Ian McKellen In Avengers: Doomsday: A Chance To Rectify Scarlet Witch And Quicksilver's MCU Origin Story

Omar Yusuf

5 min read

Post on May 13, 2025

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The MCU's Flawed Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver Origin

Lack of Magneto: A Missing Piece

The absence of Magneto, a pivotal figure in their comic book origin, significantly impacts Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver's character development within the MCU. Their backstory feels incomplete, lacking the emotional weight and complexity inherent in their relationship with their father.

• Limited Screen Time: The MCU dedicates minimal screen time to exploring their past, leaving crucial details unexplained and their motivations underdeveloped.
• Missing Trauma and Family Dynamics: The complex trauma stemming from their childhood and their fraught relationship with Magneto is largely absent, diminishing the emotional resonance of their actions.
• Pale Comparison to the Comics: The MCU's version pales in comparison to the richer, more nuanced comic book portrayal, where their relationship with Magneto shapes their identities and powers profoundly. The Sokovia bombing, while impactful, lacks the layered emotional context provided by Magneto's influence.

Consequences of Omitting Magneto

Omitting Magneto leads to diluted character arcs and underdeveloped motivations. The audience struggles to fully connect with Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, missing the profound emotional depth that a properly developed origin story could provide.

• Missed Opportunities: The MCU missed opportunities to explore complex themes like family, manipulation, and the ethical dilemmas arising from wielding immense power, themes central to their characters in the comics.
• Loss of Emotional Resonance: Without a strong foundation in their origin story, their actions throughout the MCU feel less impactful and emotionally resonant. A proper exploration of their past would have added crucial layers to their motivations and choices.

Ian McKellen as Magneto: A Powerful Rectification

McKellen's Acting Prowess: The Perfect Choice

Ian McKellen is the ideal choice to portray Magneto in a revised Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver origin story. His acclaimed performances in the X-Men franchise showcase his ability to portray both Magneto's villainy and his complex, often sympathetic, motivations.

• Masterful Portrayal of Complexity: McKellen excels at portraying morally ambiguous characters with depth and nuance, a skill perfectly suited to Magneto's multifaceted personality.
• Experience and Gravitas: His extensive experience in large-scale productions ensures he can deliver a performance that will command attention and enhance the overall narrative.

A Richer, More Authentic Origin Story

McKellen's presence would enrich Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver's backstory significantly, adding layers of emotional complexity that were missing in the MCU.

• Exploring Magneto's Influence: We could witness Magneto's influence on their lives, his manipulative tactics, and the impact of their shared experiences.
• Escape from Hydra/Sokovia (Revised): The escape from Hydra or Sokovia, depending on the chosen narrative continuity, could be reframed, showcasing Magneto's role and the siblings' desperate struggle for survival.
• Emotional Complexities: The narrative could explore the conflicting emotions within the family – Magneto's twisted paternal love, the siblings' struggle with their powers, and their eventual confrontation with their father.

Avengers: Doomsday as the Perfect Setting

The Scale of Doomsday: Raising the Stakes

A high-stakes event like Avengers: Doomsday provides the perfect narrative framework for this revised origin story. The world-ending threat elevates the emotional stakes, allowing for seamless integration of the backstory into the larger narrative.

• Amplified Emotional Impact: The overarching crisis intensifies the emotional weight of Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver's personal struggles, enriching their arcs within the larger context of global peril.
• Internal and External Conflict: The narrative could explore both external conflict (the impending Doomsday event) and internal conflict (the siblings' turbulent relationship with Magneto).

Integrating the X-Men Universe: Expanding the MCU

Avengers: Doomsday offers an ideal opportunity to introduce other X-Men characters, expanding the MCU's scope and creating a richer, more interconnected universe.

• Cameos and Storylines: Potential cameos or intertwined storylines involving other X-Men characters could significantly strengthen the narrative and enhance the universe's interconnectedness.
• Expanding the Narrative Landscape: Introducing other mutants adds new dimensions to the story, expanding the scope and introducing a wider range of powers and conflicts.

Conclusion

The MCU's portrayal of Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver suffers from a lack of depth and emotional resonance due to the absence of Magneto's influence. Casting Ian McKellen as Magneto in a hypothetical Avengers: Doomsday film offers a powerful solution, providing a richer, more authentic origin story that aligns with the characters' comic book counterparts. The scale of Avengers: Doomsday provides a perfect narrative backdrop for this revised origin, allowing for seamless integration and enhancing the emotional stakes. The potential for introducing other X-Men characters further strengthens this approach, expanding the MCU's scope and deepening its narrative richness.

Let's discuss! Share your thoughts on the possibility of Ian McKellen in Avengers: Doomsday and how this casting could revitalize Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver's origin story. Do you think this revised approach would create a more satisfying and impactful narrative? Let's engage in the conversation using #IanMcKellen #AvengersDoomsday #ScarletWitch #Quicksilver #MCU #Magneto #XMen.