Iron Man Baddie Revived for MCU's Vision Quest

Marvel's upcoming Vision Quest series is reportedly bringing back 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 leader of the Afghan terrorist group that held Tony Stark captive in the opening scenes of the 2008 film. This marks a return after nearly two decades. His betrayal by Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges) was a pivotal moment in Iron Man.

Al-Wazar's reappearance follows a similar pattern to Samuel Sterns' (The Incredible Hulk) return in Captain America: Brave New World. While no release date is set for Vision Quest, starring Paul Bettany as White Vision, his return adds intrigue to the series' plot.

Initially portrayed as the head of a generic terrorist group, al-Wazar's backstory was significantly enriched in Phase 4 of the MCU. The revelation that his group was connected to the Ten Rings, initially a subtle nod to comic lore, was greatly expanded upon in 2021's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

This retroactive inclusion of al-Wazar as a Ten Rings commander suggests a potential link between Vision Quest and the events of Shang-Chi, given the latter's open-ended conclusion.

However, Vision Quest might also follow in the footsteps of Deadpool & Wolverine, exploring previously overlooked or forgotten elements of the MCU, potentially adding a unique, unexpected element to the narrative.

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