5 Bold Predictions for Marvel’s VisionQuest Series and the MCU’s Next Big Android Story

Marvel’s next Disney+ series is putting Paul Bettany’s Vision back at the center of the story, years after the character made his live-action debut in 2015’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron.” “VisionQuest” will follow the rebuilt version of Vision introduced in the “WandaVision” finale as he wrestles with the memories, emotions, and relationships that belonged to his former self. Much of the series is expected to unfold inside Vision’s mind, opening the door for a strange parade of MCU callbacks, including James Spader’s return as Ultron, Tommy Maximoff now portrayed by Ruaridh Mollica, and humanlike embodiments of Tony Stark-created robots and A.I. systems such as D.U.M.-E., now played by Henry Lewis.

On paper, “VisionQuest” sounds appropriately unusual for one of Marvel’s most unconventional heroes. Even with several surprising details already out in the open, the Disney+ show remains largely under wraps, which is typical for an MCU project before launch. Still, some developments feel more likely than others. In fact, there are five moments that seem almost certain to arrive during the show’s eight-episode run.

Some of these possibilities stem from earlier MCU series that directly connect to Vision’s story, while others are shaped by where Marvel appears to be headed in its upcoming films and crossover events. Whatever the reasoning, these are the kinds of story beats viewers should watch for when “VisionQuest” boots up on Disney+ this October.

At this point, there is no indication that Elizabeth Olsen will return as Wanda Maximoff in either “Avengers: Doomsday” or “Avengers: Secret Wars.” Olsen has also been branching out with bold new projects such as “Eternity” and “Panic Carefully,” leaving fans to wonder what original roles might eventually join the list of her finest performances. Even so, Wanda and Vision are so deeply linked — especially after “WandaVision” — that it would be surprising if “VisionQuest” made it through all eight episodes without at least some kind of appearance from the former Avenger turned villain.

Marvel’s Disney+ shows have a habit of saving major appearances for the home stretch, from Wilson Fisk’s arrival in “Hawkeye” to O-T Fagbenle’s return as “Black Widow” character Rick Mason in the penultimate episode of “Secret Invasion.” A brief Olsen cameo as Wanda Maximoff in one of the final two episodes of “VisionQuest” would fit neatly into that pattern. The premise also seems built around Vision confronting figures from his past, particularly characters tied to Tony Stark, including Wanda’s former master, Ultron, played again by James Spader. If Ultron can resurface, it would feel odd for Wanda to be absent entirely, especially given that she was the one who “killed” the main version of Ultron in “Age of Ultron.”

Wanda has not appeared in the MCU since 2022’s “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” which makes “VisionQuest” a natural place for Olsen to finally step back into the franchise, even if only for a short but meaningful cameo.

Speculation is already swirling that “VisionQuest” may borrow from Tom King and Gabriel Hernandez Walta’s acclaimed “Vision” comic. That run introduced Vivian “Viv” Vision, the daughter of Vision and Virginia. The idea of Vision attempting suburban domestic life with a nuclear family — with Virginia even carrying Wanda Maximoff’s brainwaves — already helped shape parts of “WandaVision.” Now that the focus is shifting squarely to Vision himself, it would not be surprising if “VisionQuest” marked Vivian Vision’s live-action debut, bringing one of that comic’s most enduring creations into the MCU.

Since her introduction in the comics, Vivian has teamed up with young heroes including Ms. Marvel and Ironheart, both of whom already exist in live action within the MCU. If Marvel wants to continue building its next generation of superheroes, Vivian would be a logical addition. Her arrival would also align with the franchise’s broader approach to introducing more LGBTQIA+ characters, a push that has largely played out through Disney+ projects. While Vivian may not be a likely candidate for “Avengers: Doomsday,” Billy Maximoff’s role in “Agatha All Along” suggests “VisionQuest” could be the ideal place for her to enter the story.

Plus, with so many robot-based characters in “VisionQuest” (including human forms of E.D.I.T.H. and F.R.I.D.A.Y.), what’s one more automaton like Vivian Vision to round out the cast?

