Marvel Brings Back Baddie From 2008's Iron Man for MCU Vision Quest Series

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 Afghan terrorist leader who held Tony Stark captive in the opening scenes of the 2008 film. This marks a return for the character nearly two decades after his initial appearance, where he was ultimately betrayed by Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges).

Al-Wazar's reappearance follows a similar trend seen with Samuel Sterns (The Incredible Hulk) in Captain America: Brave New World. While Vision Quest, starring Paul Bettany as White Vision, has yet to receive a release date, al-Wazar's return adds an intriguing element to the storyline.

Initially depicted 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 fully explored in 2021's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

This retroactive inclusion of al-Wazar as a Ten Rings commander opens up possibilities for connections between Vision Quest and Shang-Chi, given the latter's open-ended conclusion. However, Vision Quest might also utilize al-Wazar to explore previously overlooked or forgotten elements of the MCU's continuity, similar to how Deadpool & Wolverine revisited the less-conventional aspects of the former Fox Marvel universe.

Adding to the intrigue, James Spader is also rumored to be returning as Ultron for the first time since Avengers: Age of Ultron. Details about Vision Quest remain scarce, but the return of these villains promises a fascinating and unexpected development.