In an exciting turn of events for Marvel fans, the upcoming Vision series, set to debut in 2026, will see an unexpected return from the Iron Man franchise, breaking a significant record within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). This news comes ahead of two characters’ returns in 2025, which are already generating considerable buzz. As a follow-up to the acclaimed 2021 series WandaVision, anticipation is high for the Vision series, which will explore the journey of Paul Bettany’s White Vision after his resurrection at the hands of SWORD and following the climactic events in Westview. With the hiring of seasoned showrunner Terry Matalas from Star Trek: Picard, and the confirmation that various established MCU actors will return, excitement continues to build.
While the focus of Vision will undoubtedly be on the titular character, it was recently announced that James Spader will reprise his role as the iconic villain Ultron. Spader’s Ultron was instrumental in the genesis of Vision’s character during the 2015 film Avengers: Age of Ultron, raising expectations about how the robotic antagonist will play into the new series. However, it is the return of a lesser-known character from the MCU’s earlier days that truly surprises fans: a familiar face from 2008’s Iron Man will be making a comeback, setting the stage for a remarkable record-breaking moment.
Faran Tahir Sets the Record for the Longest Gap Between MCU Appearances
Faran Tahir’s Role as Raza in Iron Man
Faran Tahir, renowned for his performances in Star Trek, Elysium, and 12 Monkeys, is set to reprise his role as Raza, a member of the Ten Rings and antagonist in the original Iron Man. According to a report from Deadline on January 14, 2025, Tahir’s return marks a remarkable achievement, as he will hold the record for the longest elapsed time between appearances in the MCU—18 years, since his initial portrayal in 2008’s Iron Man.
In the original film, there were implications that Raza was murdered by Obadiah Stane due to his failure to eliminate Tony Stark, yet his death was never explicitly depicted on screen. This open-ended narrative choice creates an interesting opportunity for his character’s revival.
While Robert Downey Jr. is also expected to return to the MCU in 2026, he will not reprise his role as Tony Stark; instead, he will debut as the famed villain Doctor Doom in the forthcoming Avengers: Doomsday. In contrast, Faran Tahir’s return as Raza solidifies his continuation of the original character, indicating potential connections to the Ten Rings and a deeper exploration of Vision’s history, particularly its links to Tony Stark’s legacy.
Two MCU Characters Will Precede Tahir’s Record in 2025
Liv Tyler and Tim Blake Nelson’s Comeback
Before Faran Tahir’s record is set, two other characters from Phase 1 will reclaim their places in the MCU earlier in 2025. Captain America: Brave New World, set to be released on February 14, 2025, will witness the notable returns of Liv Tyler as Betty Ross and Tim Blake Nelson as Samuel Sterns, now taking on the role of the new antagonist, the Leader. This will represent their first appearances since The Incredible Hulk in 2008, breaking the previous record for the longest absence held by another actor in that same film.
Currently, the record for the longest gap between MCU appearances is held by Tim Roth, who portrayed Emil Blonsky’s Abomination in The Incredible Hulk and returned subsequently in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings in 2021. Other actors, such as Clark Gregg and William Hurt, have held shorter gaps. Yet, Faran Tahir’s impending 18-year hiatus before the Vision series premieres will far surpass any previous records established.
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