# Agatha Harkness (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

Agatha Harkness is a character portrayed by Kathryn Hahn in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) media franchise based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. Harkness is depicted as a powerful witch who has long dabbled in dark magic. After murdering her original coven and failing to prevent the death of her son Nicholas Scratch, Harkness spends centuries as a conwoman, using "The Ballad of the Witches' Road" to lure in gullible witches and siphon their powers.
Most recently, Harkness infiltrates the Westview anomaly and inserts herself into Wanda Maximoff's life in hopes of unraveling the mystery of her reality-warping abilities. Once her intentions are uncovered, Harkness battles Maximoff and is trapped in a spell that overrides her identity. She spends three years in Westview playing the part of a harmless, nosy neighbor, until Billy Maximoff breaks her out of the spell. With the Salem Seven and her ex-lover Death chasing after her, Harkness forms a coven of troubled witches and sets out on the Witches' Road in search of power. Having survived the Road's trials, Harkness and Billy Maximoff face Death in battle, with Harkness sacrificing herself to save Maximoff's life. She returns as a ghost to guide Maximoff on his quest to find his twin brother Tommy Maximoff.
The character made her debut in the 2021 Disney+ miniseries WandaVision, and has since appeared in its spinoff, Agatha All Along (2024). An alternate version of Agatha Harkness appeared in the third season of the animated series What If...? (2024). Hahn's portrayal of the character has been well-received, and she has earned several accolades for her performance, notably being nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in 2021 and a Golden Globe Award in 2024.

## Fictional character biography
### Youth and motherhood

In 1693, Agatha Harkness murdered her coven, the Salemites, including her mother Evanora, after they attempted to execute her for practicing dark magic. She absorbed the powers of her fellow witches but spared their children, who later formed the Salem's Seven, a group that sought revenge against her. In 1750, Harkness had a son, Nicholas Scratch, who was fated to die at birth. Harkness negotiated with her lover Death to extend Scratch's life. Over the next six years, Scratch traveled with his mother and reluctantly assisted her in luring witches to their deaths. Together, they created a song that gained popularity as a folk tune called "The Ballad of the Witches' Road". After Death claimed Scratch in 1756, Harkness maintained a centuries-long practice of deceiving witches with tales of the Witches' Road in order to drain their powers and kill them.

### Present at disasters

Harkness was allegedly present at several major historical events in the 20th century, including the sinking of the Titanic in 1912 and the Hindenburg disaster in 1937. In the 1920s, Harkness lived in Boston where she sold spells for financial gain. By the 1970s, she had relocated to Nashville, where she crossed paths with Dolly Parton. Parton slapped her, an event that was caught on camera and inspired the song "Jolene".

### Westview Anomaly

In late 2023, Harkness is drawn to the anomaly of Westview, New Jersey. Intrigued by Wanda Maximoff's ability to alter reality, she infiltrates the Hex and, unaffected by its properties, adopts the persona of "Agnes," a nosy neighbor. As Agnes, Harkness inserts herself into Maximoff's life to learn more about the source of her powers. She becomes involved in various events in Westview, such as helping Maximoff with household tasks and attending the Westview Talent Show. She subtly manipulates situations to raise suspicion about newcomer Geraldine (Monica Rambeau) and later controls the mind of local actor Ralph Bohner to impersonate Maximoff's deceased brother, Pietro. Harkness is involved in looking after Maximoff's children, Tommy and Billy, while intentionally causing Maximoff and Vision to question their reality.
She eventually reveals her true identity as Agatha Harkness, a powerful witch, and manipulates Maximoff into showing her how she created the Westview anomaly. Using the Darkhold's power, Harkness demonstrates her own magical abilities and tries to extract the source of Maximoff's power, chaos magic, while holding Maximoff's children captive. Harkness frees Westview's residents from Maximoff's influence and taunts Maximoff, demanding to learn the secret behind her abilities. In their final confrontation, Maximoff overwhelms Harkness by using runes to limit her magic. Maximoff then traps Harkness in her "Agnes" persona and leaves her in Westview, intended to remain a powerless, harmless neighbor.

