The following article contains spoilers for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, now in theaters.
Doctor Strange 2 star Elizabeth Olsen says she was scared to watch the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe blockbuster.
"I'm totally mortified!" Olsen told The New York Times hours before the film's premiere in Hollywood. "I won't watch it." The actor attended the event and walked the red carpet, but right before the screening, she planned to flee the theater. "This is pressure I'm feeling for the first time," Olsen said at the time. "I have a lot of anxiety with Doctor Strange coming out because I've never really had to lead a commercial film by myself."
The Multiverse of Madness features Olsen's seventh appearance as Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch in the MCU (including her tease in the end credits of Captain America: The Winter Soldier). Except for the Disney+ series WandaVision, she only appeared as a side character in her previous Marvel films. The Doctor Strange sequel pits her in a prominent role, as she gets to play the film's antagonist, far from her previous status as an Avenger.
The film follows the events of WandaVision, showing the Scarlet Witch corrupted by the Darkhold. Attempting to reach her fantasized children, she learns of a super-powered teenager, America Chavez, who can hop between universes. Seeing the possibility of leaving her reality for one where her children exist, she goes after America but is confronted by Doctor Strange, who wants to protect the young interdimensional traveler. Their dissent results in a multiverse-spanning battle, causing numerous deaths and widespread destruction.
Previously, Olsen reflected on Wanda's evolution in the MCU, saying she loved depicting her. "My goal is to always have [Wanda] have some sort of evolution, and the evolution in this for me was really empowering," she expressed. "She has a new kind of confidence that we haven't seen in 8 years, and she's really not apologizing for anything. She feels very clear in her beliefs. I find it very admirable, and I enjoyed throwing her into this journey of madness. I think it's okay to play characters that people get frustrated with sometimes. I enjoy that as an actor."
The significant scope of Olsen's multi-star superhero bonanza is already raking in blockbuster figures, clearing a half-billion-dollar box office milestone within its first week.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is now playing in theaters.
Source: New York Times