1 Returning Marvel Villain Can Finally Free The MCU From Its Thanos Curse

A returning MCU villain in the upcoming Vision series can help Marvel finally move on from its focus on Thanos. The MCU"s transition from the Infinity Saga to the Multiverse Saga was rough. The franchise didn"t have a clear direction following Avengers: Endgame, and it"s still struggling to scrap everything together into a cohesive narrative. Kang the Conqueror was the central villain of the Multiverse Saga. However, underwhelming box office returns, poor critical reception, and external legal problems caused the studio to pivot to Robert Downey Jr"s Doctor Doom.
Another issue with the Multiverse Saga is that Marvel still hasn"t fully moved on from Thanos. While the villain is dead, the effects of Thanos" attack are still being explored within the MCU. The MCU hasn"t had another villain since who has captured the same level of attention as Thanos. Marvel needs to find a new villain it can use as a central antagonist that keeps audiences interested, and it may have an answer with Ultron, who is returning in Marvel"s Vision series.
Ultron's MCU Return Can Help The Franchise Move Away From Focusing On Thanos Close The MCU still has a Thanos problem. It"s still focused on the consequences of the snap and what happened when everyone was brought back. Projects like The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Eternals dealt with the aftermath of the Blip and its many consequences, with Thanos" presence still looming over the universe. Marvel also used Thanos as a marketing tactic for The Marvels, teasing a possible connection to the Mad Titan, though he had almost nothing to do with the film"s narrative.
It was recently confirmed that Ultron will return in the Vision series cast with James Spader set to voice the character. It"s unclear what his role will be, but it"s exciting that a significant Avengers villain is returning to this universe, especially since he was only used once. Ultron"s return could also help Marvel move on Thanos by delivering an isolated plot that has little to do with the larger universe. White Vision is technically an entirely new character and his conflict with Ultron doesn"t need to connect to any other project.
The Multiverse Saga Needs To Move Away From Still Focusing On Thanos Close The Multiverse Saga has struggled to establish its own identity, and that"s partly due to its overreliance on Thanos. The Blip is still being dealt with in several projects, and the series needs a new villain to focus on, even if it"s a returning character. Ultron is a popular villain who can attract the attention of casual viewers who recognize him from Avengers: Age of Ultron. He"s a character Marvel can market and sell to audiences who have become less engaged with the universe.

Related MCU Vision Show: Everything We Know WandaVision"s ending left a lot of loose ends, as it ended with White Vision fleeing Westview, but the Vision show will answer everything.
Additionally, Marvel has been trying to separate its television projects from its movies. Ultron could be the central antagonist of this universe, giving the TV shows an isolated conflict that won"t impact the rest of the MCU. Audiences wouldn"t have to do homework to enjoy the films, and those who watch the television programs would enjoy Spader"s Ultron fighting Marvel"s roster of Disney+ characters. It"s difficult to predict what Ultron"s role will be in the Vision series, but it"ll be good to see Marvel focus on another villain besides Thanos.

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Marvel Studios' Vision Quest is a limited series set in the MCU and released on Disney+. It reveals the fate of Paul Bettany's resurrected Avenger, which was last seen fleeing Westview at the end of 2021's WandaVision. After the original synthezoid died at the hands of Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War, his body was reassembled by the secret organization SWORD, and his consciousness was restored by Scarlet Witch's magically recreated version of the robot.
Cast Paul Bettany , James Spader Streaming Service(s) Disney Plus Franchise(s) Marvel Cinematic Universe Upcoming MCU Movies