Why Speed Shouldn’t Have His Own MCU TV Series

Essential Insights

Tommy Shepherd, known as Speed, may be poised for his own Disney+ series following Wiccan’s introduction in Agatha All Along.
Vision Quest, a prospective sequel to WandaVision, could center on Speed while reintroducing Ultron into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
The MCU should prioritize quality over quantity to build anticipation for future projects such as Vision Quest and potential Young Avengers narrative arcs.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe stands at a pivotal moment as Phase 5 wraps up in 2025, with fans eagerly anticipating the next chapter. Phase 6 boasts an impressive lineup of films and series, hinting at the emergence of new teams behind the scenes. While the debut of the Young Avengers seems likely alongside the Thunderbolts, it remains unclear if they will star in standalone projects or appear alongside existing characters.

Besides the tease in The Marvels’ post-credit scene featuring Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) and Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld), Jac Schaeffer’s Agatha All Along has recently brought Wiccan—portrayed by Joe Locke—into the forefront. Now that one half of the Maximoff twins is ready for action, the question arises: what’s in store for Speed? Tommy Shepherd, while being Billy’s twin, doesn’t necessarily require a dedicated Disney+ show at this stage.

Speed’s Identity in the MCU

Tommy Shepherd as Speed in Marvel Comics

The saga of the Maximoff twins is quite intricate. Introduced in 1986’s The Vision and the Scarlet Witch #12, Tommy and Billy Maximoff are products of Wanda Maximoff’s reality-altering abilities and fragments of the malevolent Mephisto’s essence. While Mephisto did absorb the twins, they were later reincarnated decades later as Billy Kaplan and Tommy Shepherd.

Tommy Shepherd made his debut in 2006’s Young Avengers #10, under the alias Speed. As his name implies, he possesses superhuman speed and reflexes, reminiscent of Quicksilver, his uncle in the comics. In the MCU, Tommy Maximoff first appeared in WandaVision, played by Jett Klyne, and later returned alongside Billy in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Currently, Tommy Maximoff is absent in the Earth-616 timeline after his essence appeared to be extinguished when Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) lifted the Hex at WandaVision’s conclusion. However, Multiverse of Madness established that alternate versions of him exist. Agatha All Along simplified this with the revelation that Billy’s essence transitioned into William Kaplan’s failing body just as the Hex collapsed.

Like Agatha All Along redefined Billy’s narrative by integrating elements of his comic book persona, fans hope for a similar transformation for Tommy Shepherd. Episode 6 hinted that Billy’s goal on the Witches’ Road involves reuniting with Tommy, suggesting his cameo is likely before the series concludes. Furthermore, Agatha All Along marks the MCU’s first official reference to Mephisto, potentially paving the way for Tommy’s return, with Sacha Baron Cohen rumored to portray him in the upcoming Ironheart series.

Vision Quest: The Ideal Setting for Speed

Respected Marvel insider DanielRPK has suggested that Speed may soon star in his own Disney+ series akin to Agatha All Along. With Terry Matalas’ Vision Quest also in the works, this could mean a trio of independent stories before the anticipated return of Olsen’s Scarlet Witch. Vision Quest is rumored to serve as a WandaVision follow-up focused on Paul Bettany’s White Vision, and it’s expected to bring back James Spader as the infamous Ultron from Avengers: Age of Ultron.

Many have drawn parallels between Agatha All Along and The Wizard of Oz, and it would follow the latter’s narrative if Billy is left yearning for something at the Witches’ Road’s conclusion. If Tommy makes an appearance, it could create a compelling cliffhanger setting the stage for Vision Quest, incorporating a subplot of the brothers striving to reconnect before their father’s return is the key to Scarlet Witch’s impending comeback to the MCU. It would follow that, like Billy sharing the spotlight with Kathryn Hahn’s Agatha in her show, Tommy would share the stage with his father in Vision Quest.

Concerns have been voiced regarding the MCU’s shift towards quantity over quality, an issue acknowledged by Kevin Feige. The underwhelming reception of Secret Invasion, which incurred a staggering $200 million cost and earned the lowest Rotten Tomatoes score for the franchise, raised eyebrows. Meanwhile, critics have dismissed Echo as an unnecessary lead-in to Daredevil: Born Again, and excitement for Ironheart has been minimal. Though plans for Don Cheadle-led Armor Wars have morphed into a film project, it too remains quiet. As Son Quest tentatively awaits a projected 2026 release, discussions around it have not gained sufficient momentum.

One effective strategy to foster enthusiasm could be to craft Vision Quest as a storyline centered around Vision and his children, leading up to Wanda’s eventual resurrection. Viewers have expressed frustration over narratives that merely set the stage for future ones. Delays in realizing the Young Avengers, which feel far from transitioning into a full-fledged film or series, only amplify this impatience. No one craves a repetitive six-episode miniseries that detracts from the enchantment Agatha All Along revived with WandaVision. If Agatha can unfold Billy’s complete history in under 50 minutes, there’s hardly a need to reintroduce Ralph Bohner (Evan Peters) solely for a speedster-focused series.

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