Ultron’s recent Marvel Comics return may provide a blueprint for the MCU, but Marvel Television’s upcoming Vision series should avoid copying this controversial storyline. James Spader was confirmed to be reprising his role of the tyrannical Ultron in the MCU’s Vision series in August 2024, set to bring back his iconic villain from 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron. There has been a great deal of speculation surrounding Ultron’s return alongside Paul Bettany’s White Vision, and a new Marvel Comics story may have revealed how the deadly artificial intelligence could reappear.
The MCU has always been loosely adapted from the stories of Marvel Comics’ rich almost-80-year history, though the live-action franchise hasn’t always stayed true to the comics. In fact, changes have often been made to the comics’ Marvel Universe to coincide with the MCU, which means recent Marvel Comics storylines could reveal new details about upcoming projects in Marvel’s live-action franchise. This spells both good news for Ultron in the Vision series, but also opens the door for a storyline that the MCU should actually try to avoid repeating.
Ultron Has Just Returned As A Hero In Marvel Comics
Ultron Returned As A West Coast Avenger In November 2024
Released on November 27, 2024, Marvel Comics’ West Coast Avengers (Vol. 4) #1 introduces a new version of the titular West Coast Avengers to the Marvel Universe. Comprised by Iron Man and War Machine, this version of the West Coast Avengers includes villains seeking redemption, including Ultron. In recent months, the MCU’s Vision series has been speculated to be including the formation of the West Coast Avengers, of which White Vision is an original member in Marvel Comics, so West Coast Avengers #1 lays out an interesting blueprint for Ultron’s return in the series.
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It’s very possible that, should the West Coast Avengers come together in the MCU in Phase 6, that a redeemed version of James Spader’s Ultron could be included in the team’s roster. Some may find it interesting to see Ultron stand alongside some of the MCU’s most powerful West Coast heroes, such as Ant-Man, She-Hulk, Shang-Chi and Wonder Man. However, featuring Ultron as a hero in the Vision series could be a huge misstep for Marvel Studios, which the company is surely actively trying to avoid following recent criticisms.
Nobody Needs Ultron As A Hero In The MCU
Ultron Needs To Be A Villain In The MCU’s Phase 6
Confirmation of James Spader’s return to the MCU as Ultron is very exciting, as many consider the tyrannical robot to be one of the franchise’s most wasted villains. The Vision series presents the opportunity for Ultron to finally make more of a mark on the MCU as a major antagonist, whether that be in philosophical battles with White Vision, or as the commander of an epic robot army. Reintroducing Ultron to the MCU as a hero would spoil this dramatic return, particularly after he came to the realization that humanity must be eradicated in Avengers: Age of Ultron.
Marvel Television’s
Vision
series is scheduled to be released in 2026 as part of the MCU’s Phase 6.
Star Trek: Picard’s
Terry Matalas has been hired as the series’ showrunner, and the show will be
WandaVision’s
second spinoff after
Agatha All Along
, so is expected to explore many of the same themes as Jac Schaeffer’s Phase 4 and 5 shows.
This conclusion isn’t exactly something a powerful villain would walk back on, but Marvel Studios may have the opportunity to feature both these storylines. Ultron could be a brief member of the West Coast Avengers before revealing his true colors, just as he does at the end of 2024’s West Coast Avengers #1. Ultron is and always will be a supervillain, so Marvel Studios should keep him that way in the upcoming Vision series, and avoid pulling off the superhero movie trope of reforming every villain and transforming them into formidable heroes.