Elizabeth Olsen has drawn a line in the sand regarding her future film projects, stating she will no longer sign onto Hollywood studio movies that do not have a guaranteed theatrical release, per variety.com.
Olsen, known for her breakout indie role in 2011’s Martha Marcy May Marlene and her blockbuster turn as Scarlet Witch in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), shared her stance in a new InStyle magazine cover story.
“If a movie is made independently and only sells to a streamer, then fine. But I don’t want to make something where [streaming is] the end-all,” Olsen said.
The actress emphasised the importance of the communal experience of moviegoing. “I think it’s important for people to gather as a community, to see other humans, be together in a space,” she explained, drawing a parallel to attending sports events. “I think it’s really powerful for people to come together for something that they’re excited about. We don’t even audition in person anymore.”
Since her last live-action appearance as Scarlet Witch in 2022’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Olsen has focused primarily on independent films, including His Three Daughters (2023), The Assessment (2024) and the upcoming A24 romantic comedy Eternity. While His Three Daughters was backed by Netflix, it received an awards-qualifying theatrical run.
Olsen, who has helped draw millions to theatres with the MCU since her debut in a post-credits scene of 2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier, also spoke fondly of the comic book franchise.
“Making the films are fun. Goofy. It’s ridiculous. We’re grown people like children on a playground,” she said of the MCU experience. “We’re flying. We’re shooting things out of our hands.”
She also expressed a clear desire to revisit her powerful character. “It’s a character that I’ve gotten to return to so many times after over 10 years. It’s good to put her down and then I miss her and I want her back. I’d jump at the opportunity to be in her shoes again.”
Olsen’s upcoming film, Eternity, co-starring Miles Teller and Callum Turner, is an A24 fantasy rom-com about a woman who must choose between two men in the afterlife. Eternity is set to open in theaters this Thanksgiving.
- Featured image: Elizabeth Olsen/WWD via Getty Images
