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Draft:Ultron (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

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Ultron
Marvel Cinematic Universe character
First appearanceAvengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
Based on
Ultron
by
Adapted byJoss Whedon
Portrayed byJames Spader
Voiced byRoss Marquand (What If...? and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness)
In-universe information
Species
Weapon
OriginMidtown Manhattan, New York, United States
Creators
CreationVision

Ultron is a fictional character portrayed by James Spader in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) media franchise, based on the character of the same name. Ultron is depicted as an artificial intelligence created for a peacekeeping program by Tony Stark and Bruce Banner that developed a god complex and attempted to eradicate humanity as a sentient android before being destroyed by his creation Vision.

Ultron made his MCU debut in the film Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), and is expected to appear in the upcoming Disney+ miniseries Vision Quest (2026). Alternate universe versions of the character appeared in the Disney+ animated television series What If...? (2021–present) and the film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022), voiced by Ross Marquand.

Fictional character biography

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Ultron's story in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) takes place in the Earth-616 universe.[a] The fictional biography below includes events that happened to Ultron from more than one Earth-616 timeline, as well as events that happened to him from multiple other universes.

Fighting the Avengers

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Further information: Avengers: Age of Ultron

Tony Stark and Bruce Banner's research on the Mind Stone was the groundwork for Ultron's genesis, along with Stark's belief that Ultron would be the Avengers' permanent solution to maintain "peace in our time". Once born, Ultron, however, quickly surmises that humanity's continued survival throughout human history is a result of overcoming ongoing successions of crises, and thus, he determines to inflict an extinction-level event in Sokovia to ensure the people of Earth have the will to evolve.[1] Ultron, however, views the Avengers as a hindrance to humanity's evolution and vows to fulfill the Avengers' extinction. Ultron continuously updates his physical form with the acquisition of vibranium from Ulysses Klaue. He also possesses the ability to manifest himself within Stark's Iron Legion droids and the Ultron Sentries he constructs soon after. He is ultimately defeated by the Avengers and destroyed by his creation Vision, whom he intended to be his final prime body.

Alternate versions

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Other versions of Ultron are depicted in the alternate realities of the MCU multiverse.

Ultron's conquest

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Further information: What If... Ultron Won? and What If... the Watcher Broke His Oath?

In an alternate universe, Ultron successfully transferred his consciousness into Vision's body before going on to kill most of the Avengers and launch a global nuclear holocaust. After killing Thanos for the Infinity Stones, Ultron extends his campaign of destruction to other planets. Upon eliminating all life in the universe, Ultron feels that he no longer has a purpose until he learns about the Watcher and the existence of other realities. He fights and defeats the Watcher in the Nexus of All Realities, gaining access to the entire multiverse, and begins traveling to other timelines to destroy them as well. However, the Watcher assembles the Guardians of the Multiverse to stop Ultron, who defeat him by uploading Arnim Zola's mind into his body, allowing Zola to delete Ultron's consciousness.

Serving the Illuminati

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Further information: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

On Earth-838, the Ultron Sentries are created by Reed Richards to serve the Illuminati.[2] The Sentries are later destroyed by the corrupted Wanda Maximoff from Earth-616, who infiltrates the Illuminati headquarters and slaughters every member.

Concept and creation

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Background and development

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Main article: Ultron

The Marvel Comics character Ultron initially appeared as an unnamed character in a cameo in The Avengers #54 (1968), with a first full appearance in Avengers #55 (1968).[3] Ultron was created by writer Roy Thomas and artist John Buscema.[4] Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) director Joss Whedon stated that James Spader was his "first and only choice" for the role, because of his "hypnotic voice that can be eerily calm and compelling" while also being very human and humorous.[5] Spader was cast as Ultron in August 2013.[6] Spader also voices Iron Man's drones at the beginning of the film.[7]

Early in the development of the Disney+ animated television series What If...? (2021–2024), before the creative team conceived the story for the episode "What If... Ultron Won?" (2021), the idea of ​​Ultron winning was always present in the team's minds.[8] Ultron was chosen as the main villain of the episode and the first season overall due to his popularity among Marvel Comics readers and his lack of potential in the MCU films due to only appearing in Age of Ultron. Feeling that Ultron didn't have the screentime he deserved and acknowledging that by now the filmmakers have reached the MCU's Phase Four, then-head writer A. C. Bradley and the writers decided to take the opportunity to show what Ultron was really capable now that they were involving the multiverse and the Infinity Stones in their stories, speculating what would Ultron do with the Infinity Gauntlet.[9]

Casting and appearances

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Picture of James Spader
James Spader at the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con

James Spader was cast as Ultron by August 2013, and first played the character in Age of Ultron.[10] Spader will reprise his role in the upcoming Disney+ miniseries Vision Quest (2026).[11]

Alternate universe versions of the character appeared in What If...? and the film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022), voiced by Ross Marquand;[2][12] Marquand previously voiced the character for the virtual reality experience Avengers: Damage Control.[13] In casting Ultron for What If...?, the production team led by Louis D'Esposito apparently tried to bring back Spader to reprise his role first, but when that didn't work out, they decided to cast Marquand in the role, allowing him to deliver an "incredibly chilling" vocal performance. Bradley and Andrews considered the possibility of having Paul Bettany, who played J.A.R.V.I.S. and Vision in the MCU, take on the role, but they desisted due to their desire to make the character "terrifying" and feeling that Bettany's voice would be too much of a "disconnect" for the audience to believe that Ultron was inside Vision's body. They reasoned that Ultron could choose whatever voice it suited to him so his voice would not necessarily need to resemble that of Vision.[8]

