Vision (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

Paul Bettany portrays Vision

Prior to the introduction of Vision in the MCU, Paul Bettany had voiced J.A.R.V.I.S., Tony Stark's A.I. companion in previous films. Bettany admitted that he had little idea of what the role was, even as he recorded it, simply doing it as a favor for Jon Favreau.[5] He was cast again as the Vision,[6][7] an android created by Ultron.[8] Bettany stated that he was surprised when Whedon asked him if he wanted to be the Vision because once an actor has been cast as a particular character in the MCU, they usually are not cast as another.[9] On what intrigued him about the Vision, Bettany said, "The thing that appealed to me is that this sort of nascent creature being born, being both omnipotent and totally naive, the sort of danger of that and complex nature of a thing being born that is that powerful and that created in a second and the choices he makes morally are really complex and interesting. They've really managed to maintain all of that".[9] Bettany also stated that the Vision feels paternal and protective to a number of people in the film, particularly Wanda Maximoff, and has the ability to change his density. Bettany did wire work for the part.[9] Whedon stated he wanted to include the Vision in a second Avengers film before he signed onto the first film.[10] Bettany's make-up, which consisted of a mix of face paint and prosthetics, took two hours to apply with make-up artists Jeremy Woodhead and Nik Williams citing the correct hue of the Vision's skin as the hardest thing to figure out.[11]

Discussing the development of the character in Captain America: Civil War, Bettany noted that because the Vision was only created in the previous film, Age of Ultron, "you see my character get born... He must be both omnipotent and yet totally naive at the same time. And experiencing the world in real time and his place in it. Is he going to be a force of good or a force of evil?"[12] Bettany also said he was interested in exploring "what it means to be human and what love is" with the character, as "The only way one can guarantee one's loyalty is love."[13] This is exhibited in the connection Vision begins to form with Wanda Maximoff, with Bettany commenting, "They both have these new burgeoning powers that they don’t understand ... I think he’s worried that they’re both dangerous. So he feels this real connection with her."[14] As the Vision has the ability to create a projected disguise, he chooses to dress similarly to Howard Stark's attache, Edwin Jarvis.[15] One review notes that "Vision is an android who gained consciousness and an affinity for love all at the same time, and so the latter is of the utmost importance to him".[16]

By the events of WandaVision, Vision had apparently been killed by Thanos, and it is unclear whether Vision appearing thereafter is real, or part of an illusion being created by Wanda Maximoff, though it is noted that he appears to have independent agency.[17]

J.A.R.V.I.S. is apparently destroyed by Ultron, but it is later revealed that he actually distributed his consciousness throughout the Internet, allowing his security protocols to delay Ultron's attempt to access Earth's nuclear launch codes long enough for Tony to work out what had happened. The Avengers capture a synthetic body created by Ultron for himself, powered by the Mind Stone. Stark and Bruce Banner upload J.A.R.V.I.S. as the core software for that body. After a brief fight with other Avengers, who disagree with this effort, Thor uses his lightning to power its completion, creating Vision. Thor explains that the gem on its brow, one of the six Infinity Stones, the most powerful objects in existence, was part of a vision that he had. Having gained consciousness, Vision says that he is not a creature of Ultron, but is also no longer J.A.R.V.I.S.; Vision states that he "is on the side of life" and sides with the Avengers against Ultron. He fights the Ultron drones during the final battle in Sokovia and destroys the last Ultron drone himself. Notably, to this point, Vision is the only non-Asgardian to be able to lift Thor's hammer Mjolnir; an earlier scene in the film establishes that this signifies that Vision is pure of heart and therefore "worthy" of lifting the hammer.[18]

Vision sides with Iron Man's group during the titular conflict. He reasons this by remarking that the number of supernatural or highly dangerous events have increased since Tony Stark's admitting of his secret identity and that government oversight will assist the team. This includes effectively confining Wanda Maximoff to the Avengers' compound after the latter's involvement in the collateral damage in Lagos. Vision attempts to make Maximoff feel comfortable with her circumstances, cooking her paprikash. He overpowers Hawkeye, who tries to break Maximoff out, until she interferes, telekinetically pushing Vision hundreds of feet beneath the compound. As expected, Vision is unharmed and escapes to later participate in the battle to capture Captain America's allies. During the battle, he aims to disable the Falcon, however, accidentally shoots down and cripples War Machine, as he was distracted while tending to Maximoff. This movie also hints at Vision and Maximoff's relationship in the comics, with Vision confused about the emotions he experienced around her and his increased desire to keep her safe.

Vision now in Scotland having a relationship with the fugitive Maximoff while using his powers to maintain a human disguise. When Thanos and his army start coming to Earth to take the Mind Stone out of Vision's body, Captain America's team take Vision to Wakanda, in the hope that Wakandan science will be able to remove the Mind Stone without killing the Vision, so that Wanda can then destroy the Stone. Unfortunately, Thanos's forces attack Wakanda during the operation, and when his armies prove too much for even the Avengers and the Wakandan army, Vision convinces Maximoff to destroy the Mind Stone at the cost of his life. However, Thanos uses the Time Stone to reverse the Mind Stone's destruction, allowing him to rip the Mind Stone out of Vision's head, killing the android in the process.[19][20]

Vision returns and is married to Wanda who live in a reality that is not what it seems. The couple live in a suburban neighborhood, which appears to be themed after American television sitcoms of various eras, which become more recent as the show progresses. They conceal their true nature from their neighbors, pretending to be a normal entirely human couple, though both lack memories of how they came to be in this situation. In the first episode, Vision is shown to have a job at a company called Computational Services Inc., where he amazes his co-workers with his speed but is unsure what his company actually does. He is also shown to have invited his boss, Mr. Hart, for dinner, during which the boss chokes on his food and Vision has to use his abilities to save him. In the second episode, he is shown to behave as if he is intoxicated after accidentally swallowing chewing gum, which Wanda is able to fix. In episode three, as Wanda quickly progresses in her pregnancy with their twin children, Vision exhibits super speed, and momentarily appears to realize that something is not right about their surroundings.[17] In the fourth episode Vision briefly appears to Wanda as a corpse, and it is revealed in the fifth episode that Wanda had stolen Vision's body from S.W.O.R.D.