Expect a different Ultron in VisionQuest — James Spader spells out what’s new

Here we go again – Ultron’s not finished with us yet. James Spader is officially stepping back into the villain’s shoes for VisionQuest, the upcoming Marvel series on Disney+. If you’ve been itching for more robotic existential crisis wrapped up with a bit of apocalyptic banter, this trailer is definitely for you.

VisionQuest lands on Disney+ on 14 October 2026.

Ultron Evolves (Again)

Marvel have dropped a new trailer with a bit of everything – your standard flashy in-universe drama, but also some behind-the-scenes chat from Spader. Even he sounds slightly surprised to be back in the chair (well, the motion-capture suit). Looking back on Ultron’s journey from the last decade, Spader explains in a featurette-style segment:

‘It really started with a voiceover. Ten years later, here I am. He’s older and wiser.’

Apparently, this isn’t just a simple reboot of the old baddie. Ultron’s had more time to stew – no longer just a mechanical terror, he’s established himself as something inside Vision’s head now, even showing up in human form this time. And Spader’s clearly relishing the evolution, offering a version of Ultron who’s less shouty robot overlord and more chillingly philosophical presence.

Vision’s Latest Problem

The series picks up where WandaVision left off, with Paul Bettany returning as Vision, still trying to figure out his own reality. Expect more identity angst: Vision wrestles with memories, purpose, and his own sense of self, dragged every which way by new mysteries – many of which, naturally, point straight back to Ultron.

Trailer footage shows Ultron doing what he does best: talking circles around Vision and holding a disturbingly calm threat over everything. There’s manipulation, cryptic warnings, and a handful of pointed attacks about Vision’s blind spots: “You are blind, Vision, to almost everything, including the truth.” Nice bit of reassurance from your creator’s creator, there. Other characters in the trailer aren’t holding back either, throwing out labels like “monster”, “devil”, “killer”, and “genocidal maniac” for Ultron, in case you forgot who we’re dealing with.

• James Spader reprises Ultron, now portrayed with a more human-like presence.
• Paul Bettany returns as Vision, continuing his journey of self-discovery from WandaVision.
• Ultron says he’s back to “finish what I started all those years ago” – which, if you remember Age of Ultron, is quite a threat.
• He also dryly promises, “I’ll just be here watching the world burn.” Very comforting.
• Notably, Ultron has chosen a new look. When asked by E.D.I.T.H. why the change, he simply states, “Suits me.”

The connections to Avengers: Age of Ultron are direct – this is the same Ultron, following up on those world-ending ambitions, but with a bit more world-weary edge. He even tells Vision, “You wanted to play God? Now it’s time you met one.” If there was ambiguity about Ultron’s role in this new series, the trailer’s put that to rest: he's the main event, pushing Vision to fresh existential limits while advancing his own old schemes.

Whatever else VisionQuest turns out to be, Spader’s return as a more layered Ultron is already the draw. Marvel’s promising both a reunion and a reckoning.