### Under the Scarlet Witch's spell

For three years, Harkness remains in Westview under Wanda Maximoff's spell as Agnes O'Connor. After Maximoff's death in 2026, O'Connor takes on a detective persona to investigate a mysterious corpse found in town. She is forced to collaborate with FBI agent Rio Vidal, with whom she has unclear history. O'Connor apprehends a teenage boy for attempted robbery, but his cryptic answers lead her to question her environment. She later visits the coroner's office and, with Vidal's help, identifies the victim's name to be "W. Maximoff". O'Connor recalls her true identity as Agatha Harkness when she sees her own name on the victim's library card next to Maximoff's.

### Assembling a coven

After breaking free from Maximoff's spell, Harkness finds herself without magic. She is confronted by Vidal, who vows to disclose Harkness' location to the Salem Seven before departing. Intrigued by the boy she apprehended—whose true identity remains obscured by a magical sigil—Harkness agrees to take him on the Witches' Road: a perilous series of trials that greatly rewards surviving witches. In order to access the Road, Harkness and Teen set out to gather a coven. Using persuasion, threats, and appeals to their desires to regain their powers, the two recruit Lilia Calderu, a divination witch, Jennifer Kale, a potions witch whose magic is bound, and Alice Wu-Gulliver, a blood witch. The coven's final member is Sharon Davis, a local gardener with no magical abilities. When the witches fail to open the Road, Harkness attempts to provoke them into attacking in order to steal their power. A gate unexpectedly forms as Teen bursts in, and Harkness follows the group down the Witches' Road to escape the Salem Seven.

### On the Witches' Road

Harkness and her coven emerge onto the Witches' Road, expecting to face trials focused on different branches of witchcraft. The coven enters a coastal house, where they share a bottle of poisoned wine. As they brew an antidote, Harkness hallucinates a crib containing the Darkhold. She encourages Kale to finish the antidote just before the time runs out and escapes with her fellow witches, only to realize that Mrs. Davis is dead.
The coven call upon a replacement green witch and, to Harkness' dismay, Vidal raises from Mrs. Davis' grave. At a recording studio tied to Lorna Wu, a famous witch musician and Wu-Gulliver's late mother, Vidal approaches Harkness and they flirtatiously discuss betraying the group. Attacked by Wu-Gulliver's generational curse, Harkness concludes that Wu's renowned cover of "The Ballad of the Witches' Road" functions as a protection spell. To destroy the curse, the coven play Wu's version of the Ballad, with Harkness stepping into the role of frontwoman. On Harkness' distressed urges, Kale successfully heals an injured Teen. Harkness oversees Teen's recovery and they discuss his sigil, but Harkness refuses to engage in conversation about her son Nicholas Scratch. Vidal approaches Harkness privately, but when Harkness attempts to kiss her, Vidal stops her, telling her that Teen is not hers.
Chased by the Salem Seven, Harkness leads the coven in an attempt to flee on makeshift flying broomsticks. They enter a forest cabin and Vidal identifies the trial as Harkness'. The witches use a Ouija board to contact the dead and Harkness is possessed by the spirit of her mother Evanora Harkness, whom she murdered. Wu-Gulliver intervenes, attacking with her magic and successfully expelling the ghost. Harkness seizes the opportunity to absorb Wu-Gulliver's power, killing her. Following a violent argument with Teen, Harkness deduces that he is Billy Maximoff, Wanda Maximoff's reincarnated son.
Coming across and entering a castle, Harkness and Maximoff are presented with the next trial: a tarot reading table. The two attempt reading for each other, but each time they draw a wrong card, a sword falls from the ceiling. Calderu and Kale join them, and, during Calderu's reading for the coven, Harkness' card is revealed to be the Three of Swords—depicting grief, betrayal and heartbreak. Vidal is exposed as the personification of Death and Harkness' ex-lover. Harkness strikes a bargain with Death to ensure Maximoff's surrender in exchange for Death never seeking her out again. As she rejoins the survivors, Maximoff and Kale, the trio are transported to the final trial, where they must cultivate a plant within a time limit. It is revealed that Harkness is the one who bound Kale's magic. Harkness assists Maximoff to locate his twin brother's soul and transfer it to the body of a drowning boy. Acknowledging her grief over Nicholas Scratch's death, she completes the trial by herself and escapes the Road.

