Have you ever had a small role in a movie that no one expects to make a big impact, only for it to go on to become the biggest franchise in history, and then you return to that role two decades later? While that might sound like an improbable scenario, it’s about to become reality for Faran Tahir.
Tahir has been cast in Vision Quest, a highly anticipated WandaVision spin-off series for Disney+, which will feature Paul Bettany reprising his role as Vision. Tahir will return as Raza, the leader of the Ten Rings terrorist group who first appeared in 2008’s Iron Man.
This character was later expanded upon in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. With the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) having explored outer space, alternate universes, and beyond, it’s a pleasant surprise to see the storyline come full circle in this way.
In addition to his role in the MCU, Tahir has appeared in other notable projects, including 12 Monkeys, The Old Man, Scandal, Prison Break, and The Blacklist.
Tahir’s portrayal of Raza in Iron Man saw him attempting to kill Tony Stark (played by Robert Downey Jr., who is also rumored to return to the MCU as Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday) before inadvertently setting Stark on the path to becoming Iron Man.
While Raza’s story seemed to have concluded in the 2008 film, Marvel is known for resurrecting characters in surprising ways—or, at times, simply ignoring previous plotlines if it suits the story. Tahir isn’t the only returning MCU actor joining Vision Quest.
James Spader will also reprise his role as the voice of Ultron, Vision’s original creator and adversary from Avengers: Age of Ultron. The series will be produced by Terry Matalas, the executive producer of Star Trek: Picard.
As for the plot of Vision Quest, details are scarce at the moment. What we do know is that the series will focus on Paul Bettany’s Vision as he embarks on a journey to regain his memory and humanity after his death in Avengers: Infinity War and subsequent resurrection as “White Vision” in WandaVision.
We’ve already seen, through Agatha All Along, that just because a character lacks a physical form doesn’t mean they didn’t survive the events in Westview. Additionally, the original Vision—who might need a bit of a tan—is still out there somewhere, providing a potential starting point for the series.
