Marvel’s new animated series forces fans to ask ‘What If…? ‘
Killmonger saving Tony Stark in Afghanistan? Dr. Strange giving us villainous vibes? T’Challa and Yondu exchanging witty banter? If you are a Marvel fan, your head is definitely reeling after watching the newest trailer for the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first animated series What If…?
Based on the comic series, What If…? follows alternate storylines of well-known characters in the Marvel Universe asking the question, “what if?” The comic series (released in 1977) explores what would have happened had Spider-Man joined the Fantastic Four.
Following this wonky storytelling theme, Kevin Feige and creator A.C. Bradley have concocted some pretty sick alternate realities for our favorite MCU characters.
Agent Peggy Carter is pumping full of Super Soldier Serum and has now leveled up to Captain Carter, championing what seems to be a souped-up version of Iron Man’s Mark I as her valiant steed. Ultron appears to have successfully uploaded into the Vision’s body, for better or for worse. And Thor…well, Thor is still very much Thor, even down to the voice acting by Chris Hemsworth.
Familiar voices also include Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner/Hulk, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, and most notably, the late Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa/Star-Lord. However, familiar voice actors are as close to “MCU normal” as we’re going to get with this series.
Fans may be wondering, “what does this mean for the future of the MCU?” Probably nothing too drastic. Although What If…? is part of Phase 4, these alternate, side storylines may not hold much weight in the overall cinematic story arc. Or do they?
Seeing how the MCU began to toy with varying timelines in Endgame, and again most recently in the Disney+ series Loki, this presumably gives them the wiggle room to experiment even more. Plus, based on the rich colors, bold lines, and almost Borderlands-esque look to the animation style, it gives them a chance to flex their creative muscles. Who could blame them?
Additionally, What If…? serves to introduce new characters to the MCU, like Uatu The Watcher (voiced by Jeffrey Wright).
In the comics, the Watchers are omniscient, hands-off beings that observe and record the happenings of the fictional Marvel universe. Uatu watches over Earth and is the first Watcher to break the oath and interfere with his realm to warn the Fantastic Four of the impending arrival of Galactus.
The MCU just so happens to be producing a new Fantastic Four movie. What If…? just so happens to introduce a Watcher…what does Marvel have up their sleeve?
