VisionQuest is set to premiere in just a few days, on October 14th, with a double-episode release on Disney+. It’s also worth pointing out that this will be the final Marvel Cinematic Universe project before the highly anticipated Avengers: Doomsday.
But does this put additional pressure on VisionQuest to succeed? I somewhat believe it does.
VisionQuest is the third and final instalment in a trilogy of Disney+ series, beginning with WandaVision, continuing through Agatha All Along, and now concluding with VisionQuest. We’re not talking about C-tier characters or street-level heroes here. We’re talking about Vision, a former Avenger with deep connections to the MCU’s history. The series will also feature the return of Ultron, alongside other familiar artificial intelligence systems, including F.R.I.D.A.Y. and J.A.R.V.I.S.
The finale is scheduled for November 11th, with Avengers: Doomsday arriving in UK cinemas on December 16th and in the US on December 18th. That leaves just five weeks between the conclusion of VisionQuest and Marvel’s next major cinematic event. Surely, this presents one final opportunity to give audiences something to look forward to?
One issue I’ve had with Avengers: Doomsday is the lack of build-up compared to Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Throughout the Infinity Saga, we saw the threat of Thanos gradually develop across multiple projects, building anticipation towards an inevitable confrontation. With Doomsday, however, things have felt considerably different. We’ve only really had glimpses of Doctor Doom through The Fantastic Four: First Steps and the recently released post-credit scenes in Avengers: Endgame Encore.
This is where I believe VisionQuest has an opportunity to deliver something special.
Now, I’m not demanding that Doctor Doom suddenly appears and starts throwing down with Ultron. That would arguably take away from the story VisionQuest is trying to tell. However, I can’t help but think back to Thor: Ragnarok and how brilliantly that film transitioned into Avengers: Infinity War.
Ragnarok had already told its story. Asgard had fallen, Thor had saved his people, and everything appeared to be moving towards a hopeful conclusion. Then, during the mid-credit scene, an enormous ship appeared before Thor and Loki.
It was Thanos.
One simple scene was enough to remind audiences that something much bigger was approaching. It didn’t need to explain the events of Infinity War or take anything away from Ragnarok. It simply provided that final connection, and personally, I believe VisionQuest could benefit from something similar.
There’s also something particularly interesting about Vision himself. His origins are deeply connected to Tony Stark, J.A.R.V.I.S., and Ultron, all of whom played significant roles throughout the Infinity Saga. With Robert Downey Jr. returning to the MCU as Doctor Doom, there’s certainly an opportunity to explore those connections further.
Now, I’m not suggesting that Doom is secretly Tony Stark, or that Vision needs to recognise him. However, considering Vision’s history with Stark and the fact that Ultron is returning, there’s arguably no better character to provide that final connection to Doomsday. Whether Marvel chooses to explore that remains to be seen, but the potential is certainly there.
I understand that Marvel Studios has been moving towards making its Disney+ projects more accessible as standalone stories, rather than requiring audiences to watch countless series to understand the films. That’s a decision I can appreciate, particularly when you consider how convoluted the wider MCU has become.
However, I don’t believe a brief connection to Doomsday would undermine that approach. We’re not talking about introducing a major plot point that audiences must understand before heading into cinemas. Even a short post-credit scene, a subtle reference, or something that might not necessarily play a significant role in the film itself could be enough.
Ultimately, VisionQuest deserves the opportunity to conclude its own story without carrying the responsibility of setting up something as enormous as Avengers: Doomsday. But considering its position as the final MCU project before the film, I can’t help but feel that Marvel has a perfect opportunity to build some additional excitement.
I’m seriously looking forward to both projects. I’ve even booked Avengers: Doomsday twice for December 16th, once in the morning and again in the evening. I genuinely cannot wait.
But what do you think? Should VisionQuest provide one final connection to Avengers: Doomsday, or should Marvel allow the series to conclude without referencing the upcoming film whatsoever?
