Draft:Darcy Lewis

{{Infobox character

| name = Darcy Lewis

| franchise = Marvel Cinematic Universe/ Marvel Comics

| image =

| caption =

| first_major = Thor (2011)

| first_issue = Scarlet Witch #1 (2023)

| creator = {{Plainlist|

Ashley Miller, Zack Stentz, Don Payne (MCU)
Steve Orlando, Sara Pichelli (Marvel Comics)

}}

| portrayer = Kat Dennings

| info-hdr = In-Universe Information (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

| alias = Escape Artist ("WandaVision")

| gender = Female

| title = Doctor (Doctorate in Astrophysics)

| occupation = {{Plainlist|

Intern (formerly)
Astrophysicist (currently)
Scientific consultant

}}

| significant_other = Ian Boothby (formerly)

| affiliation = {{Plainlist|

S.H.I.E.L.D. (formerly)
S.W.O.R.D. (formerly)

}}

| nationality = American

| extra-hdr = In-Universe Information (Marvel Comics)

| lbl31 = Alias

| data31 = {{Plainlist|

A trusted friend and advisor (by Scarlet Witch)
The Quip Woman (by Viv Vision)
Snake (by Scythia)
Flightless Valkyrie (by Arkin the Weak)
Innovator of Invective (Scarlet Witch & Quicksilver (2024))

}}

| lbl32 = Gender

| data32 = Female

| lbl33 = Occupation

| data33 = {{Plainlist|

Journalist (formerly)
Shopkeeper at Emporium (currently)

}}

| lbl34 = Reality

| data34 = Earth-616

| lbl35 = Nationality

| data35 = American

}}

Doctor Darcy Lewis is a fictional character portrayed by Kat Dennings in Marvel Cinematic Universe. She has made appearances in Thor (2011), Thor: The Dark World (2013), WandaVision (2021), two episodes of What If...? (What If...Thor Were An Only Child? and What If...Happy Hogan Saved Christmas?) (2021-present), and Thor: Love and Thunder (2022). In her first appearance, she worked as an intern to Dr Jane Foster and Dr Erik Selvig, two renowned astrophysicists. She has also marked her appearance in several of the Marvel Cinematic Universe tie-in comics. She was also one of the protagonists of 2018 tie-in novel The Cosmic Quest Volume Two: Aftermath.

She made her comic book debut in the Scarlet Witch comic series (2023) as Wanda Maximoff's magic shop employee, while continuing her appearance in Scarlet Witch & Quicksilver (2024) and Women of Marvel (2024).

Concept and Creation

Around November 2009, Natalie Portman revealed that Dennings has joined the cast of Thor{{Cite web |date=May 4, 2011 |title=EXCLUSIVE: Kat Dennings Joins 'Thor' Cast, Reveals Co-Star Natalie Portman |url=http://splashpage.mtv.com/2009/11/23/exclusive-kat-dennings-joins-thor-cast-reveals-co-star-natalie-portman/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110504151220/http://splashpage.mtv.com/2009/11/23/exclusive-kat-dennings-joins-thor-cast-reveals-co-star-natalie-portman/ |archive-date=May 4, 2011 |access-date=March 8, 2024}}, which was written by Ashley Edward Miller, Zack Stentz, and Don Payne. The character was initially conceived as a middle-aged man with a son by Zack Stentz. However, Don Payne later rewrote her character to be a young woman{{Cite web |last=Stentz |first=Zack |date=March 4, 2021 |title=Twitter |url=https://twitter.com/MuseZack/status/1367331811659972609}} and a political science major. Her role in Thor: The Dark World was expanded from the comic relief sidekick role she played in the first Thor film.{{Cite web |last=Patten |first=Dominic |date=August 21, 2012 |title='2 Broke Girls' Kat Dennings Back In 'Thor 2' |url=https://deadline.com/2012/08/kat-dennings-thor-2-marvel-studios-2-broke-girls-cbs-movie-casting-thor-the-dark-world-322514/ |access-date=March 8, 2024 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}} In August 2019, Dennings was revealed to be reprising her role of Darcy in WandaVision, along with the reveal that Randall Park would return as Jimmy Woo in the series and Kathryn Hahn's casting.{{Cite web |title=Kat Dennings, Randall Park, and Kathryn Hahn join Disney+'s 'WandaVision' |url=https://ew.com/tv/2019/08/23/wandavision-disney-plus-casts-kat-dennings-randall-park-kathryn-hahn/ |access-date=May 15, 2021 |website=EW.com |language=en}}