### Battle with Death

Harkness emerges in her backyard in Westview, still without magical powers, where Death confronts her for rejecting her affection and failing to deliver Billy Maximoff. Maximoff comes to Harkness' rescue, letting Harkness siphon some of his magic to restore hers. Harkness clashes with Death, but soon admits the fight to be futile. Death demands that either Harkness or Maximoff accompany her. Maximoff volunteers, and Harkness agrees to let him proceed. Infiltrating her mind, Maximoff asks her if this is how her son died. This prompts a change of heart in Harkness, who kisses Death and dies, with flowers growing where her dead body fell.

### Return as a ghost

In the aftermath of her death, Harkness appears as a ghost in Maximoff's room to explain it was him who created the Road with his magic—a fact she was always aware of. Maximoff returns to Westview and attempts to banish Harkness to the afterlife, but reconsiders when Harkness admits she isn't prepared to face her son, whom Maximoff reminds her of. Maximoff agrees to work with Harkness and seals off the entrance to the Witches' Road as the two set out to find Tommy Maximoff.

## Alternate versions

A version of Agatha Harkness is depicted in an alternate reality of the MCU multiverse, appearing in the second episode of the third season of the animated series What If...? (2024), also portrayed by Kathryn Hahn.

### Hollywood actress

In an alternate version of the 1930s, Agatha Harkness discovers the Celestial Tiamut within Earth and devises a plan to steal his energy through a ritual requiring vast resources. To achieve this, she collaborates with Howard Stark, starring in his production to access the necessary tools, and eventually convinces co-star Kingo to join her plan to stop the Emergence. To complete her ritual, Harkness taps into Kingo's energy to siphon Tiamut's power, transforming herself into a godlike being. Arishem arrives to confront her, but Harkness traps him with a rune and absorbs his power. With Arishem gone, Harkness reveals her true plan: to use her newfound Celestial power to dominate the world. Kingo convinces her otherwise, appealing to her love of fame and the transformative power of cinema. At their film's premiere, Harkness and Kingo speak about their vision to inspire humanity, whereas the latter worries that other Celestials will not leave the news of Arishem's death unanswered.

## Background

In the comics, Agatha Harkness first appeared in Fantastic Four #94 (October 1969) as the governess to Franklin Richards, serving as an ally to the Fantastic Four. She trained the Scarlet Witch / Wanda Maximoff in the art of magic and was revealed to be the mother of the warlock Nicholas Scratch and the grandmother of the Salem's Seven. She has also been a member of the Daughters of Liberty. Originally depicted as an elderly woman, Harkness was able to become young again and increased her strength.

