Ultron has been rumored to return to the MCU during the upcoming Armor Wars film, even after his apparent destruction in Age of Ultron.

Ultron has been rumored to be returning during the upcoming Armor Wars film, despite the Tony Stark-created AI being destroyed during Avengers: Age of Ultron, but this could be perfect for the MCU’s future. Even though Don Cheadle’s solo project as James “Rhodey” Rhodes, a.k.a. War Machine, was initially planned as a Disney+ series, it is now being reworked as a feature-length film, which implies some significant characters might be reprising their roles. Along with a theory that Robert Downey Jr. could be returning as an AI version of Tony Stark comes speculation that Iron Man’s creation and Age of Ultron villain, Ultron, could be coming back too.

Many criticized Ultron’s use in the second crossover event featuring the Avengers since the villain is far more formidable in Marvel Comics but was played off as a one-and-done enemy in the MCU. However, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness showed viewers a glimpse of a universe where the Ultron program had been successful and reintroduced the idea of a working Ultron system into the franchise. Ultron’s potential return in Armor Wars creates the opportunity for the villain to be done justice in the MCU finally, but it could also be just what Marvel Studios need to push forward storylines involving the DODC, Reed Richards, and even Earth-616’s own Illuminati team

How Can Ultron Return In Armor Wars?

Despite being introduced in Spider-Man: Homecoming, the Department of Damage Control (DODC) has become more prevalent in Phase 4, particularly in Spider-Man: No Way Home, Ms. Marvel, and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. Originally intended to clean up the messes left behind by superhero antics, the DODC have taken on a more villainous role in recent projects, which could be pointing to them completely turning against the mandate set out by their founder, Tony Stark. However, it’s possible that, in cleaning up after the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron, the DODC came across a dormant Ultron drone, opening the door for the villain to return in future MCU projects.

Ultron’s Return Would Be Bad For The MCU (But Maybe Also Good)

The Ultron program created during the Age of Ultron didn’t go to plan, with the AI turning against his creators and vowing the extinction of the Avengers, destroying Sokovia in the process. If the DODC can revive an Ultron drone, it could set about its original intention of eradicating the Avengers or even side with the DODC for its own nefarious purposes. This would make Armor Wars the perfect place for Ultron to return to the MCU, as the upcoming film is set to feature Rhodey dealing with mishandled Stark tech in the wake of his death in Avengers: Endgame: Ultron could very easily be used for evil.

On the other hand, Multiverse of Madness showed a world where the Ultron program worked, with several drones being used to protect mankind rather than its destruction. This could spell a brighter future for Ultron since it’s possible that someone as brilliant as Reed Richards could get their hands on Ultron tech and reprogram it as a force for good. Additionally, this would lay the groundwork for the MCU proper’s Illuminati team, following in the footsteps of their Earth-838 counterparts. This would undoubtedly justify Armor Wars being adapted from a series into a film and could make it one of the most critical projects in the MCU’s upcoming slate.