The Electric State has a secret Avengers Easter egg that hints at Scarlet Witch’s return

The Electric State is now streaming on Netflix, and eagle-eyed viewers will spot an intriguing nod to Marvel’s Avengers mid-way through proceedings.

The Electric State is a big-budget Netflix movie that’s set in an alternate past, and revolves around a war between robots and humans. You can read our Electric State review here, and Electric State ending explainer here.

The film also has Marvel pedigree, being directed by the Russo brothers – who helmed multiple movies in the MCU – and featuring the likes of Chris Pratt (Star-Lord), Giancarlo Esposito (Sidewinder), and Anthony Mackie (the new Captain America).

There’s even a moment in the movie where Marvel connects with The Electric State via a Scarlet Witch Easter egg, but to explain the scene we’ll have to go into specifics, so SPOILERS ahead…

Marvel Easter egg in The Electric State explained

Half-way through the movie – in the 53rd minute – Michelle (Millie Bobby Brown) and Keats (Chris Pratt) enter an abandoned shopping mall that’s now the home of banished robots. While taking in her surroundings, Michelle clocks a robot with the face of a grinning dog.

The ‘bot is sitting in front of a newsstand with his feat up, reading a comic. And that comic happens to be an issue of Avengers West Coast. Specifically Issue #56 from 1990, with Scarlet Witch on the cover.

It’s a fun in-joke, as Joe Russo and Anthony Russo directed Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, while next on their slate is Avengers: Doomsday, and Avengers: Secret Wars.

How the comic might herald Scarlet Witch’s return

Marvel Comics

The issue in question sees a more powerful Scarlet Witch that ever turn on the human race, and imprison Wonder Man, Wasp, Agatha Harkness, and USAgent. There are cameos by Iron Man, The Human Torch, and Magneto, while at the end of the story, Hank Pym confronts Wanda, but Quicksilver comes to her rescue.

The issue has doubtless been chosen because it was on stands around the time that the robot war kicked off in The Electric State’s timeline. But the Russo brothers know what they are doing, while we know that their upcoming Avengers flicks will have scores of superheroes battling Doctor Doom, and on either side of the Secret Wars.

So the fact that they’ve chosen an issue that features the words: “The witch is back,” prominently on the cover feels like it has weight. The last time we saw Wanda Maximoff she was apparently being crushed to death in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

But fans have been clamouring for her return, Agatha All Along hinted at Wanda’s ongoing existence, and now the Russo brothers are essentially saying “Scarlet Witch is back.” So don’t be surprised if this Easter egg heralds the character’s involvement in a forthcoming Avengers movie.

The Electric State is streaming now. For similar (better) fare, check out our list of the best sci-fi movies of all-time, the best action movies, and best superhero movies, where the Russos chart high.