"Vision Quest" promises an exhilarating comeback of a surprising adversary from the ranks of Iron Man's rogues' gallery. This upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe series, which follows Vision (played by Paul Bettany) post the events of "WandaVision" and "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier," will once again feature James Spader as Ultron. Serving as the showrunner for MCU's "Vision Quest" is Terry Matalas, who has previously helmed the television series "12 Monkeys" and "Star Trek: Picard." Joining him is Todd Stashwick, a notable actor from both "12 Monkeys" and "Picard," cast in a role yet to be disclosed.
Deadline has exclusively revealed that Raza, the notorious leader of the Ten Rings terrorist cell who once plotted Tony Stark's demise, will also make an appearance in "Vision Quest." Reprising his role from the 2008 "Iron Man" film, Faran Tahir steps back into the shoes of Raza. Though "Iron Man" marks Tahir's sole MCU outing so far, his resume boasts a diverse array of credits, including his debut as Nathoo in Disney's 1994 "The Jungle Book," Captain Robau in J.J. Abrams' 2009 "Star Trek," and President Rashad in the final season of ABC's hit series "Scandal."
Raza's unexpected resurgence in "Vision Quest" hints at a pivotal role for the Ten Rings in this "WandaVision" spinoff. Despite his absence since "Iron Man," Raza was referenced in a deleted flashback scene from "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings," where Wenwu (played by Tony Leung Chiu-wai) mentions a meeting with him. This subtle nod might have been laying the groundwork for Raza's return and his representation of the Ten Rings in future MCU endeavors.
Moreover, "Vision Quest" might not only feature Raza but also Xu Xialing (Meng'er Zhang), showcasing how the Ten Rings have transformed since "Shang-Chi's" post-credits scene revealed her as the organization's new leader. While it seems odd for the Ten Rings to serve as Vision's primary antagonist, especially considering Ultron's technological prowess and intrinsic connection to Vision's creation, Raza's return signals a significant comeback for the terrorist organization in "Vision Quest."
Raza's return underscores the MCU's penchant for reviving characters from its earliest films in new movies or series. Similarly, Tim Blake Nelson reprises his role as Samuel Sterns in "Captain America: Brave New World," his first appearance since "The Incredible Hulk" in 2008. Tahir's performances, whether in "Iron Man" or "Scandal," have always left a lasting impression, regardless of the size of his role. It would indeed be gratifying to see him not only in "Vision Quest" but also playing a prominent part in this MCU series.
