Iron Man Villain Returns for Vision Quest

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. Currently, Vision Quest, starring Paul Bettany as White Vision following the events of WandaVision, lacks a confirmed release date.

While initially portrayed as the head of a generic terrorist group, al-Wazar's backstory was significantly enriched in Phase 4. The group he led was later revealed to be connected to the Ten Rings, a connection subtly hinted at earlier but greatly expanded upon 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, potentially linking Vision Quest to Shang-Chi's unresolved storylines.

However, Vision Quest might also utilize al-Wazar to explore less-developed aspects of the MCU, much like Deadpool & Wolverine revisited discarded elements from the Fox Marvel universe.

Adding to the intrigue, James Spader is also rumored to return as Ultron for the first time since Avengers: Age of Ultron, although details about his role remain scarce. The series' plot remains largely shrouded in mystery.