Photo: Screengrab from Disney+
Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao receives a brief mention in Marvel Television’s VisionQuest, when a conversation about an injured hand turns to his record in the sport.
The reference comes in “Reboot,” the third episode of the Disney+ series, released October 21. Thomas Shepherd, played by Ruaridh Mollica, tells Vision (Paul Bettany) that he can manage an injury to his right hand because he is a southpaw, or left-handed.
E.D.I.T.H., an artificial intelligence persona played by Emily Hampshire, responds with Pacquiao’s name and a reference to eight world titles. Vision repeats the information, prompting Thomas to ask whether he follows boxing or is merely trying to make conversation. Pacquiao does not appear in the episode.
The distinction in the dialogue refers to a central achievement of Pacquiao’s career. Guinness World Records recognizes him for winning boxing world titles in eight different weight divisions. He reached that milestone in November 2010, defeating Antonio Margarito to claim the World Boxing Council super welterweight title.
Created for television by Terry Matalas, VisionQuest follows a rebuilt Vision as he searches for meaning and becomes involved with Thomas, a young man whose identity is tied to his past. Disney describes the series as the final installment of a trilogy that began with WandaVision and continued with Agatha All Along. The eight-episode season is scheduled to conclude November 11.
The reference follows other Filipino connections to Marvel screen productions. Filipino American actor Jacob Batalon plays Peter Parker’s friend Ned Leeds in the Spider-Man films. Shanti Dope’s song “Amatz” was heard in the 2021 Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
