With his main host body destroyed, Avengers: Age of Ultron's final act saw the villainous android take refuge in the last of his drones. Vision confronted him in the woods, but the outcome of their meaningful discussion was left somewhat ambiguous.
As Ultron lunged at his "son," a blast of energy was shown from afar, suggesting that Vision had destroyed the villain. However, it's long been theorised that he might have let him go free (or that Ultron found a way to fake his death).
The first trailer for Marvel Television's VisionQuest confirmed that Ultron is among the AIs now residing within Vision's mind. In WandaVision, Vision was rebuilt by S.W.O.R.D. without his memories or emotions. His past was eventually restored by the Hex Vision, prompting theories that he's sought out his fellow AIs to help him remember who he is.
In a new interview, Ultron actor James Spader confirmed that Ultron has neither hacked into Vision's mind nor somehow been captured after escaping in 2015. Instead, he's actually been contained in a prison in Vision's mind since they last crossed paths in Avengers: Age of Ultron.
"He's been in prison [since Avengers: Age of Ultron]. He's had access to the internet, television, history, and he's just been consuming and doing a bit of painting. He's been painting and making trouble," Spader revealed. "He's in this house with [Vision]. who he loves/hates, and then all these other AIs who he couldn't give a **** about."
So, it seems that Vision found a way to trap Ultron's consciousness. However, something tells us this will backfire not only on Vision, but potentially in a way that sends ripples across the wider MCU as we head into the next Saga.
Paul Bettany was also on hand to discuss the various AI characters we'll see in Vision Quest. "So, there is E.D.I.T.H., who was the AI that Stark gave to Peter Parker after his death. Edith is played by the extraordinarily funny and wonderful Emily Hampshire, who everybody adored. She's the funniest person that you can ever hang out with."
"And then there is Orla, who plays F.R.I.D.A.Y., who took over Jarvis's position when Jarvis went into Vision's body. There's Henry and Jonathan playing DUM-E and U, and Jarvis, played by James D'Arcy. Played brilliantly. Not as well as me when I played Jarvis, but he's, you know, he's a close second," the actor added.
Jocasta is also set to appear in VisionQuest, though the Bride of Ultron's role in the series remains a mystery. However, showrunner Terry Matalas has suggested she's one of the series's standout characters (you can hear from him in the player below).
A new still has also been released (via ScreenRant), showing the "human" Vision alongside his son, Tommy Maximoff, in Madripoor. A second (from Empire Online this time) finds the former Avenger in the theater.
"This is the first time where we get to watch Vision drive the narrative, and understand who he is, who he thinks he was," Matalas tells the magazine. "We watch this character go through an identity crisis. It’s kind of the Vision movie, if you will."
Further discussing the show's AI characters, Bettany added, "They’re there to help him. He is attempting to move about in the world in a small way, and then at night download this data and discuss the things that have happened to him with these different AIs, who have different characteristics and help him understand different qualities and skills."
"But he is also very much using it as an excuse to keep the world and himself at arm’s length. And of course, events conspire to drag him actually into the world."
In the series, Vision, rebooted and having escaped from those who sought to weaponise him, has been in hiding. Searching for new meaning, he consults the AI personas embedded in his programming, including F.R.I.D.A.Y., E.D.I.T.H., J.A.R.V.I.S., and the infamous Ultron.
His discreet existence ends when a bounty placed on his head thrusts him on the run with Thomas Shepard, a mysterious boy who may be Vision's son, reincarnate. As Vision evades capture, he must confront his nature, resist Ultron's influence, and unravel the enigma that is his young companion if he’s to survive.
VisionQuest stars Paul Bettany, James Spader, Ruaridh Mollica, Todd Stashwick, T'Nia Miller, Lauren Morais, Orla Brady, Diane Morgan, Polly Frame, Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, with Emily Hampshire and James D'Arcy.
The series is directed by Christopher J. Byrne, Gandja Monteiro, Vincenzo Natali, Terry Matalas, and written by Terry Matalas, Cindy Appel, Christopher Monfette, Nicole Falsetti, and Matthew Okumura.
VisionQuest is created for television by Terry Matalas, based on the Marvel Comics. The executive producers are Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Brad Winderbaum, Mary Livanos, Terry Matalas, Jac Schaeffer, and Christopher J. Byrne, and the producer is Roopesh Parekh.
The show premieres on Disney+ on October 14.