Marvel Studios is preparing to reintroduce fans to Vision’s world in an upcoming, untitled series helmed by Terry Matalas (Star Trek: Picard). After years of anticipation, the project is expected to land on Disney+ during Phase Six of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
While fans have been eagerly waiting for updates, this new Vision series seems to draw elements from other MCU projects, including the dormant Armor Wars (TBD).
WandaVision, Marvel’s first Disney+ series, sparked a ripple effect in the MCU, leading to two major spin-offs. The first was Sam Raimi’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022), which picked up from Wanda Maximoff’s chaotic journey through the Multiverse.
The second was Agatha All Along, a series following Kathryn Hahn’s Agatha Harkness as she navigates life (and the Witches’ Road) after being trapped in Westview by Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen). Although neither project is officially marketed as a direct sequel to WandaVision, both rely heavily on its storyline. If WandaVision was the lightning strike, Doctor Strange 2 and Agatha All Along are the thunder that followed.
However, there’s yet another direct spinoff from WandaVision in the works: the long-rumored Vision series starring Paul Bettany as Vision. This project seemed dormant until Matalas was brought on board as the creative lead. This marks a significant shift in Marvel’s approach to producing television content for Disney+.
According to a report from Variety, “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+.” Originally, Marvel leaned on a feature film model for its TV series, giving most control to directors and creative executives. However, under this new approach, showrunners like Matalas are set to play a more prominent role in guiding the vision of the show.
Intriguingly, a new development has emerged regarding the Vision series. According to Alex Perez of The Cosmic Circus, the show will pull key plot points from Armor Wars, another MCU project. Initially planned as a Disney+ series, Armor Wars was later reimagined as a feature film, starring Don Cheadle as James “Rhodey” Rhodes, also known as War Machine.
Despite its promising start, Armor Wars has been in limbo for quite some time. Even Cheadle seems unsure of the project’s future, commenting, “I don’t know; I’m not sure where anything is right now,” in a recent TV Line interview.
The last time fans saw Rhodey, a major twist from Secret Invasion revealed that Rhodey had been replaced by a Skrull imposter named Raava. This revelation retroactively cast shadows over one of the MCU’s most emotional moments—Rhodey’s farewell to Tony Stark in Avengers: Endgame (2019).
While it’s unclear how Vision will intersect with Armor Wars, there is speculation that James Spader’s return as Ultron, a key villain in the Avengers mythos, could play a role in connecting the two stories. With Ultron deeply intertwined with Vision, War Machine, and the legacy of Tony Stark, there’s a clear narrative throughline that could be explored.
Filming for the Vision series is set to begin in England in 2025, with an aim for a 2026 release on Disney+. This project represents a broader shift in Marvel’s strategy for its Disney+ shows. What started as high-budget cinematic projects is now evolving into more traditional TV series with showrunners at the helm. Brad Winderbaum, Marvel’s Head of Streaming, Television, and Animation, highlighted this new direction, explaining that the studio is working to “make these shows for a responsible cost.”
He added that this cost-conscious approach has given creators more flexibility, citing Agatha All Along as an example of a series that relied more on practical effects than CGI, which helped ground the show in a more tangible reality.
This shift also comes in the wake of Marvel’s decision to overhaul Daredevil: Born Again, scrapping much of the original production and bringing in fresh writers, directors, and key members of the Netflix Daredevil cast. As part of a broader creative reset, Winderbaum also revealed that Marvel is now developing more projects than it will ultimately produce, meaning that many ideas may not make it past the planning stages.
While Armor Wars appears to be stuck in development limbo, Vision seems to have the full backing of Marvel Studios and its president, Kevin Feige. If all goes according to plan, this new Vision series will be the final piece of a WandaVision trilogy, offering fans closure to one of the MCU’s most ambitious storylines.
What are your thoughts on the upcoming Vision series and its ties to Armor Wars?
