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. His character, betrayed by Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges), hasn't been seen since those initial 30 minutes. This marks a return to the MCU after nearly two decades, similar to Samuel Sterns' (The Incredible Hulk) reappearance in Captain America: Brave New World. The release date for Vision Quest, starring Paul Bettany as White Vision, remains undisclosed.

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 only subtly hinted at in earlier films. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) greatly expanded this storyline, retroactively establishing al-Wazar as a Ten Rings commander. This opens the possibility of a connection between Vision Quest and Shang-Chi, utilizing al-Wazar as a bridge.

However, Vision Quest might also explore lesser-known or forgotten MCU elements, much like Deadpool & Wolverine revisited the more unconventional aspects of the former Fox Marvel universe.

Another notable return is rumored: James Spader, reprising his role as Ultron for the first time since Avengers: Age of Ultron. Details about the series remain scarce.