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 hasn't been seen since that initial half-hour, but, mirroring the surprise return of Samuel Sterns from The Incredible Hulk in Captain America: Brave New World, he's set for an MCU comeback. The Vision Quest series, starring Paul Bettany as White Vision following the events of WandaVision, currently lacks a release date.

Faran Tahir in 2008. Image credit: Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage.

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 a branch of the Ten Rings, a connection likely unplanned at the time of Iron Man's release. The 2021 film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings greatly expanded the Ten Rings' lore, retroactively establishing al-Wazar as one of their commanders. This opens the possibility of a direct link between Shang-Chi and Vision Quest through this returning character.

However, Vision Quest might also be revisiting other overlooked MCU elements, similar to how Deadpool & Wolverine explored the more eccentric aspects of the defunct Fox Marvel universe.

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