### Adaptation and appearances

The character made her MCU debut in the 2021 Disney+ miniseries WandaVision. Kathryn Hahn's casting in the role of "Agnes", Wanda and Vision's neighbor, was announced at Disney's biennial D23 Expo convention in August 2019. Hahn was informed about her character's true identity from the beginning, a revelation that occurs in episode 7, "Breaking the Fourth Wall". Head writer Jac Schaeffer explained the decision to introduce Agatha Harkness was made due to her Marvel Comics connection to Wanda Maximoff's stories. In the early development stages of the show, Agatha was conceived as a mentor figure for Maximoff, more closely referencing her comics counterpart, but Schaeffer realized that making her a proper antagonist would serve the show's structure well. The possibility of Harkness seeking Maximoff's powers to bring her mother back was also explored, but not included in the show. Back when Harkness was planned to be Maximoff's mentor, she was intended to teach her a binding spell that Maximoff would use in the final episode while saying goodbye to the Vision. By the end of WandaVision, Harkness is defeated by Maximoff and trapped in a spell suppressing her identity.
Following the conclusion of her character's story in WandaVision, Hahn signed an overall deal with Marvel Studios to reprise her role in multiple projects. A spinoff of WandaVision focusing on Agatha Harkness was announced to be in the works by October 2021, with the project undergoing several title changes as part of a marketing strategy until eventually being revealed as Agatha All Along, based on the Wandavision song of the same name. The miniseries was released on Disney+ from September 18 to October 30 and told the story of Agatha Harkness and Maximoff's reincarnated son Billy assembling a coven to go down the Witches' Road in search of power. Having sacrificed herself to save Billy Maximoff, Harkness is transformed into a ghost by the series' conclusion.

## Characterization

   What I see is someone grieving. She can't get full. She can't fill herself up, and so she's just eating and eating and eating. [...] I was really enchanted with the idea that Agatha's truth, and her true pain, was very human and very pedestrian.
Preparing for her role in WandaVision, Kathryn Hahn researched her character's comics counterpart. Hahn imagined Harkness "really enjoyed sticking around and being in these sitcoms", and portrayed her relationship with Wanda Maximoff as a witch who has been "flying around for a couple of centuries without a coven" and "would love to have a friend for a second". Hahn called Harkness' real persona "very done-up and very big", and felt her character had a "restless" quality as she studied Maximoff.
When continuing the character's story in Agatha All Along, showrunner Jac Schaeffer and Hahn deemed it important to maintain her "acerbic, sarcastic, self-involved" demeanor while placing her in a position where she begrudgingly needs a community. Schaeffer has described Agatha Harkness as a "frustrated, mean mentor" whose best self emerges when teaching others.$^{:5:00}$ Hahn has referred to her character as "the ultimate conartist" and "a blooming onion, because there's so many layers that are yet to be peeled". It was decided early into development for Agatha All Along that Harkness would not have a redemption arc. Following the series' conclusion, Schaeffer commented, "I do think we witness change in this woman, but she's not a good guy at the end of the show, and I don't think she ever will be." Schaeffer intended Harkness' past with Nicholas Scratch to serve as an emotional core for the character and be representative of "her truth". Schaeffer maintained that Harkness would "understand the permanence of his [Nicholas'] death" and subvert the villain trope of being motivated by a desire to resurrect a loved one. Harkness' relationship with Death stemmed from a natural discussion about the kind of character Harkness would be drawn to and who would, in turn, be drawn to her. Schaeffer described their dynamic as reflecting Harkness' attraction to power and her desire to be challenged, serving as a metaphor for her complex and enduring relationship with the concept of death.$^{:6:28}$ Addressing the character's sexuality, Hahn remarked: "I don't think you can put Agatha in a box".

## Powers and abilities

In the MCU, Agatha Harkness possessed a range of magical abilities prior to being trapped under the Scarlet Witch's spell. She wielded dark magic and was able to absorb life force energy and power from others, as seen in the trial flashback in WandaVision and her centuries-long Witches' Road con in Agatha All Along. Most of her magical prowess is displayed during WandaVision episodes "Previously On" and "The Series Finale" when she faces Wanda Maximoff, and in Agatha All Along episode "Follow Me My Friend / To Glory at the End" when she battles Death. Harkness casts binding runes that disable other witches' magic within her controlled space, and creates illusions to deceive others, such as transforming herself into a 1950s, black-and-white look to blend in with Maximoff's Hex upon arriving in Westview. She influences and manipulates memories, emotions, and perceptions, as she does extracting Maximoff's memories. She demonstrates the ability to alter the form of objects, transforming a cicada into a bird in "Previously On", and takes control of Ralph Bohner's mind in "Breaking the Fourth Wall", forcing him to play the part of Pietro Maximoff. In her battles against Maximoff in "The Series Finale" and Death in "Follow Me My Friend / To Glory at the End", Harkness levitates, manipulates objects with her magic, and generates magical energy, often displayed as purple-hued blasts or shields. Having studied the Darkhold, Harkness possesses knowledge of ancient and forbidden magic. In addition to being able to look inside and manipulate other people's minds, Harkness can also guard her own against psionic intrusions from the likes of Wanda and Billy Maximoff. She incapacitated Jennifer Kale's magical abilities in the 1900s through a binding spell. Harkness has a longer lifespan than the average human, with flashbacks of her past set as early as 1693. As a ghost, Harkness is initially incapable of interacting with physical objects, but is able to pick up her brooch within minutes.

