Quicksilver's demise came all too fast in Avengers: Age of Ultron, both introducing and discarding the character in the same appearance. Yet, while death is rarely the end for comic book heroes, we haven't seen Quicksilver return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe since Age of Ultron. That looks to change, however, the recent events of the MCU open some avenues to bring Pietro back. Especially with both Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and WandaVision on the horizon. So, the big question might not be how Quicksilver will outrace death, but when.
RELATED: Could Quicksilver Return in MCU's Phase 4?
The safest explanation would at first appear to be WandaVision -- the miniseries set to appear on the upcoming streaming service, Disney+. The series, whose retro sitcom aesthetic is already raising eyebrows and catching interest, promises to star not only Wanda Maximoff, otherwise known as the Scarlet Witch, but the cybernetic love of her life the Vision. Currently, there's just one little problem: the Vision is dead.
Killed by Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War and robbed of the Mind Stone that stored his psyche (now returned its proper place in the timeline as of Avengers: Endgame), the fact that the super synthezoid will be a main feature of the series would suggest his resurrection. Wanda's powers are too little explored in the MCU as is, but fans of the comics know they involve reality-manipulation that could very well bring Vision back.
RELATED: The MCU Timeline is Broken, Here's How Phase 4 Can Fix It
If Wanda can resurrect the love of her life, then why not her brother? If the surreal style of WandaVision is any indication, the series could well explore Wanda setting out to create an idyllic world for herself free of loss and grief. Similar motivations sparked the Avengers Disassembled and House of M storylines that rocked the comics continuity and would make for a creative way for Marvel to restore bits of the status quo they wish they hadn't lost.
That seems pretty ambitious for one mini-series to tackle, but if there's anything the title Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness promises it's ambition. While rumors currently abound as to how Pietro's sister ties into the multiverse, or whether she may even be the film's main villain, the inclusion of the multiverse's existence in the film's title promises quite a lot. Although Endgame introduced the possibility of alternate timelines in the MCU, the next Doctor Strange movie is sure to be where those possibilities get to run wild.
It could be as simple as introducing an alternate universe where Quicksilver never died. After all, Age of Ultron director Joss Whedon originally did not want to dispose of the speedster and purportedly filmed his survival just in case it could be included. At the time Marvel stood in competition with Fox which already had a fan-favorite iteration of the character, but since then Disney acquired Fox and no such competition exists.
It remains to be seen whether the reintroduction of the character would be permanent or temporary. If his survival is contained only to an alternate dimension, it seems less likely that he would appear in future films. And given how little information there is to go off of, it is entirely possible WandaVision may take place outside the main continuity.
But if there is to be a crossover between the two -- and if the "madness" that Dr. Strange will be dealing with throughout the multiverse involves disparate elements intermingling -- then anything is possible. Aaron Taylor-Johnson could return to the MCU role, or perhaps Evan Peters could even restore the Fox incarnation of the character. Who knows? Maybe a whole new actor could get introduced with a whole new take.
One thing is for certain, though, seeing the relationship between Wanda and Pietro further explored would be a welcome direction on the big screen after all this time. When multiverses are on the table right alongside a reality-altering witch there's an infinite array of possibilities, and when it comes to Quicksilver's fate fans' imaginations can truly run wild.
Directed by Scott Derrickson, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Elizabeth Olsen. The film hits theaters on May 7, 2021.
Add Comments