Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver Casting Announced for Avengers: Age of Ultron

Ryan Smythe ’15 / Emertainment Monthly Staff Writer

The long-awaited casting for the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver in the upcoming Age of Ultron (2015) has finally been confirmed, with Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Kick-Ass, Kick Ass 2) and Elizabeth Olsen (In Secret, Martha Marcy May Marlene) confirmed as the mutant twins.

The two will first be seen on screen together starring as husband and wife in the upcoming Godzilla (2014) remake, so it’s very likely that their off screen chemistry will be well developed by the time Age of Ultron filming starts up.

Taylor-Johnson’s Quicksilver, if his comic book history is any indication, could serve as a tie in to Bryan Singer’s X-Men franchise as the son of Magneto. How that would work with the announcement of Evan Peters (American Horror Story, Kick-Ass) as Quicksilver in X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014) is unclear, but if Marvel has any plans to begin working towards a compromise with 20th Century Fox this would be a perfect way to start. Unfortunately–or fortunately, if you work for 20th Century Fox–it’s not likely for the rights to return to Marvel any time soon, leaving a deal between the studios as the best option for the foreseeable future.

If no connection is made between the franchises, chances are that some alternate explanation for the twins’ powers is being concocted, possibly cutting out Magneto altogether.

No matter what happens between the studios, Quicksilver will almost definitely retain his super speed and Scarlet Witch will still have the very flexible power of manipulating probability. What that means in Whedon’s Marvel Universe is still a mystery, but given the way the other superheroes’ powers match up to their comic book counterparts, a lot of what has been written will be retained. How those powers will be utilized is all up to speculation, but Quicksilver’s speed could be used for last-second heroics or surprise gags, since Whedon has shown a love for those in the past.

Olsen’s Scarlet Witch on the other hand could be the more dynamic of the pair. With her ability encompassing electronic malfunctions, she could very easily be the Avenger’s trump card when dealing with the Ultron Sentinels. Tension might be built up over the first portion of the movie, with the Sentinels proving more and more unbeatable until Scarlet Witch shows up, creating the opening for Ultron himself to appear and pick up the intensity.

Even her entrance into the film could be tied into that idea of manipulating electronics. Picture Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) in one of his in-helmet shots talking with Jarvis before every blue light cuts out, and his Iron Man suit begins plummeting to the ground. Whether or not Ultron has shown himself at that point, the unexpected hostility could be the first point of conflict for Iron Man, dragging him back from a possible first flight with the Mark 43 suit. Quicksilver could be introduced right after that, running from off screen to catch and then contain Tony Stark, providing a very powerful introduction for the pair.

We will find out for sure on May 1, 2015.