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Ultron's Shocking Return Fuels 'VisionQuest' Finale
11 Nov
Summary
- Showrunner Terry Matalas had 15 minutes to conceive the Ultron comeback.
- Convincing James Spader to reprise Ultron was a major hurdle.
- The finale aimed for an intimate, strange battle within a sitcom.
Terry Matalas, the showrunner for "VisionQuest," detailed the unexpected creative process behind the series' conclusion. He received an open invitation from Marvel's Kevin Feige to develop a story for Vision, and within 15 minutes, conceived the idea of bringing back the villain Ultron.
Marvel expressed initial doubt about reintroducing Ultron, given the divisive reception of "Avengers: Age of Ultron." Matalas was tasked with convincing James Spader himself to reprise the role, a challenge he successfully met, finding Spader enthusiastic about the concept.
Matalas aimed to complete a trilogy and set up future possibilities, but emphasized creative freedom. He described the finale's core as an intimate and strange battle within an American sitcom, inspired by his own childhood experiences watching television with his family.
The production team recreated a sitcom set, using multi-cameras to capture the feel, with the crew acting as a live studio audience. Matalas also collaborated with Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez for the show's music, including the memorable "UltraVision" theme song.
