The Marvel Cinematic Universe has come a long way since being criticized for having one-dimensional villains like Kaecilius, Yellowjacket, Aldrich Killian, and Malekith the Accursed. Marvel has since taken feedback seriously and upped their game with multifaceted antagonists such as Thanos, Killmonger, Wenwu, Gorr the God Butcher, the High Evolutionary, and a corrupted version of Wanda Maximoff. With a catalogue of complex villains at their disposal, it's the perfect opportunity to bring back an iconic villain who didn't receive enough recognition during the "villain problem" era.
In Avengers: Age of Ultron, Tony Stark and Bruce Banner sought to create an artificial intelligence that would safeguard the world with the Mind Stone. However, the plan quickly backfired as Ultron, with the power to hack into any computer system in the world, saw humanity as the Earth's biggest threat. Despite the limitless potential of a cybernetic supervillain, Ultron was disappointingly easy to defeat in the film's final battle. With other villains like the Mandarin, the Leader, the Abomination, and Baron Zemo given a second chance, it's only fitting that Ultron is given the same opportunity.
What Happened To Ultron In The MCU?
Ultron's defeat in the climactic battle of Avengers: Age of Ultron didn't necessarily mean the end of the villain. Marvel has hinted at his return, as seen in Spider-Man: Homecoming where an Ultron head was found in a Damage Control truck. While the original Ultron may be gone, alternate versions of him have appeared in the MCU's Phase Four. In What If...?, "Infinity Ultron" was introduced as a multiversal big bad powered by the Infinity Stones. Ultron also appeared in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, in which a successful Ultron network acted as security for the Illuminati. With A.I. becoming an even bigger threat, Ultron's themes are as relevant as ever, and James Spader's chilling voice performance is ripe for a comeback.
Could Ultron Somehow Return In Phase 5 Or 6?
Ultron's potential return to the MCU has fans speculating which upcoming projects he could fit into. The Thunderbolts movie is a possibility, as Marvel has yet to announce the villain for the film. Additionally, Ultron's all-powerful A.I. could be useful for the anti-government baddies in Captain America: New World Order. Ultron could also make an appearance in The Marvels, as Nick Fury's work with S.W.O.R.D. aligns with Stark's idea that led to Ultron's creation. While not typically an enemy of the Fantastic Four, a fight against Ultron in their reboot could introduce larger villains like Doctor Doom and Galactus in future films. Finally, Ultron could return in an Avengers movie, potentially as a foot-soldier of Kang the Conqueror, Doctor Doom, or the Beyonder in either Avengers: The Kang Dynasty or Avengers: Secret Wars.
