Marvel Series Reboot Gets Update That Could Spell Disaster for MCU

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Wandavision: Paul Bettany and Elizabeth Olsen

Credit: Marvel Studios

In the near future, Marvel Studios will bring fans back into the mind of Vision in Terry Matalas’s untitled Vision series. The WandaVision spinoff has been on the roster for years, but it wasn’t until earlier this year that the TV series got an exciting update.

That said, as Vision heads to Disney+, presumably sometime during Phase Six, it now seems that the series will take elements from another Marvel Cinematic Universe project.

The White Vision (Paul Bettany) as seen in WandaVision
Credit: Marvel Studios

WandaVision, Marvel Studios’ first ever Disney+ series, has spawned two direct sequels: Sam Raimi’s Phase Four movie, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022), and Jac Schaeffer’s TV show, Agatha All Along.

The latter is currently airing weekly on Disney+ and follows Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn) as she recruits a coven to walk the Witches’ Road three years after being trapped in Westview by Wanda Maximoff, AKA the Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen).

While these two MCU projects are not officially touted as WandaVision sequels, it would be hard to engage with the subject matter having not seen WandaVision, as both act as a follow-up to the events that took place in the 2021 nine-episode series. If WandaVision was the catalyst, Doctor Strange 2 and Agatha All Along are the aftershocks.

Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) as seen in the show WandaVision, wearing a Halloween costume version of her classic comic book costume.
Credit: Marvel Studios

Another spinoff to WandaVision is also in the works from Marvel Studios. The once seemingly defunct Vision Quest series has been rebooted with a new face at the helm–Star Trek: Picard‘s Terry Matalas, who has boarded the Vision series as showrunner. Paul Bettany will star as the titular character.

“With Matalas coming on board, this will be Marvel’s first new live-action series pickup in almost two years, representing a significant shift in how the company produces television for Disney+,” Variety wrote at the time.

“Originally, Marvel adopted a features model, hiring head writers to create predetermined (and, often, already announced) shows, but assigning most leadership responsibilities to the directors and creative executives.”

White Vision (Paul Bettany) holding Wanda Maximoff's (Elizabeth Olsen) head in WandaVision
Credit: Marvel Studios

A new report has now surfaced regarding the development of the Vision series. According to entertainment insider Alez Perez of The Cosmic Circus, Vision will both plot elements from another MCU project: Armor Wars (TBD).

Armor Wars originally began its life as a series before being transitioned into a feature film. The project is set to star Don Cheadle as James “Rhodey” Rhodes, AKA War Machine. However, Armor Wars has stayed stagnant for a long time now, and even Don Cheadle does not know more about the project, telling TV Line when asked about its status, “I don’t know; I’m not sure where anything is right now.”

Don Cheadle and Robert Downey Jr. as War Machine and Iron Man in the MCU
Credit: Marvel Studios

The last MCU fans saw of Cheadle’s Rhodey was that twist in Secret Invasion, which revealed that Rhodey had not been Rhodey for a while, and, instead, a Skrull called Raava had been impersonating the character all along. This twist caused a ruckus when it was revealed, considering the emotional interaction between Rhodey and Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) in Avengers: Endgame (2019).

While it is not clear just what plot points the Vision series is taking, if any at all, it could be tied to the recent announcement that James Spader would be returning as Avengers villain Ultron. Ultron is part of the MCU’s Iron Man mythos, along with Vision and War Machine, so it would make sense if Armor Wars is or was set to include the antagonist.

If these reports do come to be true then, along with Don Cheadle’s response, it could spell the end for Armor Wars as the MCU enters its new, more curated era. The Vision series is eyeing a 2025 filming period, with shooting expected to take place in England. It is slated for a 2026 release on Disney+.

A screenshot shows the Disney+ logo in the center, surrounded by various show and movie posters such as "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour," "Grey's Anatomy," "Wish," "Shogun," "The Marvels," and others.
Credit: Disney+

The development of Vision comes as Marvel Studios wrangles its small-screen streaming offer. What originally began with multiple limited-style series approached from a filmic standpoint–budgets and executives included–will now operate on a more traditional TV level with showrunners and, as recently discussed by Marvel executive Brad Winderbaum, a more reasonable budget.

“We are looking to make these shows for a responsible cost,” the Head of Streaming, Television, and Animation told Variety in early October 2024.

“Frankly, it gives us a little bit more freedom creatively when we can bring them in at a reasonable budget. Like [Agatha All Along], for example, the show has minimal CG, way less than we’ve ever done before. It’s mostly practical effects, and I think you can feel it in the show.”

Kathryn Hahn as Agatha Harkness (L) with Joe Locke as Billy Kaplan/Wiccan/Teen behind (R)
Credit: Marvel Studios

Related: Report: Marvel Cinematic Universe Dropping Film and TV Shows for Rumored New Project

The creative overhaul of Marvel’s TV space was ushered in after the creative deterioration of Daredevil: Born Again, wherein Kevin Feige’s studio abolished the work that had already been done on the series and brought in new writers, directors, and more of the original Daredevil Netflix series’ cast.

In a separate interview, and following the launch of Marvel Spotlight, Winderbaum acknowledged that the studio will develop more projects than it will produce, meaning that multiple shows and projects will end up on the cutting room floor.

White Vision (Paul Bettany) looking shocked in WandaVision, soon to be followed by the Vision Quest series.
Credit: Marvel Studios

Related: Report: Marvel Star Stripped of Role Following Dramatic MCU Reboot

As for Armor Wars, the project is seemingly hanging on by a thread, but when it comes to the Vision series, it is apparent that Feige wants to put the franchise’s weight behind it. If all goes to plan, then by 2026, the WandaVision trifecta will be complete.

How do you feel about this report regarding the Vision series and Armor Wars? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!

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