Ultron"s MCU Return Is The Perfect Opportunity To Give Michael Douglas His Marvel Wish

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The villainous artificial intelligence Ultron is set to return to the MCU in the upcoming Vision series, and this could create the perfect opportunity for Michael Douglas' wish for Hank Pym to come true in the weirdest way. James Spader first voiced Ultron in 2015's eponymous Avengers: Age of Ultron, and while MCU veteran Ross Marquand took over the role for What If...? and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Spader has now been confirmed to be returning. Ultron's return makes some of Marvel Comics' biggest and strangest storylines possible, including one focused on Hank Pym.
Instead of Tony Stark, it was Hank Pym who created Ultron in Marvel Comics, using his own brainwaves to develop the robot's artificial intelligence. Ultron turned against his father, vowing to destroy Ant-Man and his Avenger allies, similarly to James Spader's live-action Ultron. While the Ultron of the MCU has no connection to Hank Pym, it would be great to see the pair's rich Marvel Comics history referenced in Marvel Television's upcoming Vision series, and this could mark the end of the line for Michael Douglas' MCU hero.
Ultron MCU Appearance
Year
Actor
Avengers: Age of Ultron
2015
James Spader
What If...?
2021
Ross Marquand
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
2022
Ross Marquand
Vision
2026
James Spader
Ultron Could Return To The MCU In Human Form Ultron Could Be A Robot Or In Human Form In The Vision Series

Shortly after James Spader was confirmed to be returning as Ultron in the MCU, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Star Trek: Picard actor Todd Stashwick has also been cast in the Vision series. Stashwick follows Picard's Terry Matalas to the Vision series, and while it's not known who he'll be playing, this report also revealed more details about Ultron's much anticipated return. The Hollywood Reporter noted that "it's unclear whether Ultron will be returning as a robot or in human form," raising questions about James Spader's reprisal.

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Initially, there seemed to be no doubt that Ultron would return to the MCU as a robot, given the fact that he has only ever been depicted as a robotic artificial intelligence in Avengers: Age of Ultron and his other appearances across the multiverse. The Hollywood Reporter's comments imply this could be wildly different in the Vision series, as Ultron could take the body of a human. While this may give James Spader a more substantive role in the MCU's Phase 6, this could also provide the perfect opportunity for Michael Douglas to return as Hank Pym.
How Ultron Can Become Human In The MCU: Marvel Comics Story Explained Ultron Has Wanted To Combine Man & Machine For Many Years Close Ultron has made several attempts over the years to integrate his artificial intelligence with organic matter in Marvel Comics. This really started in 2007's The Mighty Avengers, which saw Ultron upload himself into Iron Man's armor, which, at the time, had been integrated into Tony Stark's biology. This allowed Ultron to transform Stark into a formidable villain who came into opposition with the Sentry and Ares. Ultron briefly takes over the bodies of Adam Warlock and the original Human Torch after this ordeal, but his most infamous merging of man and machine involved his own creator.
Ultron was first seen in Marvel Comics in 1968's The Avengers #54, and his origin story as a creation of Hank Pym was detailed in 1968's The Avengers #58.
During 2015's Avengers: Rage of Ultron, the robot established Titan as Planet Ultron, and set out to convert organic beings into Ultron Sentries. The Avengers fought him, but this confrontation culminated in Ultron accidentally merging with Hank Pym, and Pym, self-loathing and defeated after Secret Wars, accepted his fate. Ultron and Pym were joined for some time before 2019's Tony Stark: Iron Man #19 revealed Pym had died during their initial merging, and Ultron had only been simulating Pym's personality. This would be an incredible story to tell in the MCU, and would explain Ultron's new human form.
Ultron Becoming Human In The MCU Would Be The Perfect Way For Michael Douglas To Get His Wish Michael Douglas Wants Hank Pym To Die In The MCU

Back in February 2023 on the red carpet for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Michael Douglas stated "as long as I could die" when asked whether he'd return for a possible Ant-Man 4 (via The Hollywood Reporter). Douglas reiterated this wish during an April 2024 interview on The View (via Entertainment Weekly), during which he revealed that he had requested a "serious [death]," in Quantumania, which didn't come to pass. Michael Douglas' dreams for Hank Pym's future could now come true, as Ultron's return may end his MCU journey.
While Ultron and Hank Pym aren't yet connected in the MCU, adapting the pair's merging into one being from Marvel Comics into live-action would be a fantastic way to reference their history. This would also mark an explosive end for Michael Douglas' Hank Pym in the MCU, finally fulfilling his request to die, and the upcoming Vision series might be the best place for this, as Ant-Man 4 seems unlikely after Quantumania's disappointing performance. Michael Douglas hasn't been confirmed to appear in the new MCU series opposite Paul Bettany, but this would be a very exciting development.

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ActionAdventureScience Fiction Marvel Studios' Vision Quest is a limited series set in the MCU and released on Disney+. It reveals the fate of Paul Bettany's resurrected Avenger, which was last seen fleeing Westview at the end of 2021's WandaVision. After the original synthezoid died at the hands of Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War, his body was reassembled by the secret organization SWORD, and his consciousness was restored by Scarlet Witch's magically recreated version of the robot.
Cast Paul Bettany , James Spader Seasons 1 Streaming Service(s) Disney Plus Showrunner Terry Matalas Prequel WandaVision Production Company Marvel Television Release Window 2026 Expand Upcoming MCU Movies