Summary
- Marvel Studios reportedly has long-term plans for James Spader's Ultron in multiple projects.
- Ultron is set to return in the Vision series, led by showrunner Terry Matalas.
- Additional returning characters, such as Iron Man's Raza, are poised to play significant roles in the show.
Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige always has multiple irons in the fire and various future plans laid out. This truth has become exponential thanks to the advent of Disney+ and Marvel's various streaming shows. Now, rumors are circulating that Marvel fully intends for a returning villain to have a large part to play going forward in the MCU.
What is there to say about the Marvel Cinematic Universe at this point in time? After debuting in 2008 with Iron Man, the franchise became the hottest property Hollywood has ever seen (outside of perhaps Star Wars in the late-'70s and early-'80s). A decade of box office dominance followed, with the Avengers series being the particular standout. It's hard to argue against the idea that the MCU peaked with 2019's Avengers: Endgame, a genuine pop culture phenomenon that grossed nearly $3 billion at the worldwide box office. With Marvel Studios taking over the television side of things with Disney+'s creation, the MCU has only ballooned since Endgame, even as the overall quality has dipped and general interest has waned. The MCU's post-Endgame collection of films and television series—known as the Multiverse Saga—is set to end with 2027's Avengers: Secret Wars, leaving fans wondering what the future holds for the Marvel Studios franchise.
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Noted Hollywood leaker Daniel Richtman is claiming that Marvel "has plans for Ultron to return for multiple projects" after Vision (also known under its working title Vision Quest). Of course, all leaks and rumors could prove to be false, but it is interesting that Marvel plans on keeping James Spader's Ultron around for the long term following the Vision series. Filming on the series began this past March, and the show is set to hit Disney+ at some point in 2026. This means fans won't have seen Ultron onscreen (we're not including What If...? Here for obvious reasons) for over a decade, as he met his supposed demise at the hands of Vision during the finale of 2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron.
Marvel Studios Is Rumored To Have Big Plans For James Spader's Ultron Going Forward In The MCU
Not all that much is currently known about the Vision series. It is set to follow the reincarnated white Vision played by Paul Bettany, who was last seen in 2021's WandaVision. Obviously, Spader is returning as Ultron, but Faran Tahir's Raza—a villain who was also killed off back in 2008's Iron Man—is also set for his MCU return as well. We also know that The Haunting of Bly Manor's T'Nia Miller has been cast as comic book favorite Jocasta and that Emily Hampshire is taking over the role of Tony Stark's E.D.I.T.H. AI from Spider-Man: Far From Home.
Terry Matalas, the creative force behind sci-fi shows like 12 Monkeys and Star Trek: Picard, took over the development of Vision from WandaVision and Agatha All Along's Jac Schaeffer back in 2024. It's clear that Vision will have some kind of connection to WandaVision, but with Matalas taking over from Schaeffer, it's hard to know what the vibe will be in comparison. If Marvel Studios does have big plans for Ultron in the future of the MCU, look for him not to get killed off this time around. More James Spader is great for everyone, after all.
WandaVision is available to stream on Disney+.
- First Film
- Iron Man
- Latest Film
- Marvels
- Cast
- Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, Chadwick Boseman, Zoe Saldana, Chris Pratt, Tom Hiddleston, Iman Vellani
- TV Show(s)
- WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki, Ms. Marvel, She-Hulk
- Movie(s)
- Iron Man, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Endgame, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
- Character(s)
- Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, Hawkeye
Source: ComicBookMovie.com