James Spader is one of the most captivating actors of our time and his performance as Ultron in the Marvel Cinematic Universe remains a strong example of that. Although 2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron certainly had its flaws, Spader's performance as the titular villain was one of its greatest aspects, with fans appreciating the thought-provoking gravitas that he brought to the character.
For a decade, that was his one and only appearance as the character. However, this year that all changed when he was given the opportunity to reprise the role of Ultron in person (he had only voiced the character's true robotic self in the 2015 movie) as he returns in Disney Plus series VisionQuest - where it is revealed that the last shreds of his existence live within Vision's mind.
Naturally, with Avengers: Doomsday on the horizon, Marvel fans have been wondering if he could return once again in the upcoming film. Spader himself addressed those rumors, and the inevitable questions that come with being a part of the MCU.
James Spader seemingly rules out an Avengers: Doomsday return
In a recent interview with Out Now ahead of VisionQuest's release, James Spader was asked about which MCU series and / or movie he would have liked to see Ultron pop up in, with the legendary actor revealing that he hasn't seen any of them. However, he did add that he has been asked repeatedly throughout the past decade about whether Ultron could return in multiple upcoming movies, with the most recent questions obviously being framed around Avengers: Doomsday:
“I can’t tell you the amount of people that come up to you - if you’re an actor and you’ve been in one of the Marvel films - people would come up on the street and they’d say, ‘So just tell me. You can tell me. So are you going to be in...’ and they’d mention a film I’d never heard of. And they’re still doing it to this day on this press tour. [They’re like], ‘Does Ultron show up in Doomsday?’”
VisionQuest showrunner Terry Matalas joked afterwards, saying "I wasn't going to tell anyone!" while Bettany also quipped "I've decided to get fired over this!" And with that, it appears that we all have our answer: No, Ultron is not in Avengers: Doomsday.
As some fans have already pointed out, Spader wouldn't have brought that up if he was in the upcoming MCU movie. He also seemed to suggest that he was unfamiliar with Avengers: Doomsday, calling it the most recent example of the "film [he has] never heard of" that fans often bring up when asking him if he'll be back in the franchise.
Even though Ultron died at the end of Avengers: Age of Ultron - having been wiped out by the Avengers, specifically Vision and Wanda Maximoff - fans have been speculating about his involvement in Doomsday for a number of reasons. First of all, the character has returned in VisionQuest - which just so happens to be the last MCU project to release before the Avengers movie arrives in theaters this December. And we know from the trailers that he will attempt to break free from Vision's mind, hoping to unleash himself on humanty once more. If he does, he would isntantly become an Avengers-level threat once again.
However, the other reason that his name has come up so often is down to the fact that Avengers: Doomsday is going to be a celebration of the Marvel multiverse, meaning that we will see heroes and villains from the MCU's past, present, and future - as well as those from before the franchise's own existence. That much is clear from the returns of the stars of Fox's X-Men movies, as well as the rumored returns of Hugh Jackman's Wolverine, Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool, and Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man. And yet, it doesn't sound like Ultron will be a part of the line-up.
If we're being honest, it's not all that surprising. Ultron's return in VisionQuest is a very big deal. Although the character was a major Avengers villain, he's the only one not to feature in more than one movie - and that's okay considering how quickly he evolved to become unstoppable. A character like that couldn't have become a long-term recurring character in the way that Thanos did. His VisionQuest comeback is very much contained in its own world, and that's why it works. There is no purpose for a return in Avengers: Doomsday when it's very much focused on setting up new villain Doctor Doom (Robert Downey Jr.).
That being said, we wouldn't rule out a return for Ultron in the 2027 sequel Avengers: Secret Wars. That one - the grand finale of the Multiverse Saga - will likely see the heroes of the Marvel multiverse unite to take on Doom, the Latverian Witches, and perhaps even some more villains at his disposal. As that one will be a real final chapter for the MCU - before the franchise launches its next chapter with the X-Men at the center of it - we wouldn't be surprised if we saw an Ultron variant appear in some capacity. It's probably the last real chance for that considering the inevitable reset that will come after that movie.
Regardless of whether Ultron returns in either upcoming Avengers movie, we are honored that Spader has returned one more time to play the character in VisionQuest. We can't wait to see where his arc goes in the Disney Plus series.
VisionQuest is streaming on Disney Plus, with new episodes arriving each Tuesday. Avengers: Doomsday arrives in movie theaters on December 18, 2026, while Avengers: Secret Wars arrives on December 17, 2027.
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