In 2023, Steve Orlando and Sara Pichelli introduced Darcy Lewis into the mainstream Marvel comics, almost a decade later her first appearance in the marvel cinematic universe. She debuted in Scarlet Witch #1 (2023){{Cite web |last=Sava |first=Oliver |date=November 15, 2022 |title=The Scarlet Witch returns with a new costume and an MCU favorite in their comics debut |url=https://www.polygon.com/23458822/scarlet-witch-costume-crown-marvel-comics-darcy |access-date=March 8, 2024 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}} as Wanda's magic shop employee with a dangerous secret. Her inclusion in the comics was to remind the reader "just how intense and eccentric [superhero] world can seem to someone on the street."Steve Orlando in Scarlet Witch #3 (2023) Although with no superpowers, Darcy's role in the comics is to mirror the journey of Wanda's.

{{Quote box

| quote = "Darcy's backstory has certainly been filled with intense questions—duty versus justice, especially. …Like Wanda, Darcy's made mistakes (although not on a cosmic scale like Wanda), so she ends up on a parallel journey to [Wanda]."

| author = —Steve Orlando

| source = Scarlet Witch #5 (2023)

| align = right

| width = 40%

| qalign = left

}}

Since then, she has appeared in 10 issues of Scarlet Witch (2023), one issue of Scarlet Witch & Quicksilver,{{Cite web |last=Comments |first=Rich Johnston {{!}} Last updated {{!}} |date=October 14, 2023 |title=Marvel Confirms Scarlet Witch & Quicksilver For 2024 |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/marvel-confirms-scarlet-witch-quicksilver-for-2024/ |access-date=March 8, 2024 |website=bleedingcool.com |language=en}} and one issue of Women of Marvel ('Witch House') (2024).{{Cite web |title=Your Complete Guide to 2024's 'Women of Marvel' #1 |url=https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/women-of-marvel-1-2024-first-look-preview |access-date=March 8, 2024 |website=www.marvel.com}}

File:Kat Dennings 2010 Comic-Con Cropped.jpg at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con]]

Characterization

Dennings described her character in Thor as Foster's "little helper gnome".{{Cite web |last=Team |first=The Deadline |last2=Team |first2=The Deadline |date=July 25, 2010 |title=MARVEL-OUS STAR WATTAGE: Actors Assemble For Comic-Con Panel Including 'The Avengers', 'Captain America', & 'Thor' |url=https://deadline.com/2010/07/star-wattage-marvel-assembles-the-avengers-for-comic-con-panel-56417/ |access-date=May 14, 2021 |website=Deadline Hollywood |language=en-US}} Dennings stated that her role was expanded during the rehearsal process.{{Cite web |last=M. B.A |first=Human Resource Development and Management |last2=B. S. |first2=University of Mumbai |title=Quotes to Remember from "A Walk to Remember" |url=https://www.thoughtco.com/a-walk-to-remember-quotes-2832856 |access-date=May 14, 2021 |website=ThoughtCo |language=en}} Dennings explained, "She's kind of like a cute, clueless, little puppy or maybe a hamster. There wasn't much on the page for the Darcy role to begin with and I didn't even see a script before I took the job so I didn't really know who Darcy was at first. But she really evolved—she's so much fun now even. She's very Scooby-Doo if that makes sense. She's always three steps behind and reacting to what's happening with these great expressions ... She gets things wrong and doesn't care."{{Cite web |title=Hero Complex |url=https://www.latimes.com/topic/hero-complex |access-date=May 14, 2021 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}

Her role in the film Thor: The Dark World was expanded from the comic relief sidekick role she played in the first Thor film.{{Cite web |last=Patten |first=Dominic |last2=Patten |first2=Dominic |date=August 21, 2012 |title='2 Broke Girls' Kat Dennings Back In 'Thor 2' |url=https://deadline.com/2012/08/kat-dennings-thor-2-marvel-studios-2-broke-girls-cbs-movie-casting-thor-the-dark-world-322514/ |access-date=May 14, 2021 |website=Deadline Hollywood |language=en-US}} Dennings said her character is "really bad at real science in this first movie. In the second movie, she's more interested, but she still doesn't know anything about it. She loves Jane, she really wants Jane and Thor to be together. It's almost like her own little soap opera that she watches."{{Cite web |date=September 11, 2013 |title=While Marvel gets super cosmic in 'Thor' sequel, Kat Dennings brings it back to Earth |url=https://www.dailynews.com/arts-and-entertainment/20130911/while-marvel-gets-super-cosmic-in-thor-sequel-kat-dennings-brings-it-back-to-earth |access-date=May 14, 2021 |website=Los Angeles Daily News |language=en-US}} Returning to the role for the first time since Thor: The Dark World in WandaVision, Dennings felt Lewis would not have changed much as a person, but would be older and wiser after going to school to receive her doctorate in astrophysics. Additionally, Dennings felt the character has more confidence in herself now that she is viewed as "the boss" which she never was in the films.{{Cite web |title='WandaVision' star Kat Dennings discusses her 'unexpected' MCU return |url=https://ew.com/tv/wandavision-kat-dennings-interview/ |access-date=May 14, 2021 |website=EW.com |language=en}}

