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 last appearance was in that initial half-hour of Iron Man, before being betrayed by Obadiah Stane. His return echoes the reappearance of Samuel Sterns from The Incredible Hulk in Captain America: Brave New World.

While initially portrayed as a generic terrorist leader, al-Wazar's backstory was significantly enriched in Phase 4. His group was retrospectively linked to the Ten Rings, a connection further explored in 2021's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. This suggests a potential link between Vision Quest, starring Paul Bettany as White Vision, and the Shang-Chi storyline.

The series, which currently has no release date, might delve into overlooked or forgotten MCU elements, similar to Deadpool & Wolverine's exploration of the defunct Fox Marvel universe. Further adding to the intrigue, James Spader is also rumored to return as Ultron, his first MCU appearance since Avengers: Age of Ultron. Details regarding the show's plot remain scarce.