What becomes of a machine after it inherits a lifetime of memories but cannot feel any of them? Marvel Studios unveiled the first trailer for “VisionQuest” at D23, revealing Paul Bettany’s long-awaited return as Vision and James Spader’s equally unexpected resurrection as Ultron.
The eight-episode Disney+ series concludes the trilogy that began with “WandaVision” and continued through “Agatha All Along.” Last seen flying away from Westview after his memories were restored, the all-white Vision now understands his former life intellectually but remains unable to reconnect with it emotionally.
“It’s been an enormous joy playing the Vision as he’s evolved over the years,” Bettany told the crowd. “He’s been an Avenger, a father, a partner to Wanda, and he’s helped turned the tide in some fairly enormous battles. He made the ultimate sacrifice and rather inconveniently died several times, which I can tell you is an act that can make long-term financial planning difficult. But I am told that in the Marvel Universe, no one is ever really dead — unless Kevin says they’re dead. And even then, I wouldn’t really trust him anyway.”
The trailer leans into that identity crisis, taking viewers inside Vision’s mind—a surreal mansion populated by human manifestations of the artificial intelligences he has absorbed and preserved over the years. That includes Ultron, Vision’s genocidal creator, who appears in both his familiar robotic body and a human form played by Spader. Vision may have buried him behind an elaborate mental firewall, but keeping a psychopath contained and keeping him silent are apparently two different challenges.
Created and run by “Star Trek: Picard” showrunner Terry Matalas, the series also explores Vision’s relationship with his reincarnated son Tommy Maximoff, played by Ruaridh Mollica. Matalas directs alongside Christopher J. Byrne, Gandja Monteiro, and Vincenzo Natali.
The ensemble includes Todd Stashwick as the bounty hunter Paladin, T’Nia Miller as Jocasta, Emily Hampshire as E.D.I.T.H., Orla Brady as F.R.I.D.A.Y., James D’Arcy as J.A.R.V.I.S., Henry Lewis as D.U.M.-E, Jonathan Sayer as U, and Faran Tahir, reprising his “Iron Man” role as Raza. Mary McDonnell, Diane Morgan, and Lauren Morais also appear.
“This Vision is beginning to ask a more complicated question: What, or perhaps who, is he?” Bettany continued while on stage. “And what is it that makes us actually human? Which brings us to the person you most want beside you during an existential crisis: Ultron. Yes, Ultron is back, and we’re going to figure out humanity together. So obviously, that should go extremely well.”
“Frankly, I can’t believe it took you so long to turn to me,” Spader added. “Everyone knows that Ultron has long been fascinated by humanity.”
“VisionQuest” premieres October 14 on Disney+. Watch the trailer below.
