Marvel Brings Back Baddie From 2008's Iron Man for MCU 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. Al-Wazar's betrayal at the hands of Obadiah Stane marked his last appearance until now, nearly two decades later. This echoes the return of Samuel Sterns from The Incredible Hulk in Captain America: Brave New World.

While details about Vision Quest, starring Paul Bettany as White Vision, are scarce, including its release date, al-Wazar's reappearance promises an intriguing development. His initial portrayal as a generic terrorist leader gained unexpected depth in Phase 4. The Ten Rings, briefly mentioned in connection with his group, were significantly expanded upon in 2021's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, retroactively establishing al-Wazar as a Ten Rings commander. This opens the possibility of a connection between Vision Quest and Shang-Chi.

Alternatively, Vision Quest might follow in the footsteps of Deadpool & Wolverine, exploring previously overlooked or discarded elements of the MCU, much like a revisiting of the scrapped Fox Marvel universe.

Adding to the intrigue, James Spader is also rumored to return as Ultron, his first MCU appearance since Avengers: Age of Ultron. The show remains shrouded in mystery, with further details yet to be revealed.