When Marvel Studios started making streaming shows, it initially relied on movie directors to helm the programs and avoided traditional showrunners. This approach was meant to make these productions more like the MCU movies and show how Marvel Studios was coming at these enterprises from the perspective of a film studio. But one of the major things Marvel changed about its Disney+ TV shows after some “Daredevil: Born Again” drama was to actually hire veteran TV showrunners to begin shepherding the various MCU streaming titles. 

This includes Terry Matalas, whose prior experience was largely on cable and broadcast network shows like “Terra Nova” and who served as showrunner for two seasons of “Star Trek: Picard.” One of Matalas’ moves was to bring two “Picard” veterans into the cast of “VisionQuest”: Actor Todd Stashwick, who portrayed Captain Liam Shaw in Season 3 of “Picard,” will play bounty hunter Paladin in “VisionQuest,” while Orla Brady, who played the Romulan housekeeper Laris and the Supervisor known as Tallin on “Picard,” will appear as a human incarnation of F.R.I.D.A.Y. 

It’s doubtful they’ll be the only figures from that prior Matalas show to show up here. Expect further “VisionQuest” characters, particularly figures showing up for single episode guest appearances, to be portrayed by other “Picard” actors. Marvel embracing TV-savvy showrunners as the primary creative voices for its streaming programs makes these cute casting choices a lot more feasible. 

For Vision’s first foray into streaming television, “WandaVision,” the unexpected became the norm week in and week out. One of those “unexpected” elements was the musical number “Agatha All Along,” revealing that Kathryn Hahn’s Agatha Harkness was really the show’s villain. Three years after “WandaVision,” the Harkness spin-off “Agatha All Along” didn’t just confirm vampires exist in the MCU: it also delivered another musical number, thus solidifying this kooky corner of the MCU as one where song-and-dance routines can happen at any time.

Marvel’s own press releases have confirmed that “VisionQuest” is part of a thematic trilogy that includes “WandaVision” and “Agatha All Along.” Given this, “VisionQuest” will undoubtedly port over some key ingredients from the other parts of that threesome. One of those is almost bound to be the presence of a musical number. With early glimpses of “VisionQuest” footage confirming that it maintains the trippy aesthetics of “WandaVision” and “Agatha,” a musical number could fit perfectly into those creative trappings. If you’re going to make an oddball show, at least go all the way with it and do things like break into song.

Plus some crooning could also be great for the show’s titular character on a thematic level. After all, what better way to explore this new Vision’s attempts to grapple with emotions than through hitting some high notes? It’d be a shame if “VisionQuest” didn’t carry on the tradition of its predecessors and eschewed that musical theater energy altogether.

Internet speculation about which Marvel heroes won’t survive “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Secret Wars” is already at a fever pitch. The long-term fate of Vision isn’t entirely known, but it does look like his destiny could be decided in those momentous films. Paul Bettany has now declared on multiple occasions that he believes he’ll be reprising his role as Vision in one or both of them. If true, this would bring Vision back to the big screen nearly a decade after his last appearance (when he “perished” at the hands of Thanos) in “Avengers: Infinity War.” This development would also undoubtedly inform what audiences see at the end of “VisionQuest.”

While Marvel’s taken great pains to make sure the Disney+ shows exist as more standalone entities in relationship to the movies, titles like “Wonder Man” and “Daredevil: Born Again” don’t star fixtures of the “Avengers” movies like “VisionQuest.” Thus, much like “WandaVision” had a post-credits tease for Wanda Maximoff’s “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” role, expect “VisionQuest” to conclude with something teasing Vision’s involvement in “Secret Wars.” Given how much secrecy shrouds the next two “Avengers” films, it’s difficult to imagine what this could entail.

Still, it would be shocking if “VisionQuest” didn’t conclude with some kind of hint about the character’s future. Better yet, given that Vision seems almost certainly locked in for “Secret Wars,” this “VisionQuest” scene wouldn’t end up like the MCU post-credit scenes that haven’t paid off yet.