Iron Man Villain Returns in MCU's Vision Quest Series

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. Nearly two decades later, he's set for an MCU return. His betrayal by Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges) marked his last appearance until now.

Similar to Samuel Sterns' (The Incredible Hulk) reappearance in Captain America: Brave New World, al-Wazar's return in Vision Quest (starring Paul Bettany as White Vision) is unexpected. The series currently lacks a release date.

Initially portrayed as the head of a generic terrorist group, al-Wazar's backstory was significantly enriched in Phase 4. The group was later revealed to be affiliated with the Ten Rings, a connection subtly hinted at earlier but fully explored 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. Given Shang-Chi's open ending, a connection to Vision Quest through this character seems plausible.

However, Vision Quest might also follow in the footsteps of Deadpool & Wolverine, revisiting overlooked or discarded elements of the MCU's established continuity.

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