Lots of new details have surfaced for Marvel’s upcoming animated What If…? series. We’ve got some information regarding the stories that will be told as well as some new casting info.
Marvel’s What If…? is an anthology series where The Watcher looks at instances of where the MCU could have gone in a completely different direction. The series will include most of the MCU cast reprising their roles in the series, which will examine the 23 past films in the MCU, but each of the stories will feature one key difference showing how the story would have played out differently.
So, thanks to The Illuminerdi, here are some things that we can expect to see from these Multiverse stories!
Gamora vs. Tony Stark
In one episode, Zoe Saldana’s Gamora will find herself on a much darker path than the one we saw in the MCU. In this story, “after being trained by her father Thanos, her skills will be put to the test against a new and unusual target in the form of Tony Stark.”
There are no details on how exactly that will play out, but it’s definitely an interesting story as the two characters never interacted with each other in the live-action MCU films.
Black Widow Will Be a Survivor in a Post-Apocalyptic World
Another episode will focus on Natasha Romanoff, “who finds herself in a dire situation in this new universe. The story will show Black Widow as one of the only survivors of a cataclysmic event that came about due to the classic MCU villain Ultron.”
Romanoff will also be sporting a new costume in this episode to adjust to the times she’s in. It will be similar to her past MCU outfits, but it “will come with shorter sleeves and metal plating over her top, likely adjusting to her new darker surroundings.”
This episode may show us what a world looks like if Ultron was victorious in Avengers: Age of Ultron?
Party Thor
We’ll be introduced to Party Thor in the series and the episode will explore a story where Thor does not find his humility. “Instead of being banished to Earth, Thor will reportedly come to Midgard to throw a massive intergalactic party that could potentially bring the end of the world as we know it.”
This episode will be like if Thor’s original hero journey in his first film never happened.
Captain Carter and Steve Rodgers Hydra Stomper
This multiverse story has been teased the most in the marketing for the series. In it, Peggy Carter finds herself taking the Super Soldier Serum in Project Rebirth and officially becomes Captain Carter. “As for Steve, he is sidelined for Project Rebirth due to an undisclosed injury, but he has a new way to fight Hydra this time around. To do this, Howard Stark creates the very first Iron Man armor, which is called the Hydra Stomper.”
T’Challa’s Star-Lord Will Also Lead the Ravagers
The series will see T’Challa become Star-Lord instead of Peter Quill. He will be the one taken by the Ravagers, and “T’Challa will not only take on the moniker of Star-Lord he will also be leading the Ravagers, who in this version are reformed criminals, on galactic adventures.”
Doctor Strange Takes a Darker Path
In this story, Doctor Strange will not be trained by the Ancient One, and he won’t rise to become the Sorcerer Supreme fighting against powerful evil villains. In the film, Strange is selfish and arrogant and he has a big ego. His ego was too big for his relationship with Christine Palmer to work. In What If…? Strange will be motivated by love and grief after he loses Christine Palmer and this “leads him down a much more dangerous path.”
We could very well see Doctor Strange attempt to use the Eye of Agamotto to bring back his lost love and in the process it could corrupt him in some way.
As for some of the new casting, we’ve learned that Clark Gregg‘s Phil Coulson will return. Benedict Cumberbatch will also reprise his role as Doctor Strange as will Rachel McAdams, who plays Dr. Christine Palmer. Don Cheadle will also reprise his role as War Machine.
Jeffrey Wright serves as the narrator for What If…?, voicing the all-seeing Watcher and he’s joined by Michael B. Jordan as Killmonger, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes, Josh Brolin as Thanos, Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner/The Hulk, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Hayley Atwell as Agent Peggy Carter, Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther, Karen Gillan as Nebula, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, Paul Rudd as Ant-Man, Michael Douglas as Hank Pym, Neal McDonough as Dum Dum Dugan, Dominic Cooper as Howard Stark, Sean Gunn as Kraglin, Natalie Portman as Jane Foster, Taika Waititi as Korg, Toby Jones as Arnim Zola, Djimon Hounsou as Korath, Jeff Goldblum as Grandmaster, and Michael Rooker as Yondu.
Marvel’s What If…? will make its debut on Disney+ on August 11th, 2021. Any thought on these new details that have been shared?