One eternal debate among Marvel fans is about just how powerful Wanda Maximoff really is. The Scarlet Witch has always been a dominant force in the comics, and the events of WandaVision have finally helped bring the character up to speed in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After fully embracing her abilities, Elizabeth Olsen‘s Avenger was able to best a wildly capable witch and take down the centuries-old Agatha Harkness. However, the character has never faced the MCU’s headlining magic-user, Benedict Cumberbatch‘s Dr. Stephen Strange, and it’s still up in the air whether or not that fight is one she could win.
Luckily, Wanda’s next big screen appearance will be in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, so it’s possible events play out in such a way that fans will finally get an answer to that question. A recent poll conducted by Fandom revealed that 62% of voters thought Scarlet Witch would wipe the floor with the Master of the Mystic Arts, and an ensuing interview with director Sam Raimi let slip the filmmaker was inclined to agree. Citing her use of Chaos Magic as the tipping point, Raimi explained:
Just from my reading of the Marvel comic books, knowing what happened to her, she seems like she just was born with it. That chaos magic is really a bad, bad mother. You don’t want to mess with it. So I bet that she, when push came to shove in a fair fight, could probably handle Doctor Strange.
Sam Raimi
Other members of the Multiverse of Madness cast also chimed in, and every single one of them put their vote towards Wanda. Benedict Wong called the decision a “tough” one, but eventually gave the nod to Maximoff, remarking, “It’s the chaos magic, isn’t it?”. Rachel McAdams explained her stance was due solely to WandaVision:
I loved WandaVision so much. Not that I haven’t loved Benedict [Cumberbatch] in everything he’s ever done, but I did love what Lizzie did with that character. She was just such a force!
Rachel McAdams
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness hits theaters on May 6, 2022.
Source: Fandom
