VisionQuest is being heavily marketed as the conclusion to a trilogy of Disney+ shows. However, the MCU is rarely quite so straightforward when it comes to how to engage with the franchise. While I’m sure watching just VisionQuest as part of the aforementioned trilogy will result in a rewarding experience, it’s almost surely going to be a far richer story when combined with additional MCU projects. So, I’m going to take you through what else should be rewatched so that you can be as prepared as possible for Paul Bettany’s return as Vision on Oct. 14.
Before his MCU debut in 2015, Vision was a pretty obscure Marvel Comics character. Although he’d been on countless adventures in the source material by then, Marvel adaptations had focused primarily on the franchise’s most popular superheroes, such as Spider-Man and Captain America. Now, Vision is among the most famous Marvel characters thanks to his presence in several key MCU storylines. Despite his death in the third Avengers movie, Kevin Feige and company have found creative ways to allow Bettany to reprise his role. VisionQuest is the latest beneficiary of that clever writing.
Why You Should Trust Me: I’ve been an MCU fan since the franchise began in 2008, and I’ve seen all the movies and TV shows. I’ve also been writing about entertainment professionally since 2023, with the MCU being one of my main beats when new projects drop and between releases.
Honorable Mention
What If…? Season 1, Episode 8, “What If…Ultron Won?”
I will totally forgive anyone who skips this particular 2021 MCU installment, as it’s not directly relevant to what’s going on in VisionQuest. It’s not totally unrelated, though. With James Spader coming back to play Ultron in the upcoming Disney+ series, seemingly as an uneasy ally to Vision, it’s important to remember how much of a threat Ultron can be. He never reached his full potential in the MCU’s Sacred Timeline, but this What If…? episode shows a glimpse into a universe where Ultron became a god-like entity, armed with the power of the Infinity Stones and the body that was originally intended for him. It’s a fascinating examination of the character. This version of Ultron does appear in other episodes of What If…?, but this installment has the most shock value.
#6: ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ (2015)
This movie is one of the most essential viewing experiences ahead of VisionQuest‘s upcoming premiere. As one of the most underrated Avengers movies, Age of Ultron serves not only as the debut of its title character; it’s also Vision’s first MCU appearance. The 2015 film establishes the twisted father-son dynamic between Ultron and Vision that VisionQuest looks primed to focus on so intently, and it remains Ultron’s most substantial MCU appearance to date. It’s also when Vision and Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) first meet. Although any kind of romantic connection is tricky to predict from just this movie alone, it’s an important part of their shared arc.
Why You Might Skip This: I would strongly advise against skipping a rewatch of this one, and I’d be even more adamant about watching it if you’ve never seen it before, but like the look of VisionQuest. It’s a foundational movie for what’s right around the corner. That said, it is the second movie in the Avengers series. It’s up to you if you’re okay with skipping 2012’s The Avengers.
#5: ‘Captain America: Civil War’ (2016)
Civil War is often grouped with the Avengers movies, but it’s actually the final installment of the original Captain America trilogy. Although Vision and Wanda aren’t the main focus, Civil War is where their deep connection really starts to take hold. Sure, they fight on opposite sides of the movie’s central conflict, but the very message of Civil War is that (almost) none of it is personal. They end the movie apart, with Wanda being imprisoned on the Raft for siding with Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), while Vision remains at the Avengers compound after siding with Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.). Steve then liberates Wanda, which sets up the next part of her story with Vision.
Why You Might Skip This: As I said above, Civil War treats neither Vision nor Wanda as main characters. Their budding love story can easily be caught up with in their next shared MCU appearance.
#4: ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ (2018)
One of Infinity War’s earliest scenes shows Vision and Wanda in hiding together in Scotland, a subplot that VisionQuest seems to be referencing by the return of Tommy (Ruaridh Mollica) in the Disney+ series, who now has a Scottish accent after his reincarnation. Again, Vision and Wanda are treated as part of a larger superhero ensemble, but this time while trying to stop Thanos (Josh Brolin) from wiping out half of all life by using the Infinity Stones. The fact that Vision’s consciousness is directly connected to one of those Stones makes him an immediate target, though. That drags his and Wanda’s story to the forefront, and Thanos’ brutal murder of Bettany’s character is exactly why we have the WandaVision trilogy in the first place.
Why You Might Skip This: Infinity War is another MCU project I think is essential to rewatch when preparing for VisionQuest. The only issue is that it comes paired with Avengers: Endgame, which rounds off the story and essentially serves as Infinity War Part 2. The broader story is left hanging if Endgame isn’t viewed after Infinity War, but Endgame is very light on content that’s directly relevant to VisionQuest. It’s a tricky one, especially if you’re short on time.
#3: ‘WandaVision’ (2021)
For those who only want to watch the most immediately important MCU projects before checking out VisionQuest, this is the purest place to start. All you need to remember is that Vision died in Infinity War and wasn’t resurrected with the countless other dead heroes in Endgame. The fact that Vision is still around is part of WandaVision‘s mysterious blueprint. At 9 episodes long, it’s a surprisingly bingeable miniseries, despite its high-concept storytelling approach. It’s the debut of characters like Vision and Wanda’s two sons, Billy and Tommy, the latter of whom is in VisionQuest. WandaVision‘s introduction of White Vision is also a major development, as this is the version of the character Bettany is playing once more in the upcoming Disney+ series.
Why You Might Skip This: Don’t. This is a must-watch for anyone wanting to refresh themselves on the lore attached to this area of the MCU.
#2: ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ (2022)
Sam Raimi’s first Marvel movie in 15 years didn’t include the Spider-Man cameo many had hoped for, but it did serve as a fascinating WandaVision epilogue. Although the Disney+ series ended with Wanda freeing Westview from her grasp, the second Doctor Strange movie went on to frame her as a straight-up villain, albeit a sympathetic one. Her desperate search for a reality where her children were flesh-and-blood human beings turns her into a merciless killer who takes down anyone in her way. While Wanda is referenced in the VisionQuest trailer, the fact that she died a very poignant death in Multiverse of Madness means it’d be surprising if she came back in VisionQuest. Still, her demise is an important thing to be aware of when considering Vision’s current mental state.
Why You Might Skip This: Wanda’s broader MCU arc is a major part of Multiverse of Madness, but it is a little irritating that this era of her life takes place in a Doctor Strange movie. I think it’s enough to go into watching VisionQuest just knowing she went on a villainous, multiversal rampage, and then died.
#1: ‘Agatha All Along’ (2024)
Just as Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness checks in with Wanda after Westview, Agatha All Along checks in with Westview after Wanda. Specifically, it’s Kathryn Hahn’s Agatha Harkness and the spell that Wanda left her under that initially hogs the narrative spotlight. Once that is broken, Agatha All Along starts to take on a life of its own. It’s Billy’s (Joe Locke) return in a new body that’s most directly relevant to VisionQuest, as his brother Tommy also has a similar storyline in the upcoming Disney+ series. This show is what’s commonly referred to as the official second installment of the WandaVision trilogy, but it doesn’t feel particularly vital to me in relation to VisionQuest.
Why You Might Skip This: Although it takes place after Agatha All Along, VisionQuest looks like it’s intended as a direct follow-up to WandaVision. I think it’ll probably be fine to avoid watching the Hahn-led MCU project to prioritize other, more relevant stories to get yourself ready for VisionQuest – just remember that one of Vision’s sons already came back in Agatha All Along.
- Release Date
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October 14, 2026
- Network
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Disney+
