Elizabeth Olsen wow-ed audiences with her portrayal of Wanda, but her impressive 2023 role is proof the MCU needs her more than she needs it now.
A star in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Elizabeth Olsen's impressive 2023 performance highlights that she no longer needs to be a part of the franchise to find success. The sister of Full House darlings, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, Elizabeth Olsen made her debut as Wanda in Avengers: Age of Ultron in 2015. Since then, she has become a prominent character in the MCU and been the focus in a number of its biggest projects.
While there has been much speculation about whether or not Olsen will find her way back to Marvel as Wanda, it is best if she doesn't. Olsen has expressed a need to play other characters outside of the MCU, and a desire to build up other parts of her acting resume. She shared that she doesn't see longevity in solely playing Wanda and wanted to pursue acting in more films. Her most recent role proved that her assessment was correct and while there might not be longevity in just playing one character, there certainly seems to be in her career.
Elizabeth Olsen's Performance In Love & Death Shows She No Longer Needs The MCU
Love & Death is a thrilling miniseries based on a true story and while the premise is fascinating, what really sets it apart is Elizabeth Olsen's role in it. Olsen does a fantastic job portraying Candy Montgomery, a seemingly normal suburban housewife who actually has a dark side. She captivates audiences with her ability to bring a character to life who so quickly switches from an infectiously sweet mother and wife to a woman capable of having an affair with a married man.
It's no surprise that her performance earned her a Golden Globe nomination, and it proved that her career is on an upward trajectory. Her ability to startle audiences with Love & Death's complex ending served as evidence of her undeniable talent and highlighted the fact that she no longer needs the MCU to bolster her status. She has established herself as a spectacular actress, and the MCU might actually need her more than she needs them as the franchise continues to face quality issues.
Why Elizabeth Olsen Should Focus On Other Projects Rather Than Return To The MCU
Given how much recognition Olsen is getting from Love & Death, it is the right decision for her to focus on other projects instead of returning to the MCU. Olsen has now created a name for herself and does not need the popularity of the MCU to make her more recognizable. The MCU is also not producing films up to the standard it used to be, so working on more projects like Love & Death could be better for her career in the long run. At this point, Elizabeth Olsen and her skills could serve as more of a draw for MCU movies than the MCU itself.
In addition, Olsen should be working on projects that allow her to showcase her full potential, which some of her MCU endeavors did not. WandaVision was a fun project that highlighted her range, but Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness did not possess the same qualities or narrative to fully utilize her skill set. Some of Olsen's other pieces of work like Ingrid Goes West and Wind River did a better job of this and more projects like this will highlight how great of an actress she is. As Elizabeth Olsen works to continue to build up her image and obtain more critically acclaimed roles, the MCU should be left in her past.
