Elizabeth Olsen told InStyle magazine as part of a new cover story that she is no longer signing on to Hollywood studio movies that don’t have a guaranteed theatrical release. As an indie film darling since the start of her career with 2011’s “Martha Marcy May Marlene,” Olsen is comfortable acting in a movie without distribution that gets sold to a streamer. But her preference is always a theatrical release.
“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. “I think it’s important for people to gather as a community, to see other humans, be together in a space. That’s why I like sports. 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 outing as the Scarlet Witch in the Marvel Cinematic Universe courtesy of 2022’s “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” Olsen has made only indie movies such as 2023’s “His Three Daughters,” 2024’s “The Assessment” and the upcoming A24 romantic comedy “Eternity.” Only “His Three Daughters” was backed by a streamer (in this case Netflix), although it was given an awards-qualifying theatrical release in select theaters.
Olsen knows a thing or two about bringing millions of people together in movie theaters thanks to the MCU, where she’s played Scarlet Witch since debuting in the post-credits scene of 2014’s “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.”
“Making the films are fun. Goofy. It’s ridiculous. We’re grown people like children on a playground,” Olsen told InStyle about the MCU. “We’re flying. We’re shooting things out of our hands. And 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 added about the pros of the MCU, “It’s the consistency of a community and a job, which is hard to find. The insane camera movement, stunt work and special effects, visual effects that are happening in real time. It’s a lot of coordination, it’s hundreds and hundreds of people on set, and it’s a powerful thing to be a part of all those people working towards one goal. The people doing the visual effects are artists… The soul, the spirit, the heart is fulfilled doing it. It does mean something. I care about the acting being great — everyone does.”
The “Doctor Strange” sequel remains Olsen’s last in-person Marvel appearance as Scarlet Witch. She was recently featured as a voice role on the Disney+ animated series “Marvel Zombies.” Her next film is “Eternity,” co-starring Miles Teller and Callum Turner. The A24 film puts a fantasy spin on the rom-com genre by being set in an afterlife where the recently deceased have one week to decide who to spend eternity with. Olsen’s Joan must decide between her first love or the man she built her life with.
“Eternity” opens in theaters this Thanksgiving.
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