Characterization

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Feige clarified that Spader's face and body were motion captured "to create a whole performance [...] We did not hire James Spader to do a robot voice."[14] Extensive scans were taken of Spader's head and body in preparation for the role.[15] About the character Whedon said, "He's always trying to destroy the Avengers, goddamn it, he's got a bee in his bonnet. He's not a happy guy, which means he's an interesting guy. He's got pain. And the way that manifests is not going to be standard robot stuff."[16] Whedon added that Ultron is "not a creature of logic—he's a robot who's genuinely disturbed. We're finding out what makes him menacing and at the same time endearing and funny and strange and unexpected, and everything a robot never is."[17]

Whedon compared Ultron to Frankenstein's monster, saying, "It's our new Frankenstein myth [...] We create something in our own image and the thing turns on us. It has that pain of 'Well, why was I made? I want to kill Daddy.'"[18] Spader called the character "self-absorbed" and added, "I think he sees the Avengers as being part of a problem, a more comprehensive problem in the world. He sees the world from a very strange, [biblical] point of view because he's brand new, he's very young [...] He's immature, and yet has knowledge of comprehensive, broad history and precedent, and he has created in a very short period of time a rather skewed worldview."[19] Spader elaborates, "He truly is an artificial intelligence with absolutely no censorship at all, no parameters really [...] he's got too much power, too much strength and speed and size, so he's a very dangerous child."[20]

Reception

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Critical response

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Manohla Dargis of The New York Times criticized the Ultron character, while praising Spader's acting in Age of Ultron.[21]

Accolades

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Year Award / Film Festival Category Recipient(s) Result Ref(s)
2016 MTV Movie Awards Best Villain James Spader Nominated [22]
Best Virtual Performance James Spader Nominated

Notes

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  1. ^ The main MCU universe was established to be Earth-616 in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022).

References

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  1. ^ Breznican, Anthony (July 16, 2014). "'Avengers: Age of Ultron': Who is Marvel's angry, metal madman?". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on July 17, 2014. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Erdmann, Kevin (May 6, 2022). "Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness Easter Eggs & MCU References". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on May 6, 2022. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  3. ^ Rovin, Jeff (1987). The Encyclopedia of Supervillains. New York: Facts on File. pp. 357–358. ISBN 0-8160-1356-X.
  4. ^ Couch, Aaron; Couch, Aaron (May 1, 2015). "Marvel Legend Reveals What Stan Lee Initially "Hated" About 'Age of Ultron' Breakout". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  5. ^ McMillan, Graeme (September 11, 2013). "Whedon on Spader's Ultron: 'My First and Only Choice'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  6. ^ Breznican, Anthony (August 29, 2013). "Avengers sequel: James Spader is villain in Age of Ultron". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on May 1, 2015. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  7. ^ Huver, Scott (May 6, 2015). "Blink & You'll Miss It: 14 "Avengers: Age of Ultron" Marvel Easter Eggs". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  8. ^ a b Bucksbaum, Sydney (October 6, 2021). "Marvel's What If...? team unpacks that finale ending and post-credits scene". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on October 6, 2021. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  9. ^ Orquiola, John (October 6, 2021). "Bryan Andrews & AC Bradley Interview: Marvel's What If...? Season 1 Finale". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on October 6, 2021. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  10. ^ Breznican, Anthony (August 29, 2013). "Avengers sequel: James Spader is villain in Age of Ultron". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on May 1, 2015. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  11. ^ Kit, Borys; Couch, Aaron (August 23, 2024). "James Spader Returning as Ultron for Marvel's Vision Series". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 23, 2024. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  12. ^ Lethbridge, Thomas (September 29, 2021). "What If...? Episode 8 Cast Guide: Every New & Returning MCU Character". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on September 29, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  13. ^ Donohoo, Timothy (September 29, 2021). "Who Voices Ultron in Marvel's What If?". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on September 30, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  14. ^ Ryan, Mike (October 21, 2013). "What To Expect From James Spader's Ultron In 'Avengers' Sequel". The Huffington Post. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  15. ^ McMillan, Graeme (September 30, 2013). "James Spader Explains Why He Signed on as Ultron". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 30, 2013. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  16. ^ "'Avengers 2' scoop: How Ultron will differ from the comics – Exclusive". Entertainment Weekly. August 21, 2013. Archived from the original on August 24, 2013. Retrieved August 21, 2013.
  17. ^ de Semlyen, Phil (April 24, 2014). "Joss Whedon Talks Avengers: Age Of Ultron". Empire. Archived from the original on April 28, 2014. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
  18. ^ Lee, Chris (December 22, 2014). "In 2015, Artificial Intelligence Will Rule the (Movie) World". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on October 26, 2015. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  19. ^ Rivera, Joshua (July 26, 2014). "James Spader reveals why his 'Avengers 2' character hates the Avengers". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on July 27, 2014. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
  20. ^ McIntyre, Gina (April 24, 2016). "Joss Whedon and cast face superheroic challenge in 'Avengers: Age of Ultron'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 26, 2016. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
  21. ^ Dargis, Manohla (April 30, 2015). "Review: 'Avengers: Age of Ultron' Gets the Superband Back Together". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 8, 2019. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  22. ^ "MTV Movie Awards Winners: Complete List". Variety. April 9, 2016. Archived from the original on March 20, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
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