Did you feel betrayed by WandaVision's multiverse tease? You're not alone! Many fans felt like they were promised a deep dive into alternate realities, only to be left with a clever, but ultimately self-contained, story. But don't lose hope, because the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday is poised to finally deliver on that initial promise and rectify what many consider a missed opportunity.
WandaVision, a standout Marvel Cinematic Universe show that premiered in 2021, undeniably made a splash. It masterfully blended sitcom aesthetics with superhero drama, offering a compelling mystery, high production values, and the signature Marvel Easter eggs fans crave. For many, WandaVision, aside from Loki, remains one of the best MCU shows to date. The show's end seemingly opened the door for exciting possibilities within the MCU, hinting at a interconnected narrative across films and television series. But here's where it gets controversial... the show’s handling of the multiverse concept left a sour taste in some fans' mouths.
The Multiverse Bait-and-Switch:
Given its placement as the supposed kickoff to the MCU's Multiverse Saga, WandaVision led audiences to believe they were about to witness the unraveling of reality as we knew it. After all, the show centered on Scarlet Witch, a character with immense power in the comics, capable of traversing and manipulating the multiverse. The anticipation reached fever pitch when Evan Peters, known for playing Quicksilver in the Fox X-Men movies, appeared in Westview. Many viewers jumped to the conclusion that Wanda had, through her immense power, pulled Peters' Quicksilver from another universe into her fabricated reality.
And this is the part most people miss... the possibility that the writers did consider going down that route, but ultimately decided against it for narrative reasons. Was it a strategic misdirection, or a fumble?
However, the rug was pulled out from under fans when it was revealed that Peters was merely playing Ralph Bohner, a Westview resident with no connection to the X-Men universe. It was essentially a meta-joke, a nod to the audience's expectations rather than a genuine multiversal crossover. By the end of WandaVision, the multiverse was nowhere to be found, leaving many feeling misled.
Spider-Man: No Way Home - The Real Multiverse Party Starter:
Just eight months later, Spider-Man: No Way Home swung into theaters and demonstrated what a full-fledged multiverse storyline could look like. The film's plot revolved entirely around characters from different Spider-Man movie timelines being pulled into the MCU due to a botched Doctor Strange spell. This was the kind of multiversal chaos that audiences had anticipated from WandaVision, especially after the casting of Evan Peters. Spider-Man: No Way Home, and later Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, stole WandaVision's thunder, becoming the defining multiversal narratives in the MCU.
Avengers: Doomsday to the Rescue:
While WandaVision may have disappointed some with its unfulfilled multiversal promises, Avengers: Doomsday promises to right that wrong. The announced cast list is a dream come true for X-Men fans, featuring Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, James Marsden, Rebecca Romijn, Alan Cumming, and Kelsey Grammer reprising their iconic roles as Magneto, Professor X, Cyclops, Mystique, Nightcrawler, and Beast, respectively. Finally, the X-Men will officially team up with The Avengers and The Fantastic Four to battle Doctor Doom.
Avengers: Doomsday will be the first true realization of this fan theory. While Deadpool & Wolverine, alongside a few X-Men cameos in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, teased this possibility, Avengers: Doomsday will fully integrate the X-Men into the MCU's multiverse. Marvel's bait-and-switch with Evan Peters promised something similar, albeit on a smaller scale. In December 2026, more than five years after WandaVision's release, this promise will finally be fulfilled when Avengers: Doomsday rectifies what many consider the former's biggest MCU misstep.
So, what do you think? Was WandaVision's multiverse tease a clever misdirection or a missed opportunity? Are you excited to see the X-Men finally join the Avengers in Doomsday? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
