The highly anticipated return of Ian McKellen as Magneto in Avengers: Doomsday opens new avenues for Marvel Studios to redefine the origins of iconic characters Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Initially, their backstory was revised for their MCU introduction during the post-credits scene of 2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Due to licensing complications, Marvel was unable to incorporate the twins’ traditional comic book lineage, a gap that now presents a unique opportunity to rectify their history.
In the MCU, Wanda Maximoff is portrayed as a witch whose abilities are amplified by the Mind Stone, a result of experimentation by HYDRA. Meanwhile, Quicksilver’s powers have been suggested to stem from his sister’s intervention. This is a stark contrast to their longstanding comic book portrayal as mutants. As McKellen makes his comeback in Avengers: Doomsday, fans are hopeful for a chance to restore the twins’ true origins, aligning them closer to their roots as beloved Marvel characters.
Ian McKellen’s Magneto Returns in 2026’s Avengers: Doomsday
Ian McKellen: A Legacy in X-Men Films
The recent cast announcement for Avengers: Doomsday highlighted McKellen’s return, adding to a roster of several X-Men characters including Patrick Stewart and Kelsey Grammer. Ian McKellen first assumed the role of Erik Lehnsherr—known as Magneto—in 2000’s X-Men and continued in subsequent films, concluding his Fox tenure with 2014’s Days of Future Past.
|
Project |
Year |
Role |
|---|---|---|
|
X-Men |
2000 |
Main Cast |
|
X2: X-Men United |
2003 |
Main Cast |
|
X-Men: The Last Stand |
2006 |
Main Cast |
|
The Wolverine |
2013 |
Cameo |
|
X-Men: Days of Future Past |
2014 |
Main Cast |
|
Avengers: Doomsday |
2026 |
TBD |
Following Michael Fassbender’s portrayal in a revised timeline, McKellen’s return is poised to uniquely intertwine with the storylines of Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver. This connection offers Marvel Studios a chance to reestablish Magneto’s involvement in these characters’ lives, enhancing their narratives significantly.
Scarlet Witch & Quicksilver as Magneto’s Children in Avengers: Doomsday
Wanda & Pietro Maximoff: The MCU Connection
Since their inception in 1964, the relationship of Wanda and Pietro Maximoff with the concept of mutanthood has undergone significant shifts. Initially portrayed as mutants, their parentage was complicated through multiple retcons, finally culminating in the suggestion in 1982 that Magneto was their father. Despite this narrative being altered in 2015 to suggest they’ve never been mutants—a controversial decision—it creates an exciting possibility for Avengers: Doomsday.
By reinstating them as the children of Ian McKellen’s Magneto, Marvel could revitalize their story arc with characters portrayed by Elizabeth Olsen and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Although the Fox franchise hinted at this dynamic with Evan Peters’ Quicksilver, it’s an unfulfilled storyline ripe for resolution in the MCU.
Avengers: Doomsday: A Creative Approach to the Retcon
Return of Olsen & Taylor-Johnson as Variants
The reconciliation of Wanda and Pietro’s origins in Marvel Comics has left the MCU’s potential exploration of their mutant lineage in a precarious position. With the introduction of the Multiverse Saga, an ideal narrative opportunity arises: what if they are non-mutant variations on Earth-616 but exist as mutants in an alternate universe? This could allow for Ian McKellen’s Magneto to rise as their true father in a different realm.
This multiversal premise allows for interpretation across different realities, thus finally connecting these pivotal characters in a meaningful way. As Marvel explores parallels through franchises like Deadpool and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Avengers: Doomsday could indeed be the vehicle that intricately links Magneto with the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver.
- Potential character development for Wanda and Pietro
- Exploration of Magneto’s familial ties
- Fans eager for a cohesive storyline across universes