Agatha Harkness (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

Agatha Harkness is a fictional character portrayed by Kathryn Hahn in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), first appearing in the Disney+ miniseries WandaVision (2021). She is a powerful witch with centuries of experience who initially disguises herself as Agnes, Wanda Maximoff's nosy neighbor in the fabricated reality of Westview.

Character History:

Agatha was born in Salem, Massachusetts, and trained in witchcraft. However, she craved forbidden knowledge and dark magic, leading her to steal power from her own coven, including her mother. As punishment, she was sentenced to death, but she overpowered her coven and seemingly killed them all, taking their power for herself.

For centuries, Agatha lived in secret, learning and accumulating magical knowledge. She became aware of Wanda Maximoff's immense, untamed chaos magic and sought to understand its source and potentially harness it. This led her to Westview, New Jersey, where she discovered Wanda's hex reality.

Role in WandaVision:

As Agnes, Agatha manipulates events within the Hex, subtly influencing Wanda and testing the limits of her abilities. She eventually reveals her true identity and confronts Wanda, explaining that Wanda possesses Chaos Magic, making her the legendary Scarlet Witch, a being of immense and unpredictable power. Agatha attempts to steal Wanda's powers but is ultimately defeated and imprisoned within the Hex, forced to live out the role of Agnes, the nosy neighbor.

Powers and Abilities:

• Magic: Agatha possesses a wide range of magical abilities, including energy manipulation, spellcasting, illusion creation, telekinesis, and transmutation.
• Dark Magic: She specializes in dark magic and is skilled in manipulating and absorbing magical energy.
• Immortality (Prolonged Lifespan): Through her magic and power absorption, Agatha has lived for centuries.
• Knowledge of Magic: Agatha possesses extensive knowledge of magical lore, history, and artifacts.

Future Appearances:

Kathryn Hahn is slated to reprise the role of Agatha Harkness in the upcoming Disney+ series Agatha: Darkhold Diaries, previously titled Agatha: House of Harkness. This series is expected to explore Agatha's past, motivations, and future plans within the MCU.

Reception:

Kathryn Hahn's portrayal of Agatha Harkness has been widely praised by critics and audiences alike. Her performance has been lauded for its comedic timing, villainous charisma, and exploration of the character's complex motivations. The character's theme song, "Agatha All Along," became a viral sensation and won a Primetime Emmy Award.