Marvel's most recent casting rumor could be a historic moment for the MCU as it integrates one of its actors from the ABC era of Marvel Television into a live-action Disney+ show. Before Disney+, Marvel Studios partnered with ABC for several Marvel TV series, most notably Agents of SHIELD and Agent Carter. Marvel Studios has often dodged acknowledging whether these shows are canon in the MCU, but the crossover of actors between the ABC shows and Marvel Studios films and series is opening the door for more integration between these disparate corners of the Marvel world.
One of Marvel's anticipated upcoming Disney+ shows is Vision Quest, which explores Vision's (Paul Bettany) journey for answers after he was resurrected as White Vision. However, Vision isn't the only character the MCU is resurrecting in the show, with entertainment insider Daniel Richtman reporting that James D'Arcy is set to reprise his role as Edwin Jarvis in Vision Quest. Jarvis is known for being Howard Stark's butler and an ally of Peggy Carter's. He also inspired Tony Stark's A.I. companion JARVIS, whom the younger Stark named after his family's friend.
In Vision Quest, D'Arcy is tipped to reprise his role yet again, marking the first time an actor who originated their role in an ABC Marvel Television show has reprised it in a live-action MCU Disney+ show.
Which Other ABC Marvel Actors Have Crossed Over Into the MCU?
While D'Arcy's casting is the first case of a Marvel actor from an ABC show appearing in a live-action Disney+ Marvel show, he's not the only cast member to jump between the two worlds.
The following group marks only a handful of Marvel actors who have appeared as their characters in MCU films, ABC Marvel TV shows, and MCU Disney+ shows.
Anson Mount
The closest similarity occurred in 2022's Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, bringing back actor Anson Mount. His role as Black Bolt came from ABC's Inhumans and returned for a brief cameo in the MCU film, in which the hero was part of the MCU's Illuminati.
Samuel L. Jackson
Several actors have appeared in their MCU roles on ABC's Agents of SHIELD and Agent Carter and then continued these roles in a Disney+ show. Samuel L. Jackson made a few cameos in the Phil Coulson-led series, appearing several times during the show's first season pre- and post-HYDRA's takeover of SHIELD.
He then starred in his own series, Secret Invasion and What If...?, on top of several other MCU movies in the interim.
Cobie Smulders
Similarly, Cobie Smulders reprised her role as Agent Maria Hill in the first and second seasons of Agents of SHIELD, teaming up with Coulson during the organization's fall caused by the events of Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
Like her superior Nick Fury, Hill returned in a Disney+ series after her brief ABC stint, making a short-lived appearance in Secret Invasion's premiere.
Jaimie Alexander
Jaimie Alexander also returned to her MCU role in Agents of SHIELD, stepping back into the fray as Sif to deal with an Asgardian sorceress tormenting Coulson's team. In addition to a truncated role in Thor: Love and Thunder, the Thor actress reprised her role once again in Loki and What If...?
Hayley Atwell
What If..? has notably provided a pathway for several of ABC's Marvel actors to reprise their roles in a Disney+ series. One of these is Hayley Atwell, who starred as Peggy Carter in both Agents of SHIELD and her only solo series, Agent Carter.
Peggy quickly became What If...?'s central through-line, acting as the anthology series' main protagonist as Captain Carter.
Clark Gregg
Following his death in The Avengers, Clark Gregg was able to return as Phil Coulson for Agents of SHIELD and stick with the show through its entire seven-season run. Gregg also reprised Variants of the character in two episodes of What If...?, one investigating mysterious deaths of Avengers and another cleaning up after Thor's rowdy party on Earth.
Neal McDonough
Leader of the Howling Commandos, Neal McDonough returned as Dum Dum Dugan for both Agents of SHIELD and Agent Carter. The WW2 veteran got a slightly different origin story in What If...?, this time being an ally of Captain Carter.
Dominic Cooper
Another actor who double-dipped on Agents of SHIELD and Agent Carter was Dominic Cooper, assuming the role of Howard Stark once more as a confidant of Peggy Carter. This partnership seems to traverse universes, as he played a similar role in What If...?, where he worked alongside Captain Carter and designed the HYDRA Stomper armor for Steve Rogers.
Toby Jones
Toby Jones is the final MCU actor to appear in an ABC show before making the jump to a Disney+ series. He returns briefly as Arnim Zola in a flashback sequence in Agents of SHIELD. The HYDRA scientist then played a crucial role in What If...?, with his AI consciousness being used to foil Infinity Ultron's plans.
James D'Arcy
D'Arcy originated the role of Edwin Jarvis in the ABC television show Agent Carter and starred in both seasons. He also briefly reprised his role in the MCU film Avengers: Endgame, appearing during the Camp Lehigh sequence, and then again for a voice role in the animated show What If...?.
How Will Jarvis Factor Into Vision Quest?
It's unclear how D'Arcy's Jarvis will play a role in Vision Quest, as the character is long dead in the present day. Bettany portrayed the original voice of JARVIS, who was eventually given the physical body of Vision. However, the rumor is that the AI JARVIS will make a return in Vision Quest.
Following the announcements that Emily Hampshire and Kerry Condon will play the human iterations of the AI programs EDITH and FRIDAY, it seems D'Arcy could be employed to play a similar role, with Marvel Studios turning to its original Jarvis actor to embody the human form of JARVIS.
Vision Quest is one of several Disney+ shows coming out in 2026 and is currently filming. Along with Agatha All Along, it serves as a sequel to the events of WandaVision. It stars Bettany as Vision, James Spader as Ultron, T'Nia Miller as Jacosta, and Ruaridh Mollica as Tucker.
