James Spader says VisionQuest’s Ultron is older and more mature, but still dangerous

James Spader says Ultron will return as an older, more mature character in VisionQuest, while retaining the danger that defined his earlier appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Speaking exclusively to TechRadar at the series’ UK junket, the actor said Ultron has evolved since Avengers: Age of Ultron, his sole previous MCU appearance, in 2014. Ultron was destroyed in that film, but a backup copy of his source code remained in Vision’s mind, or quantum processor. Since then, Ultron has observed humanity and MCU events through Vision’s eyes.

In VisionQuest, Vision turns inward to explore questions including “who am I?” and “what is my purpose?” Ultron is among the Tony Stark-created AIs Vision will seek for guidance. Spader said the longer television format let him fill in parts of the character he had previously imagined but could not express. He described Ultron as more developed and smarter, with wittier humor, though still capable of childish behavior.

Spader also said Ultron’s “inherent danger and threat” remain. He added that the character has absorbed and processed much of the knowledge he consumed in Age of Ultron, and has been given an unusual degree of autonomy and freedom inside Vision’s mind. The series has eight episodes.