## Differences from the comics

Agatha Harkness in the MCU has had a distinctly villainous depiction compared to her comic book counterpart, who is an ally to the Fantastic Four and a long-term mentor to Wanda Maximoff. Originally intended to align with her Marvel Comics role as a magical teacher, Jac Schaeffer pivoted the character to a villain to serve as a foil for Maximoff. By the end of Agatha All Along, the character references her comics version more extensively as she transforms into a ghost and guides Maximoff's son, Billy, on his journey. Portrayed by Kathryn Hahn, Harkness' physical appearance in the MCU is aged-down in comparison to the comics prior to her revival and the restoration of her youthful look. At the end of Agatha All Along, she adopts some of the comic character's significant design traits, such as a translucent look, white hair and a purple gown. While both versions of the character possess extensive magical knowledge, Harkness' power in the MCU revolves around siphoning other witches' energy. She is also a known practitioner of dark magic, and wielded the Darkhold before losing it to Maximoff. Instead of a black cat called Ebony, Harkness' MCU familiar is a bunny named Señor Scratchy. Harkness' son Nicholas Scratch, a villainous character in the comics, has not been introduced as an adult into the MCU, having passed away as a child. Harkness' connection to the Salem Seven is reimagined, shifting from being their grandmother to having killed their mothers, who were once part of her former coven.$^{:2:47}$ Harkness' quest on the Witches' Road draws inspiration from Wanda Maximoff's journey in the comics, where Harkness appears as her guide. Unlike her comic books counterpart, Harkness in the MCU is often associated with musical numbers, including "Agatha All Along" in WandaVision, multiple performances of "The Ballad of the Witches' Road" in Agatha All Along, and a swing dance number in the third season of What If...?.

## Reception

In WandaVision, Agatha Harkness was celebrated for her comedic timing and her subsequent transition into a genuine threat for the character of Wanda Maximoff. Her theme song, "Agatha All Along", went viral after appearing in "Breaking the Fourth Wall", peaking at number one on iTunes' Soundtrack chart, reaching fifth on iTunes' Top 100 singles chart, and debuted on Billboard's Digital Song Sales chart at number 36. It also earned the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media.
Following the conclusion of Agatha All Along, many appreciated the character for presenting a more vulnerable side without overriding her dark nature. Jean Henegan of Pop Culture Maniacs celebrated the Harkness-centric miniseries for "letting her [Harkness] simply be the morally bankrupt character we loved from WandaVision – just with much more personally at stake this time around." Caroline Framke of Vulture praised Harkness' depiction, writing, "[She] was not a good person, but she is a great character." CBR's Joshua M. Patton concluded that avoiding a redemption arc for Harkness allowed her to become "more human and sympathetic" without compromising her villainy, which he described as "the best choice for a villain-focused series like this." The character has garnered praise from queer critics and the LGBTQ+ community following her relationship with Death in Agatha All Along.
Hahn's portrayal of Agatha Harkness has been critically acclaimed. She is one of three actors to receive a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for their work on an MCU project, and one of four actors to receive a Golden Globe Award nomination. In 2021, critics praised her portrayal of Harkness' reveal in WandaVision, concluding, "Hahn looms large and seriously in charge of her craft". Writing for Tell-Tale TV in 2024, Mufsin Mahbub stated that Agatha All Along "does well in showcasing Hahn's ability to play this role and why audiences have been captivated by her mischievous character" as Hahn "continues to own the role [...] with her quippy dialogue and deliciously devilish persona". Taylor Gates of Collider praised Hahn's performance in Agatha All Along, writing: "Hahn continues to one-up herself every week with the range of emotions this part demands her to play — not to mention the speed this show asks her to toggle between them." Reviewing Agatha All Along's conclusion, Alan French of Sunshine State Cineplex summarized Hahn's portrayal of Agatha Harkness as "stunning" and "providing an excellent coda to the virtuosic [...] episodes she already delivered".

