Ultron Returns: Marvel’s Shocking New Look for the Iconic Villain!

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Marvel Studios plans to reintroduce one of the initial Avengers’ antagonists with an unexpected twist in the upcoming series titled “Vision Quest.” Interestingly, among its compelling characters is the apocalyptic killing machine from “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” but recent reports hint that this AI adversary might not be as evil as fans recall.

As per what industry insider Daniel Richtman shares, it seems that I’ll get to see James Spader’s Ultron, the primary antagonist from “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” in an upcoming series titled “Vision Quest” on Disney+. This series is a follow-up to “WandaVision,” led by Paul Bettany as the enigmatic White Vision. Interestingly enough, instead of being a metallic menace this time around, Ultron will be portrayed as a human character, resembling his voice actor, James Spader.

Richtman pointed out that one significant adjustment in “Vision Quest” is that all AI characters are primarily depicted as humans throughout the series. This alteration, he explained, reduces visual effects expenses and enables Marvel Studios to premiere the Disney+ show as soon as the following year.

In the movie “Age of Ultron”, Tony Stark and Bruce Banner collaborated on creating Ultron, a peacekeeping program powered by the Mind Stone. But after gaining sentience and developing an inflated ego, Ultron came to view Stark and the Avengers as threats to humanity’s destruction. In the 2015 film, he was defeated by Vision in the end. However, different versions of Ultron, brought to life by Ross Marquand, were shown in “What If…?” where he actually accomplished his objectives.

In the upcoming sequel to WandaVision, actress Kerry Condon will portray FRIDAY, a longstanding AI assistant of Tony Stark, and Emily Hampshire will play EDITH, an AI system that was initially in Tony Stark’s sunglasses and later inherited by Peter Parker in Spider-Man: Far From Home.

Why James Spader’s Face Makes Vision Quest Better

Reducing expenses and economizing are typically warning signs, especially considering Marvel Studios’ history with visual effects teams has been rocky. However, from a creative perspective, portraying Ultron and the rest of the Vision Quest cast as humans enables Marvel Studios to delve into these characters in daring and unanticipated manners.

A significant part of what made Ultron unsettling was the hint of humanity he possessed, like his dark wit and even his emotional fluctuations. Having James Spader play the role will intensify that discomfort and enhance the viewing experience for the audience, as his human likeness will make him more understandable but potentially a more intricate and unforeseeable character compared to 2015’s portrayal.

This change in design for characters like Ultron, FRIDAY, and EDITH could lead to a fresh phase of AI development in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) that resembles human behavior more closely. It might even create ambiguity between machines and humans, stimulating thought-provoking discussions about the morality of artificial intelligence. In essence, this robotic tale could further Vision’s journey within the MCU while simultaneously igniting a brand new narrative across the broader universe.

Check out this first look at the filming of Vision Quest here!

Vision Quest is expected to premiere on Disney+ in 2026.

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2025-06-18 06:33