He had strings, but now he’s free… and he’s back. James Spader is set to reprise his role as Ultron in Marvel’s upcoming WandaVision sequel series centered on Paul Bettany’s Vision.
Spader will be returning to the character he first played in 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron (via The Hollywood Reporter). Accidentally created when Tony Stark and Bruce Banner attempted to build a defense system for the Earth, Ultron is an android with an AI based on Stark’s J.A.R.V.I.S. When he (it?) decided the only way to save the planet was to wipe out humanity — and thus, its protectors, the Avengers — he created Vision to aid in his domination. Vision ultimately turned against his “father,” joined the heroes, and defeated Ultron.
In fact, Vision “destroyed” Ultron, but as the villain himself (itself?) said, “Purge me from your computers; turn my own flesh against me. It means nothing! When the dust settles, the only thing living in this world will be metal!” (Plus, if they can bring Robert Downey, Jr. and Chris Evans back, there’s really no one Marvel can’t revive.)
Vision was later destroyed by Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War, but the power of grief and the extra-governmental intelligence agency S.W.O.R.D. led to his resurrection — as a ghostly white version of his former self — in WandaVision. It’s this incarnation that will be the focus of the upcoming Disney+ series.
Pegged as the finale in a trilogy of shows that began with WandaVision and continues September 18th with Agatha All Along, the Vision series is being referred to as Vision Quest, though that is not yet the official title. Acclaimed Star Trek: Picard showrunner Terry Matalas is set to lead the Disney+ production, which is slated to begin filming in England early next year.
Spader isn’t the only former Marvel Cinematic Universe star making a return. Downey Jr. is reportedly set to make a $100 million payday for playing Doctor Doom in the next two Avengers films, Doomsday and Secret Wars. Reportedly, his agreement to return to the franchise hinged on Marvel also bringing back the Russo Brothers, so they too have signed on to helm Avengers 5 and 6.
Interestingly, some fans have speculated that Doom’s plan could resembled what Stark tried to do in Age of Ultron, only on a multiversal scale. Could that mean James Spader’s Ultron might have a larger role to play as the Multiverse Saga spirals towards a conclusion? We’ll have to see how his role plays out in Vision Quest first.