James Spader and Terry Matalas Say Ultron Gets the Best Lines in ‘VisionQuest'

When Marvel announced that James Spader would return as Ultron in ‘VisionQuest’, it marked his first time playing the character since 2015’s ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’. Back then, he brought the rogue AI to life through performance capture, and his final scene with Paul Bettany’s Vision left plenty of fans wanting more.

Showrunner Terry Matalas felt the same way. Explaining the origins of Vision’s Mindspace concept, he told TV Guide that he knew Vision would face an identity crisis after ‘WandaVision’, and asked himself, “We don’t have Wanda anymore, so who is he talking to?”

The answer turned out to be Ultron, and the character’s dialogue has quickly become one of the show’s biggest talking points. In a new interview clip shared by Pop Base, Spader and Matalas agreed that Ultron has some of the best lines in the entire series.

It’s a claim plenty of viewers would back up. Spader’s Ultron, now living inside Vision’s head, has been praised for his dry, philosophical wit, and his sparring matches with Bettany’s Vision have become a weekly highlight.

The praise started before the series even premiered. When reviews arrived, ‘VisionQuest’ debuted with an 87% Tomatometer score, and by October 21 it had climbed to 90% from 77 reviews, alongside an 86% audience score.

James Spader and showrunner Terry Matalas think Ultron has some of the best lines in ‘VISIONQUEST.’ https://t.co/j3jrMoHsFy
— Pop Base (@PopBase) October 28, 2026

Spader’s performance was a recurring theme. Metro’s Tom Percival praised how Spader makes Ultron fierce, funny, and fiendish all at once, while other early reviews argued he stole the first 4 episodes thanks to having the funniest lines and delivering them perfectly.

Not every critic was won over, though. Rolling Stone’s David Fear and IndieWire’s Ben Travers both gave the series rotten scores, with Travers arguing that the show isn’t as complicated or unique as it appears.

When VisionQuest series showrunner Terry Matalas pitched the idea of bringing back James Spader as Ultron, he had no plan B 🤯 🎤 @ChamatkarSandhu #VisionQuest https://t.co/jgEmHiGRyJ
— Screen Off Script (@ScreenOffScript) October 14, 2026

Viewers have been just as enthusiastic. One fan on Reddit called Ultron the highlight of the show, praising how he has tried to learn from humanity during his imprisonment and calling his conversations with Vision absolutely fantastic dialogue.

Another joked that they could happily watch 8 straight hours of Vision and Ultron simply talking. Others singled out the show’s revisit of the Ship of Theseus debate, calling it a perfect expansion of the theme.

James Spader agreed to return as Ultron after discussing the trajectory of VisionQuest with showrunner Terry Matalas. #NYCC https://t.co/225yv7NKKY
— IGN (@IGN) October 10, 2026

Part of Ultron’s appeal is his striking new look. Matalas has revealed that the character’s long beard was all Spader’s idea, explaining that the actor simply showed up to set that way, while Spader also requested Ultron’s distinctive top hat.

T’Nia Miller discusses acting alongside James Spader as Jocasta and Ultron in ‘VISIONQUEST.’ https://t.co/Rn4ZGQ0U2k
— Pop Base (@PopBase) October 28, 2026

Spader has said the beard helps convey that Ultron has been a prisoner in Vision’s mind for years, making him a complete contrast to the sleek metallic robot from the film. He has described Ultron as someone who both loves and hates Vision, calling their bond a mix of father, son, therapist, and psychopath.

The new trailer for ‘VISIONQUEST’ has been released. Releasing October 14 on Disney+ https://t.co/56jVK517wK
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) October 1, 2026

Spader was actually taking an extended break from work when the role came calling, but he has said he was quickly drawn in by Matalas’ vision for the series. ‘VisionQuest’ marks his first TV role since ‘The Blacklist’ ended in 2023.

The series serves as the final chapter of the trilogy that began with ‘WandaVision’ and continued with ‘Agatha All Along’. Episodes 5 and 6, titled ‘Firewall’ and ‘Deadlock’, arrived on Disney+ on October 27, and the season concludes on November 10.

With just a few episodes left, fans are already wondering whether Ultron’s mentor act will eventually give way to betrayal. Either way, Spader and Matalas seem confident audiences will keep quoting his lines long after the finale.