MCU's Vision Quest Embarks on Battle with Iconic Iron Man Villain

Marvel's upcoming Vision Quest series is reportedly resurrecting a villain from the very first MCU film, Iron Man.

Deadline reports that Faran Tahir will reprise his role as Raza Hamidmi al-Wazar, the Afghan terrorist leader who held Tony Stark captive in the opening scenes of the 2008 film. His character, betrayed by Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges), hasn't been seen since those initial 30 minutes. This marks a return to the MCU after nearly two decades, similar to Samuel Sterns' (The Incredible Hulk) appearance in Captain America: Brave New World. Currently, there's no release date for Vision Quest, starring Paul Bettany as White Vision following the events of WandaVision.

While initially portrayed as the head of a generic terrorist group, al-Wazar's backstory gained depth in Phase 4. The group was later revealed to be connected to the Ten Rings, a revelation that, while initially a subtle nod to the comics, was significantly expanded upon in 2021's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. This suggests a retroactive inclusion of al-Wazar as a Ten Rings commander, potentially linking Vision Quest to Shang-Chi's unresolved plot threads.

However, Vision Quest might also explore less-remembered MCU elements in a similar vein to Deadpool & Wolverine's approach to the defunct Fox Marvel universe.

The series will also feature the return of James Spader as Ultron, his first appearance since Avengers: Age of Ultron, though details about his role remain scarce.