The biggest question one is likely to have after watching “Avengers: Quantum Encounter” is how is Ultron alive once again? It’s heavily implied that he’s destroyed by Vision (Paul Bettany) at the end of “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” thus ending his reign of terror before it could properly begin. While it’s not impossible that, as an artificially intelligent being born from technology and an Infinity Stone, he rebuilt his army and a body for himself in secret, the real reason he was able to return is that “Quantum Encounter” doesn’t take place in the main MCU timeline.
Even though it seems to focus on MCU versions of characters, “Quantum Encounter” is in its own lane entirely. It’s not explicitly stated to be MCU canon, much like the Disney Parks attractions found within Avengers Campus. After all, on neither the big or small screen have the events of the short been addressed. No MCU project has mentioned Ultron’s return, which should be a major point for the franchise to follow up on considering he threatened to destroy the entire world, and Ms. Marvel hasn’t joined up with the Avengers in any form outside of the short. In fact, “The Marvels” sets her up to form a completely different version of the team.
Thus, the wait continues for Ultron’s return to the main MCU spotlight. Time will tell if he’ll return to give the new incarnation of the Avengers a run for their money, or if his tenure in the central timeline is well and truly over.
