Marvel’s Animated ‘What If…?’ Already Wowing Critics

What if… we just got a ton of news about the MCU’s upcoming first foray into animation? The multiversal, hypothetical scenario exploration series What If…? rolls out next week with nine, 30-minute installments, executive producer Brad Winderbaum confirms. Though Seasons 1 and 2 each originally called for 10 episodes, Winderbaum explains, "We had to push an episode into Season 2. It was just, honestly, like everything else, that was a COVID impact. There was an episode that just wouldn't hit the completion date, but luckily we do get to see it in the second season of the show," adding Season 2 will also have nine episodes.

While not all “what if” scenarios are known, we do know the series will explore “Hayley Atwell’s Peggy Carter taking the super-soldier serum instead of Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers, Chadwick Boseman‘s T’Challa becoming Star-Lord instead of Chris Pratt’s Peter Quill, Tony Stark getting saved by Killmonger in the opening minutes of the first Iron Man, Spider-Man becoming a Sorcerer Supreme, and some version of the Marvel Zombies.” Peter Parker with magical and spidey powers? They’ve got our attention.

Catch up on all the upcoming goodies with the new “What Is What If…?” featurette:

Reactions have begun rolling in for the first three episodes, and are quite positive:

Marvel throws us head first into the MULTIVERSE with What If...? & it's INCREDIBLE! There's STUNNING animation & SHOCKING twists! One choice can change EVERYTHING & the possibilities are ENDLESS! If the first 3 episodes are any indication, this show is gonna be WILD! #WhatIf pic.twitter.com/5MX4MH46mN

— Tessa Smith - Mama's Geeky (@MamasGeeky) August 1, 2021

Got to watch the first 3 episodes of #WhatIf and it is incredible!

Each story for each episode is fantastic and bolstered by a strong voice cast and splendid animation.

I couldn’t be more happy with how this series has turned out, one of the best animated TV shows this year. pic.twitter.com/mIbdoK78lD

— Jacob (@JacobDFilm) August 1, 2021

First three episodes of #WhatIf are an interesting start.

First episode didn't grab me. Second is super entertaining & filled with heart. Third is dark, surprising, and hands down my favorite!

Got better as it went by a lot, each episode! Ambitious new style. Loads of MCU nods! pic.twitter.com/yWx8CdTR64

— BD (@BrandonDavisBD) August 1, 2021

The almost guaranteed success of What If…? brings the promise of many more MCU animated projects to come, especially with the continuing uncertainty of COVID-19’s impact on live-action production. Winderbaum notes, “All these shows that require animation as a medium can only exist in this art form. Each exists on its own terms and hopefully explore unexpected facets of the MCU." This little tease comes on the heels of Marvel Studios’ Executive VP of Film Production Victoria Alonso’s announcement of a Marvel Studios mini-studio dedicated to animation projects. What will they think up next? The creative possibilities are endless.

What If…? features a marvelous voice cast that includes (take a deep mental breath): Jaimie Alexander (Sif), Hayley Atwell (Peggy Carter), Angela Bassett (Ramonda), Paul Bettany (Vision), Leslie Bibb (Christine Everheart), Chadwick Boseman (T'Challa), Josh Brolin (Thanos), Clancy Brown (Surtur), Don Cheadle (War Machine), Carrie Coon (Proxima Midnight), Dominic Cooper (Howard Stark), Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange),  Benicio Del Toro (The Collector), Kat Dennings (Darcy Lewis) and Michael Douglas (Hank Pym), on Favreau (Happy Hogan), Karen Gillan (Nebula), Jeff Goldblum(Grandmaster), Seth Green (Howard the Duck), Clark Gregg (Phil Coulson), Frank Grillo(Crossbones), Sean Gunn (Kraglin), Danai Gurira (Okoye), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Djimon Hounsou (Korath the Pursuer), Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury), Toby Jones (Arnim Zola), Michael B. Jordan (Killmonger), John Kani (T'Chaka), Evangeline Lilly (Wasp), Ophelia Lovibond (Carina), Rachel McAdams (Christine Palmer), Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye), Michael Rooker (Yondu), Paul Rudd (Ant-Man), Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner), Kurt Russell (Ego), Andy Serkis (Ulysses Klaue), Cobie Smulders (Maria Hill), Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes), Georges St-Pierre (Batroc), Chris Sullivan (Taserface), Tilda Swinton (The Ancient One), Stanley Tucci (Abraham Erskine), Emily VanCamp (Sharon Carter), Taika Waititi (Korg), Bradley Whitford (John Flynn), Benedict Wong (Wong), Jeffrey Wright (The Watcher), and many more.

Stream What If…? starting August 11 exclusively on Disney+.

Cybersecurity specialist by day, investigative journalist by night.