Paul Bettany has confessed that he thought his ‘career was over’ before landing the role of Vision in 2008’s Iron Man alongside Robert Downey Jr.
The British actor, 54, went on to voice and appear as the supercomputer in another seven films, as well as spin-off series WandaVision and the upcoming VisionQuest in a cinematic universe which has netted a whopping £22 Billion.
But just moments before landing the now iconic part, Paul, who had previously starred in Oscar winning A Beautiful Mind and smash hit The Da Vinci Code, was told he would ‘never work again’ by a Hollywood producer.
During an appearance on BBC Radio 2, he recalled the story to host Gary Davies: ‘[My career] was on the up, and I had turned down a movie of [the producers] and my son had just been born, and I think it just really stuck in his craw’.
Paul branded the unnamed producer an ‘apex predator’ and told him to ‘mind his manners’ before walking with his legs shaking, fearful the man was right.
‘I sat down, I think i was on Sunset [Boulevard] and my phone rang and it was [Avengers director] Joss Whedon and he said “Do you want to play Vision?” And I said yes’.
Paul Bettany has confessed that he thought his ‘career was over’ before landing the role of Vision in 2008’s Iron Man alongside Robert Downey Jr.
The British actor, 54, went on to voice and appear as the supercomputer (pictured) in another seven films, as well as spin-off series WandaVision and the upcoming VisionQuest
While Paul never returned to confront the producer, he admitted swearing at the building following his good news.
The actor shares son Stellan, 22, and daughter Agnes, 14, with actress wife Jennifer Connelly, 55, as well as son Kai, 27, from a previous relationship.
Vision was then killed by Thanos (Josh Brolin) in the Russo Brothers’ 2018 film Avengers: Infinity War so he could retrieve the Mind Stone for his Infinity Gauntlet, which enabled him to snap his fingers and disintegrate half of all life across the universe.
Paul’s character returned twice – as ‘Ghost’ Vision and ‘White’ Vision – for WandaVision, which aired in 2021 on Disney+ and 2026’s VisionQuest.
Meanwhile Chris Evans is officially back as Captain America as he made his shocking return in the new teaser released for Avengers: Doomsday.
After over a year of rumors that the 44-year-old actor would be returning to his superhero role despite being written off it was confirmed with the official release of the short clip last last week.
And Evans back as Captain America AKA Steve Rogers was not the only big news from the minute-long clip as he is shown holding a baby with a smile on his face toward the end of it.
His inclusion in the trailer may be alarming for some as the 2019 blockbuster Avengers: Endgame ended after the defeat of Thanos (Josh Brolin) where Rogers returns the Infinity Stones to their original timeline, and elects to live in the past with his one true love, Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell).
But before landing the now iconic part, Paul, who had previously starred in Oscar smash hit The Da Vinci Code (pictured) was told he would ‘never work again’ by a Hollywood producer.
Paul branded the unnamed producer an ‘apex predator’ and told him to ‘mind his manners’ before walking with his legs shaking, fearful the man was right (Pictured in WandaVision)
Depsite being killed off Paul’s character has returned twice – as ‘Ghost’ Vision and ‘White’ Vision – for WandaVision, which aired in 2021 on Disney+ and 2026’s VisionQuest
He returns as an elderly man to pass his iconic Captain America shield, and therefore the title of Captain America, to Sam Wilson, a.k.a. The Falcon (Anthony Mackie).
Regardless, the teaser clip does indicate that he will be returning as his signature superhero character as he was seen looking at his Captain America outfit.
Evans played Steve Rogers AKA Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) from 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger until Avengers: Endgame in 2019.
In December 2024, it was claimed that he would be making a surprise appearance in the studio’s next crossover blockbuster in 2026 according to The Wrap.
While the outlet reported at the time the star would be returning to the MCU ‘in some capacity’ for Avengers: Doomsday, it was not confirmed which role Evans would be playing after the actor also recently appeared as Johnny Storm, aka the Human Torch, in Deadpool And Wolverine.
Evans is not the only Marvel Cinematic Universe staple making a return as he will be reuniting with his former Avengers co-star in the aforementioned Downey Jr., 60, who will be playing the antagonist Doctor Doom in Doomsday.
Chris Evans is officially back as Captain America as he made his shocking return in the new teaser released for Avengers: Doomsday last week
Avengers: Doomsday is set for release on December 18, 2026
The Oppenheimer star – who had fronted the MCU from its inception with 2008’s Iron Man until Endgame 11 years later – was revealed to be returning to the franchise as its next big villain at San Diego Comic Con in July 2024, where it was also announced directors Joe and Anthony Russo would be back behind the camera for ‘Doomsday’.
After being unveiled as the series’ next big bad, Downey Jr. explained how Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige pitched the role of Doctor Doom to him and his wife Susan Downey.
During an appearance on The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast last year, he recalled: ‘Susan and I were sitting down with Feige at one point, and he said, “It just keeps occurring to me that, if you were to come back…” And Susan was like, “Wait, wait, come back as what?”
‘And then we both realized, over time, that it was another thing that just disproves any doubt anyone could ever have about that guy.
‘[Feige is] a very sophisticated, creative thinker about, “How can we not go backwards? How can we not disappoint expectations? How can we continue to beat expectations?”
‘And he brought up Victor von Doom, and I looked into [the] character, and I was like, “Wow.” And later on, he goes, “Let’s get Victor von Doom right. Let’s get that right.”‘
