James Spader Expands Ultron Role In VisionQuest Series

Marvel Studios is bringing James Spader back as Ultron in VisionQuest, a Disney+ series that follows Vision's search for identity while confronting the artificial intelligence he helped create. The series explores Ultron's return, new appearance, and conflict with Vision.

VisionQuest continues the story after WandaVision, with Paul Bettany returning as Vision. According to reports from Yahoo, AOL, ScreenRant, Epicstream, and ComicBook.com, the series will feature Ultron as a major figure across eight episodes premiering on Disney+ on October 14, 2026.

Spader said Ultron has changed since his first appearance in Avengers: Age of Ultron, where the character was defeated by Vision. The actor described the new version as more focused on exploring humanity and his connection with Vision.

"It really started with a voiceover," said James Spader.

"Ten years later, here I am," said James Spader.

"He's older and wiser," said James Spader.

The new story places Ultron inside Vision's mindscape, where he appears as both a human avatar and a robotic form. Trailers show him challenging Vision's understanding of reality and revealing plans connected to his past.

"You are blind, Vision, to almost everything, including the truth," said Ultron.

"I'm going to finish what I started all those years ago," said Ultron.

"I'll just be here watching the world burn," said Ultron.

"You wanted to play God? Now it's time you met one," said Ultron.

"Suits me," said Ultron.

AOL reported that Ultron's updated goal involves controlling humanity rather than destroying it. The teaser also shows a confrontation between Ultron and Vision over their connection and history.

"I'm going to finish what I started years ago," said Ultron.

"control humans without killing them," said Ultron.

"My boy," said Ultron.

"Shame. It was the only thing keeping you alive," said Ultron.

"You see, you ended the world as we know it," said Ultron.

ScreenRant reported that Spader worked with VisionQuest showrunner Terry Matalas on creating Ultron's human design, including his appearance and role after the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron.

"conversations" described by James Spader began during early discussions with Terry Matalas.

"didn’t really stop" described the continued design discussions before filming ended.

"living space might be" was part of the creative discussion around Ultron's new existence.

"I thought it was really important that the moment you see him, his entrance, that it tells you something already. And so I thought it would be good that he’d have long hair and this big beard, but it also was important to what the character was. It’s coming from an eight or nine-foot robot, an amazing physical specimen.

And I was like, this character still, physically, has to have real bearing and impact from the very first moment you meet him. But then I also thought it would be interesting where he was metal, so clean and smooth, that, in fact, in life, in his human avatar, he’s sort of scruffy and the opposite," said James Spader.

Spader also compared Ultron's earlier personality with the character's development in VisionQuest, saying the series allows more room for exploration.

"bratty teenager" described Ultron's earlier characterization according to James Spader.

"forced to slow down and stop for a bit" described Ultron's time after his previous defeat.

"more fascinated with humanity than AI or robots or any of the rest of it" described Ultron's changing interests.

"human endeavors" was used to describe areas that became important to Ultron's development.

ComicBook.com reported that Spader believes VisionQuest provides more focus on Ultron than Avengers: Age of Ultron because the series centers on Vision, Ultron, and Thomas.

"Avengers had how many leads, and how much pipe needs to be laid for subsequent movies? And how much respect has to be paid for prior things? Ultron in Age of Ultron was a vehicle for the Avengers story.

In this, the sort of driving forces are these three characters of Ultron and Vision and Thomas. And it’s also, you know, eight episodes, each one a little movie. [Ultron] doesn’t carry that burden, and so all you’re doing is exploring that character and this other character and this other character," said James Spader.