Vision’s death in the Infinity Saga remains one of the most heartbreaking moments in the MCU. His return in WandaVision not only thrilled fans but also laid the groundwork for his own series. Vision Quest, which should not be confused with the 1985 film of the same name, is a direct spin-off of WandaVision and is currently slated for release in 2026. It will continue the storyline within the broader MCU continuity.
Fans are also excited to see Paul Bettany return as Vision. The British actor originally voiced Tony Stark’s AI assistant, J.A.R.V.I.S., before evolving into the beloved Avengers android. But his return isn’t the only casting news that has people talking. James Spader, who voiced and performed the motion capture for Ultron, has also joined the cast, hinting at the villain’s return to the MCU. Joining him is actress T’Nia Miller, who will play Jocasta, a character long associated with Ultron as his intended bride.
The announcement of Miller’s casting as Jocasta in the upcoming Disney+ series has elicited a spectrum of reactions from fans and commentators. Most reactions were positive; casting T’Nia Miller as Jocasta is a compelling choice that aligns well with both the character’s depth and Miller’s acting prowess. But the casting also sparked debates surrounding character design and representation, which we’ll cover in greater detail below. For now, let’s get acquainted with the character and explore why T’Nia Miller’s casing makes perfect sense.
Those more familiar with the Marvel Comics universe and its history know Jocasta very well, as the character was first introduced in 1977’s The Avengers #162 comic book. She was actually created by Ultron, who, seeking a romantic companion, built a robot body and planned to imbue it with the consciousness and brain patterns of Janet “Jan” van Dyne, aka The Wasp. The Wasp was a long-time love interest of Hank Pym, the original Ant-Man, who is also Ultron’s creator in the comics, instead of Tony Stark and Bruce Banner, as depicted in The Age of Ultron.
Ultron often referred to Pym as “father,” and realizing the Oedipal nature of his motivation, Ultron named his bride-to-be Jocasta after the mother/wife character in the original Oedipus story. To achieve his goal, Ultron brainwashed Pym into transferring Jan’s mind into Jocasta’s shell. During the transfer, Janet, now in Jocasta’s body, alerted the Avengers, who arrived just in time to defeat Ultron, reverse the consciousness transfer, and save the Wasp.
Jocasta, now a mindless husk, was revived by Ultron through a remote link, which revealed that a significant portion of the Wasp’s consciousness was copied over into the robot. Compelled by her programming, Jocasta was initially loyal to Ultron. However, she soon became repelled by Ultron’s evil nature and turned against him, helping the Avengers put an end to his plans once again. She continued to defy Ultron, worked with the Avengers, and even harbored feelings for Vision, who, at the time, didn’t reciprocate, as he was already married to Wanda.
It’s worth noting that the MCU had previously referenced Jocasta in Age of Ultron during a scene in which Tony chooses a replacement for J.A.R.V.I.S. Although he chooses Friday, one of the drives that contains other AIs includes the one labeled “Jocasta.” The two AIs share another connection in the comics because Jocasta’s consciousness is also transferred into Friday’s damaged body after her own was destroyed. Regardless, given her comic book history, it’s quite evident that Jocasta is a really complex character who struggles with her own inner turmoil, her identity, and her autonomy.
And this is precisely what makes T’Nia Miller such a perfect casting choice. The actress delivered a nuanced performance in The Haunting of Bly Manor, Netflix’s gothic romance supernatural horror drama miniseries. She played Hannah Grose, a fiercely protective housekeeper of Bly Manor. The series received many positive reviews from critics, who particularly praised Miller’s performance, which earned her a Critics’ Choice Best Actress in a Horror Series nomination.
She also delivered a fantastic performance in The Fall of the House of Usher, where she portrayed Victorine LaFourcade, the eldest of Roderick Usher’s illegitimate children and a gifted surgeon hoping for a breakthrough on an experimental heart device. Both of these portrayals showcased Miller’s talent for embodying emotionally and morally complex characters with both subtlety and intensity, which might be crucial for bringing Jocasta’s internal conflict to life on the silver screen. This is why her casting makes sense.
Additionally, Miller is very vocal about diversity and authentic representation in the entertainment industry, which is a good thing considering that her casting sparked some debates surrounding character design and representation. Namely, some fans questioned the decision to give Jocasta, a robot, traditionally feminine features, with comments like, “Why does she have breasts when she’s literally a robot?”
Others defended the design, pointing out that Jocasta’s appearance aligns with her comic book origins and the fact that she assumes the form of a Black woman in some storylines, particularly Tony Stark: Iron Man and Iron Man 2020. Plus, giving her more feminine attributes also humanizes the character. So, in the end, casting T’Nia Miller as Jocasta makes perfect sense from both the authentic casting perspective and the fact that Miller has the talent and the range to portray a character as complex as Ultron’s bride-that-never-was.