Draft:Ultron (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

Ultron is a fictional character portrayed by James Spader in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) media franchise, based on the character of the same name. He was introduced in Avengers: Age of Ultron, and an alternate universe version of the character appeared in the Disney+ animated television series What If...?, where he was voiced by Ross Marquand.

Fictional character biography
Ultron's story in the MCU takes place in the Earth-616 universe. The fictional biography below includes events that happened to Ultron from more than one Earth-616 timeline, as well as events that happened to him from multiple other universes.

Fighting the Avengers
Tony Stark and Bruce Banner's research on the Mind Stone was the groundwork for Ultron's genesis, along with Stark's belief that Ultron would be the Avengers' permanent solution to maintain "peace in our time". Once born, Ultron, however, quickly surmises that humanity's continued survival throughout human history is a result of overcoming ongoing successions of crises, and thus, he determines to inflict an extinction-level event in Sokovia to ensure the people of Earth have the will to evolve. Ultron, however, views the Avengers as a hindrance to humanity's evolution and vows to fulfill the Avengers' extinction. Ultron continuously updates his physical form with the acquisition of vibranium from Ulysses Klaue and possesses the ability to manifest himself within Stark's Iron Legion droids. He is ultimately destroyed by Vision.

Alternate versions
Other versions of Ultron are depicted in the alternate realities of the MCU multiverse.

Another version appeared as the villain in a Disney ride.

Ultron's conquest
Throughout the episodes of the Disney+ animated series, What If...?, "What If... Thor Were an Only Child?", "What If... Ultron Won?", and "What If... the Watcher Broke His Oath?", this version (voiced by Ross Marquand) successfully transferred his consciousness into Vision's body before going on to kill most of the Avengers and launch a global nuclear holocaust. After killing Thanos for the Infinity Stones, Ultron extends his campaign of destruction to other planets. Upon eliminating all life in the universe, Ultron feels that he no longer has a purpose until he learns about the Watcher and the existence of other realities. He fights and defeats the Watcher in the Nexus of All Realities, gaining access to the entire multiverse, and begins traveling to other timelines to destroy them as well. However, the Watcher assembles the Guardians of the Multiverse to stop Ultron, who defeat him by uploading Arnim Zola's mind into his body, allowing Zola to delete Ultron's consciousness.

Serving the Illuminati
On Earth-838, the Ultron Sentries are created by Reed Richards to serve the Illuminati. The Sentries are later destroyed by the corrupted Wanda Maximoff from Earth-616, who infiltrates the Illuminati headquarters and slaughters every member.

Background and development
The Marvel Comics character Ultron initially appeared as an unnamed character in a cameo in The Avengers #54 (1968), with a first full appearance in Avengers #55 (1968). Ultron was created by writer Roy Thomas and artist John Buscema. Director Joss Whedon stated that James Spader was his "first and only choice" for the role, because of his "hypnotic voice that can be eerily calm and compelling" while also being very human and humorous. Spader was cast as Ultron in August 2013. Spader also voices Iron Man's drones at the beginning of the film.

Casting and appearances
James Spader was cast by August 2013 to play Ultron in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015).

Characterization
Feige clarified that Spader's face and body were motion captured "to create a whole performance [...] We did not hire James Spader to do a robot voice." Extensive scans were taken of Spader's head and body in preparation for the role. About the character Whedon said, "He's always trying to destroy the Avengers, goddamn it, he's got a bee in his bonnet. He's not a happy guy, which means he's an interesting guy. He's got pain. And the way that manifests is not going to be standard robot stuff." Whedon added that Ultron is "not a creature of logic—he's a robot who's genuinely disturbed. We're finding out what makes him menacing and at the same time endearing and funny and strange and unexpected, and everything a robot never is."

Whedon compared Ultron to Frankenstein's monster, saying, "It's our new Frankenstein myth [...] We create something in our own image and the thing turns on us. It has that pain of 'Well, why was I made? I want to kill Daddy.'" Spader called the character "self-absorbed" and added, "I think he sees the Avengers as being part of a problem, a more comprehensive problem in the world. He sees the world from a very strange, [biblical] point of view because he's brand new, he's very young [...] He's immature, and yet has knowledge of comprehensive, broad history and precedent, and he has created in a very short period of time a rather skewed worldview." Spader elaborates, "He truly is an artificial intelligence with absolutely no censorship at all, no parameters really [...] he's got too much power, too much strength and speed and size, so he's a very dangerous child."

Critical response
Manohla Dargis of The New York Times criticized the Ultron character, while praising Spader's acting in Age of Ultron.