has given me freedom to choose other jobs.” And choose she has.

While her big-budget Marvel gigs have made her a household name, Olsen’s heart hasn’t strayed far from her indie film roots. Think Martha Marcy May Marlene, which catapulted her to critical acclaim back in 2011.

Despite seven Marvel projects under her belt—including Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness—Olsen has found time to stack her resume with gems like Ingrid Goes West and the emotional series Sorry for Your Loss. “I haven’t felt like, ‘And then I’ll do this to do this,’” she said, describing how Marvel’s steady gig allowed her to pick up work that truly excited her without worrying about her next paycheck.

But don’t think Olsen is married to her superhero persona forever. Post-Multiverse of Madness, she admitted she doesn’t miss being Scarlet Witch, although she’s not opposed to returning if the story calls for it. Olsen has been candid about wanting to play varied roles as her career matures, saying she’s more about quality than quantity when it comes to those Marvel-sized paychecks. “It’s all about balancing,” Olsen hinted, proving that actors like her—and even Mark Ruffalo, with his multiple Oscar nods between Hulk smashes—can find a way to have their blockbuster cake and eat their indie pie too.

For now, whether we see Olsen don that iconic headpiece again depends on Marvel’s unfolding Multiverse Saga. But one thing is clear: this franchise gig opened up a world of opportunities for her. And if they bring Wanda back, Olsen wants it to mean something—no half-baked resurrections allowed.