### Accolades

For portraying the character in WandaVision episode "The Series Finale", Hahn was named TVLine's Performer of the Week on March 6, 2021. The website's commentary reads, "Agatha's cruel power was made clear through Hahn's acting choices, like the way her eyes lit up just before her old coven turned on Wanda, or the pleasure she took in revealing that the Hex couldn't actually be fixed with a new spell. Plus, that witchy cackle of hers? Top-notch." For her work on Agatha All Along's fifth episode, "Darkest Hour / Wake Thy Power", Hahn was a featured performer once again, this time as an honorable mention for the week ending October 12, 2024. Rebecca Iannucci commented that "Kathryn Hahn has one of the most formidable acting ranges in the business" and commended her for "her comedy chops [...] and her subtle dramatic skill". The publication went on to include Hahn among their 20 finalists for Performer of the Year in December 2024, with R. I. praising her "delicate moments: her hints of genuine longing for Vidal; the glimpses of grief over her son's death; and her surprising — ill-advised, even! — protectiveness over Teen". In 2024, Agatha Harkness and Billy Maximoff were among TVLine's Top 20 Non-Romantic TV Duos of 2024. Harkness and Vidal's fight scene in Agatha All Along episode "Seekest Thou the Road" was featured as one of the website's 20 Sexiest Scenes of the year.
Accolades received by Agatha All Along :
| Year | Work | Award | Category | Result |
| 2021 | WandaVision | Dorian Awards | Best Supporting TV Performance | Won |
| 2021 | WandaVision | Dorian Awards | Best TV Musical Performance | Won |
| 2021 | WandaVision | Gold Derby Awards | Movie/Limited Series Supporting Actress | Won |
| 2021 | WandaVision | Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Television Movie | Won |
| 2021 | WandaVision | International Online Cinema Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie | Nominated |
| 2021 | WandaVision | MTV Movie & TV Awards | Best Villain | Won |
| 2021 | WandaVision | MTV Movie & TV Awards | Best Fight | Won |
| 2021 | WandaVision | MTV Movie & TV Awards | Best Musical Moment | Nominated |
| 2021 | WandaVision | Online Film & Television Association | Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture or Limited Series | Won |
| 2021 | WandaVision | People's Choice Awards | Female TV Star of 2021 | Nominated |
| 2021 | WandaVision | Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics | Won |
| 2021 | WandaVision | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie | Nominated |
| 2022 | WandaVision | Critics' Choice Super Awards | Best Villain in a Series | Won |
| 2022 | WandaVision | Critics' Choice Super Awards | Best Actress in a Superhero Series | Nominated |
| 2022 | WandaVision | Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television | Nominated |
| 2022 | WandaVision | Grammy Awards | Best Song Written for Visual Media | Nominated |
| 2022 | WandaVision | Saturn Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Streaming Series | Nominated |
| 2025 | Agatha All Along | Golden Globe Awards | Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy | Nominated |
| 2025 | Agatha All Along | Independent Spirit Awards | Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series | Nominated |
| 2025 | Agatha All Along | Music Supervisors Guild Awards | Best Song Written and/or Recorded for Television | Won |
| 2025 | Agatha All Along | Saturn Awards | Best Actress in a Television Series | Nominated |