Is Ultron the key to VisionQuest? Producer Brad Winderbaum teases the villain’s role in the highly-anticipated Disney Plus series.
VisionQuest is shaping up to be one of the oddest Disney Plus shows to date. The series is being helmed by Star Trek alum Terry Matalas and is set to bring half a dozen new actors to established roles in the franchise. Though, and perhaps most interestingly, it will also serve as the grand return of James Spader as Ultron.
Ultron has a wide history in the comics, but one wouldn’t call it particularly deep. Aside from Victor Mancha, the character has rarely been tied to storylines that don’t involve blowing up the world. Given VisionQuest is a series described as being much more cerebral than the standard Disney Plus fare, fans are left a bit lost as to what role he can play.
Ultron’s Fatherly Role In VisionQuest
During a recent appearance on The Official Marvel Podcast, Head of Streaming, Television and Animation at Marvel Studios Brad Winderbaum touched on how VisionQuest plays into the themes of fatherhood. And, given Ultron is Vision’s father, it seems to confirm that he’ll be playing a role in the emotional core of the series.
“It’s really about fathers and sons and specifically about three generations of grandfather, father, son. Can a man who had an abusive father be a good father himself? It gets very emotional at times, and it’s an exciting adventure.”
“When you see Vision kicking ass, and you get that Marvel fun and adventure, it’s all done on a backdrop of real human stakes and emotion, which makes the show feel very grand. It’s like an adrenaline rush.”
Rumors suggest that VisionQuest is also set to feature Thomas Shephard, aka Speed, Vision’s son. As such, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Ultron try to influence him into turning into a villain. It would certainly be interesting to see the villain in a more nuanced role, especially given how expensive the series likely is to produce.
VisionQuest is set to land on Disney Plus in 2026. Stay tuned for the latest news regarding Vision and the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe!