WandaVision: What Can We Expect From The Possible Agatha Harkness Spin-Off?

Premiering early in 2021, WandaVision, the first of many MCU TV series planned for the Disney Plus streaming service, proved an instant hit. The series popularity has endured, still regularly appearing as a trending topic across many social media platforms. Now, a spin-off starring the series villain, Kathryn Hahn's Agatha Harkness, is said to be in the works.

The new show, with WandaVision writer Jac Schaeffer at the helm, is being described as a dark comedy. What else can we expect from the show if it goes ahead?

Prequel/Backstory

Following the reveal of Agatha's true identity at the end of episode seven, WandaVision's eighth episode opened with a flashback to the year 1693, and a younger Agatha Harkness on trial for breaking the rules of her coven. Agatha is sentenced to death, but turns the tables on her coven mates and drains their magic and life force, including that of her own Mother.

While we know that Agatha broke rules and sought magical knowledge that she was not entitled to, the exact details of this knowledge were not stated. A series starring Agatha could dive into her past and explore the events leading up to the deadly confrontation with Agatha's coven. We might also see what went on in the years between the Witch Trials and Agatha's eventual discovery of Wanda Maximoff.

Will we learn why Agatha was so interested in Wanda's power?

In episode eight of WandaVision, Agatha claims to have been drawn to Westview by the desire to find out why and how Wanda was able to weave such a powerful Hex around the town. In episode 5, Agatha, as Agnes, seems particularly interested in Tommy's claim that Wanda can 'fix' dead. Eventually, Agatha grows tired of Wanda's failure to break character, leading to the events of episode 7 and 8, where she traps Wanda in her basement in order to learn her secret.

While draining Wanda's power throughout episode 9, Agatha claims she takes power from the undeserving. But aside from Wanda having extra powerful reality warping abilities as the Scarlet Witch, what made Agatha so interested in her to begin with? Given her immediate interest in the idea of fixing the dead, is it possible that Agatha regrets killing her Mother, and may be searching for a way to bring her back?

Her potential series could explore such an idea.

A Redemption Story

In the MCU, Agatha Harkness has been portrayed as a straight villain thus far. This is rather different than her portrayal in the comics, where she is instead Wanda's mentor. However, Agatha skews more towards shades of grey in her morality than other Marvel heroes. She sometimes manipulates Wanda and others to her own ends, sometimes with tragic results (Her decision to erase Wanda's memories of her sons eventually leads to 'House of M'), but she does, at heart, care about her. This is shown in later comics, such as the 2016 Scarlet Witch series, in which Agatha's ghost accompanies Wanda on her quest to fix Witchcraft, despite the fact that Wanda had murdered during a descent into madness a few years prior.

Some fans believe that comic Agatha’s characterisation will lead to the character eventually redeeming herself, or at least becoming an anti-hero in the MCU. There are a couple of ways that could happen. One is that Wanda will eventually need to come to Agatha for help, as Agatha hinted that she would at the end of WandaVision. Another possibility is if Agatha's son, Nicholas Scratch, is introduced into the MCU. While comic Agatha works in shades of grey, Nicholas is a black hat all the way. If Nicholas is introduced in Agatha's TV series, she may find herself pushed into the position of unlikely or reluctant hero simply by being the lesser of two evils.

A Scarlet Witch cameo

While initially an ally of the Fantastic Four in the comics, nowadays, Agatha is most closely identified with Wanda Maximoff, the Scarlet Witch. So, it makes sense that a series starring Agatha would probably include Wanda in some capacity. If the series goes full prequel route, it would probably end with Agatha's arrival in Westview, with Wanda appearing as a tease to the events of WandaVision about to happen. Otherwise, Wanda may return to Westview at a later point in time, awakening Agatha from her Agnes persona to seek help, possibly related to Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

As well as the possible series, actress Kathryn Hahn is rumoured to have signed a deal with Marvel Studios, for future TV and film appearances. Get ready to see a lot more of Agatha Harkness.