Despite telling a story centered around artificial intelligence, Marvel’s upcoming VisionQuest series did not use generative AI during production. According to Deadline, series creator Terry Matalas (Star Trek: Picard, 12 Monkeys) confirmed that the Disney+ series relied on human creativity while developing its take on AI.
“No, not at all. There hasn’t really been a need,” Matalas said when asked whether generative AI was used. Instead, the creative team examined how current AI technology processes and generates material while developing the show’s visual style. Matalas explained that the designs reference the appearance of current AI output, allowing the series to comment on the technology without actually using it.
Deadline notes that production designer Will Hughes-Jones (The Sandman, The Alienist) and his team took a similar approach. Human artists intentionally recreated some of the imperfections associated with AI-generated imagery.
The distinction fits directly into VisionQuest. Paul Bettany (WandaVision, A Beautiful Mind) returns as Vision, who begins a journey of self-discovery following his resurrection and the events of WandaVision. He gets help from AI personas embedded in his programming while dealing with a bounty on his head.
As mxdwn previously covered, those AI characters will provide several connections to Tony Stark and Vision’s history. James D’Arcy (Agent Carter, Broadchurch) returns as J.A.R.V.I.S., while Orla Brady (Star Trek: Picard, Into the Badlands) appears as F.R.I.D.A.Y. Matalas previously explained that F.R.I.D.A.Y. was present when Tony died and was unable to save him, giving the AI its own perspective on the MCU moment.
That earlier coverage also detailed how VisionQuest will focus on Vision rather than primarily serving as a way to bring Wanda Maximoff back. Matalas teased another important character appearing with Vision while clarifying that it was not Wanda. Ruaridh Mollica (The Franchise, Sebastian) will also appear as Tommy Maximoff.
Disney’s decision to avoid generative AI follows its May decision to end a planned $1 billion investment in OpenAI’s Sora, along with plans involving its character catalog and the text-to-video application.
For VisionQuest, artificial intelligence will remain part of the story rather than the process used to create it. The series premieres October 14 on Disney+.