The villainous artificial intelligence Ultron is set to return to theMCUin the upcomingVisionseries, and this could create the perfect opportunity for Michael Douglas' wish for Hank Pym to come true in the weirdest way.James Spader first voiced Ultronin 2015’s eponymousAvengers: Age of Ultron, and while MCU veteran Ross Marquand took over the role forWhat If…?andDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Spader has now been confirmed to be returning. Ultron’s return makes some of Marvel Comics' biggest and strangest storylines possible, including one focused on Hank Pym.
Instead of Tony Stark, it wasHank Pym who created Ultronin Marvel Comics, using his own brainwaves to develop the robot’s artificial intelligence. Ultron turned against his father, vowing to destroy Ant-Man and his Avenger allies, similarly to James Spader’s live-action Ultron.While the Ultron of the MCU has no connection to Hank Pym, it would be great to see the pair’s rich Marvel Comics history referencedinMarvel Television’s upcomingVisionseries, and this could mark the end of the line for Michael Douglas' MCU hero.
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Ultron Could Return To The MCU In Human Form
Ultron Could Be A Robot Or In Human Form In The Vision Series
Shortly after James Spader was confirmed to be returning as Ultron in the MCU,The Hollywood Reporterrevealed thatStar Trek: Picardactor Todd Stashwick has also been cast in theVisionseries. Stashwick followsPicard’sTerry Matalas to theVisionseries, and while it’s not known who he’ll be playing, this report also revealed more details about Ultron’s much anticipated return.The Hollywood Reporternoted that"it’s unclear whether Ultron will be returning as a robot or in human form,“raising questions about James Spader’s reprisal.
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Initially, there seemed to be no doubt that Ultron would return to the MCU as a robot, given the fact that he has only ever been depicted as a robotic artificial intelligence inAvengers: Age of Ultronand his other appearances across the multiverse.The Hollywood Reporter’scomments imply this could be wildly different in theVisionseries, as Ultron could take the body of a human. While this may give James Spader a more substantive role in the MCU’s Phase 6, this could also provide the perfect opportunity for Michael Douglas to return as Hank Pym.
How Ultron Can Become Human In The MCU: Marvel Comics Story Explained
Ultron Has Wanted To Combine Man & Machine For Many Years
Ultron has made several attempts over the years to integrate his artificial intelligence with organic matter in Marvel Comics.This really started in 2007’sThe Mighty Avengers, which saw Ultron upload himself into Iron Man’s armor, which, at the time, had been integrated into Tony Stark’s biology. This allowed Ultron to transform Stark into a formidable villain who came into opposition with the Sentry and Ares. Ultron briefly takes over the bodies of Adam Warlock and the original Human Torch after this ordeal, but his most infamous merging of man and machine involved his own creator.
Ultron was first seen in Marvel Comics in 1968’sThe Avengers #54, and his origin story as a creation of Hank Pym was detailed in 1968’sThe Avengers #58.
During 2015’sAvengers: Rage of Ultron, the robot established Titan as Planet Ultron, and set out to convert organic beings into Ultron Sentries. The Avengers fought him, but this confrontation culminated inUltron accidentally merging with Hank Pym, and Pym, self-loathing and defeated afterSecret Wars, accepted his fate. Ultron and Pym were joined for some time before 2019’sTony Stark: Iron Man #19revealed Pym had died during their initial merging, and Ultron had only been simulating Pym’s personality.This would be an incredible story to tell in the MCU, and would explain Ultron’s new human form.
Ultron Becoming Human In The MCU Would Be The Perfect Way For Michael Douglas To Get His Wish
Michael Douglas Wants Hank Pym To Die In The MCU
Back in February 2023 on the red carpet forAnt-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,Michael Douglas stated"as long as I could die"when asked whether he’d return for a possibleAnt-Man 4(viaThe Hollywood Reporter). Douglas reiterated this wish during an April 2024 interview onThe View(viaEntertainment Weekly), during which he revealed that he had requested a"serious [death],“inQuantumania, which didn’t come to pass. Michael Douglas' dreams for Hank Pym’s future could now come true, as Ultron’s return may end his MCU journey.
While Ultron and Hank Pym aren’t yet connected in the MCU,adapting the pair’s merging into one being from Marvel Comics into live-action would be a fantastic way to reference their history. This would also mark an explosive end for Michael Douglas' Hank Pym in the MCU, finally fulfilling his request to die, and the upcomingVisionseries might be the best place for this, asAnt-Man 4seems unlikely afterQuantumania’sdisappointing performance. Michael Douglas hasn’t been confirmed to appear in the new MCU series opposite Paul Bettany, but this would be a very exciting development.
Vision Quest
Cast
Vision Quest explores Vision’s journey to reclaim his identity following the events of WandaVision. As he attempts to restore his memory and humanity, the narrative delves into themes of self-discovery and transformation within the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s expansive storyline.
