Warning: spoilers for Avengers: Infinity War are ahead!
Paul Bettany has been part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe since it began in 2008 thanks to his voice role as the computer system J.A.R.V.I.S., but in 2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron, he took his involvement to the next level by appearing on camera as The Vision. Bettany has since reprised the multi-colored android in Captain America: Civil War, and he is also one of the many participants in next year's Avengers: Infinity War. However, a new photo from the set of the third Avengers flick (which is shooting back-to-back with Avengers 4) shows a Vision who looks surprisingly...normal. As if he's an actual human rather than an artificial being who can shoot energy beams out of his forehead.
A photo from the Avengers: Infinity War shows Paul Bettany's Vision and Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch in a scene scene together where they end up kissing. While the smooch may come as a surprise to folks not familiar with Marvel comics continuity, it's the fact that Bettany looks like himself that's more intriguing. There's no makeup, there's no cape and there's no yellow stone in the center of his head. Vision just looks like a regular human wearing a regular shirt. You can head over to E! News to see the picture for yourself, but it's unusual to say the least. The report also notes that Vision still his special abilities in this scene.
Thanks to J.A.R.V.I.S. downloading itself into the Mind Stone-powered body that Ultron originally intended for himself, The Vision came to life during Avengers: Age of Ultron and helped the Avengers defeat the megalomaniacal robot and his army. Since then, when Vision hasn't been serving as one of Earth's Mightiest Heroes, he's been learning about humanity and even wears regular clothes occasionally to fit in. However, in his two appearances so far, there's been no indication that he can make himself look "normal." While it's possible that Vision may naturally demonstrate a special kind of shapeshifting as a new power, let's also not forget that this movie will see Thanos attempting to obtain the six Infinity Stones so he can become all-powerful. Maybe somehow reality will be altered during the story so that Vision is made to look like a normal human. Then there are also the classic dream sequence and hallucination tropes that could explain what's happening in that photo.
As for Vision and Scarlet Witch kissing, there's precedence for that, as the two of them were romantically involved in the comics for years. But even if your only Marvel experiences have been with these movies, it's clear that there's a spark between these versions of the characters. Vision saving Wanda Maximoff during the battle against Ultron subtly called back to their close connection in the comics, but their conversation in Captain America: Civil War alluded to them growing closer. Granted, they were later on opposite sides during the conflict over the Sokovia Accords, but going off that picture, it's possible they'll find themselves in a situation during Avengers: Infinity War where they're forced to acknowledge that they have romantic feelings for one another.
We'll find out what's in store for The Vision, Scarlet Witch and the MCU's other important heroes when Avengers: Infinity War is released on May 4, 2018.