Fictional character biography

= Working with Foster and Selvig =

Initially a Political Science student at the Culver University, Darcy Lewis applied to an astrophysics internship under Dr Jane Foster and Dr Erik Selvig to get six college credits. The trio travelled to New Mexico to study the spatial anomalies hypothesized by Foster.

Lewis, Foster and Selvig first met a powerless Thor after a sudden wormhole made an appearance and stranded the latter on Earth. His erratic behavior led him to be tasered by Lewis. After she discovered that Thor was the one in the middle of the anomaly, she along with Foster and Selvig decided to help Thor to find his way back to Asgard.

= Shipped off to Norway =

Lewis along with Foster was sent to Tromsø, Norway by S.H.I.E.L.D. during the Chitauri attack of 2012 to protect the latter from Loki. After getting no answers to why they were there, Lewis hacked into SHIELD and found the live footage of Battle of New York where Thor was fighting. Lewis comforted her friend, assuring Foster that Thor will return after the battle. However, after waiting and searching for him for a year, Foster gave up the hope.

= Return of Thor =

Lewis still working for Foster, moved to London with her in search of missing Selvig who called them there. However, after interrupting Foster's date, both discover an anomaly known as the Convergence that led to Foster being infected with Aether. After Thor took Foster to Asgard, Lewis was left behind to manage the astrophysicist's work. She discovered Selvig's whereabouts and eventually freed him from the psychiatric institution.

With the Convergence in full-effect, Thor, Foster, Selvig and Lewis prepared to battle Malekith and the Dark Elves who planned to unleash the Aether on to the universe. Lewis helped in the installation of the teleportation devices to send Malekith and the Dark Elves back to Svartalfheim. The battle ended with Thor defeating the Dark Elves and killing Malekith.

= Years-in between =

Sometimes after the events of Thor: The Dark World, Lewis completed her graduation and completed her doctorate in astrophysics. She was one of the survivors of the Snap in 2018.

= The Westview Anomaly =

{{Further|WandaVision}}Recruited by the S.W.O.R.D., now astrophysicist Dr Darcy Lewis was called to investigate an anomaly. She picked up on the high CMBR levels intertwined with a broadcast frequency coming from the Wanda Maximoff's Hex which helped in her discovering the WandaVision show. This helped in the identification of all the victims of hex, including Monica Rambeau. To learn more about it she along with Jimmy Woo tried to contact Wanda with the help of radio transmission which eventually led to failure.As seen in We Interrupt This Program.

After Rambeau was ejected from the Hex by Maximoff, Lewis noticed former's scans were blank.As seen in On a Very Special Episode... . The trio of Lewis, Rambeau and Woo tried to solve the mystery of the anomaly and discovered that Maximoff is wielding an insane amount of power while changing the reality inside of the Hex. The trio was ejected from the S.W.O.R.D. Response base after their comments against Tyler Hayward, director of SWORD. They, however, gained access to the computers by escaping the team escorting them out.

After getting back into the base, Lewis hacked into the SWORD database and found that the energy from the Hex has re-written Rambeau's cells on a molecular level. She also discovered Hayward's Project Cataract. In there was a full map of Westview along with a headcount of its residents. She also found that Hayward was tracking Vision. When Rambeau and Woo decided to leave, she stayed behind to break into Hayward's last firewall.As seen in All-New Halloween Spooktacular!

When Vision tried to come out of the Hex, he started to fall apart, seeing this Lewis tried to save him. She was handcuffed to a vehicle and left by the S.W.O.R.D. to be consumed by the expansion of the Hex. In the Hex, she gets a new persona of an escape artist under Maximoff's influence and was awakened by Vision. While on the move to the Vision's Residence, the duo talked about Vision's past life and how he sacrificed himself to save the universe. Lewis also assured him that the love between him and Maximoff was very real.As seen in Breaking the Fourth Wall

Due to several obstacles in the way Vision had to leave Lewis on the road by phasing out of the van. She later arrived in Westview square and slammed into hayward's Humvee, stopping him from harming Maximoff's family. After the ordeal was over, she left before she could be questioned and told Rambeau, "debriefs are for the weak."As seen in The Series Finale

= Visiting Jane =

{{Further|Thor: Love and Thunder}}When Lewis got to know about Jane Foster's cancer, she accompanied her to the chemotherapy appointments. She advised Foster to slow down and seek Thor's help.

Alternate versions

= ''The Cosmic Quest Volume Two: Aftermath'' (2018) =

Darcy Lewis is one of the protagonists of The Cosmic Quest Volume Two: Aftermath (2018). She along with Dr Erik Selvig and Felix try to figure out why the half of the population disappeared.{{Cite web |title=MARVEL's Avengers: Infinity War: The Cosmic Quest Volume Two: Aftermath |url=https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/marvel-s-avengers-infinity-war-the-cosmic-quest-volume-two-aftermath |access-date=March 9, 2024 |website=www.marvel.com}}{{Cite web |date=December 3, 2018 |title=Two more Marvel female characters survived Infinity War |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a871883/avengers-infinity-war-survivors-jane-foster-pepper-potts/ |access-date=March 9, 2024 |website=Digital Spy |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=December 3, 2018 |title=Two more Marvel female characters survived Infinity War |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a871883/avengers-infinity-war-survivors-jane-foster-pepper-potts/ |access-date=March 9, 2024 |website=Digital Spy |language=en-GB}}

=''What If...?'' (2021–2024)=

== Party prince Thor and marrying Howard the Duck ==

{{Further|What If... Thor Were an Only Child?|What If...? season 3|label2=What If... Howard the Duck Got Hitched}}

== Christmas Takeover ==

Marvel Comics

= ''Scarlet Witch'' (2023) =

First introduced as Wanda Maximoff's employee, Darcy Lewis was a failed journalist who wanted to redeem her byline. To do so, she infiltrated a Bacchae sect, Daughters of Enyo, and killed a member in self-defense. She ran to save herself until she found the Last Door leading her to Wanda's magic shop in Lotkill, a small town in New York where she is currently employed. Her journey mirrors Wanda's journey. She is fiercely protective of Wanda especially when others try trick her. Wanda considers her 'a trusted friend and advisor.'As said by Wanda Maximoff to Viv Vision in Scarlet Witch #2 (2023)

= ''Scarlet Witch & Quicksilver'' (2024) =

Continuing her journey from Scarlet Witch 2023, Darcy is still employed as Wanda's shopkeeper at Emporium. Described as innovator of invectives, she was seen warning people off in the first issue. Even after Maximoff tried to get Lewis to leave her and the shop, the latter insisted to stay and help her. However, she heeded Maximoff's advice when the Wizard appeared and attacked both with fireball.

= ''Women of Marvel'' (2024) =

Darcy Lewis made her appearance in Witch House of the anthology series. She was seen visiting the titular Witch House at the Nexus of all Realities to meet Wanda Maximoff, her employer and friend, whom she missed very much. However, it was revealed that an unnamed monster had impersonated Lewis, a friendly face to Maximoff, to make her complacent that would enable it to eat her heart and know her secrets. Later when that monster again visits the house in the guise of Lewis, it is defeated by an alternate reality Wanda Maximoff. At the same time Maximoff (Earth-616) discovered that Darcy never visited her and remarked that in every reality she has her back and if she is lucky, she also has friends.

Reception

Darcy's humor has praised by several critics.{{Cite web |last=Phillips |first=Michael |date=November 6, 2013 |title=Review: 'Thor: The Dark World' hammered by repetition |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-thor-review-20131107-story.html |access-date=March 9, 2024 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} Dennings' performance in the first Thor was criticized by Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times, calling her "unimpressive".{{Cite web |date=May 6, 2011 |title=Movie Review: 'Thor' |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2011-may-06-la-et-thor-20110506-story.html |access-date=March 9, 2024 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} Others have called her the worst character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.{{Cite web |last=McCormick |first=Colin |date=November 18, 2019 |title=MCU: 20 Most Hated Supporting Characters |url=https://screenrant.com/mcu-most-hated-supporting-characters-pepper-potts-hank-pym-odin/ |access-date=March 9, 2024 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}