Disney+ previously announced it will be adding several new TV shows to the MCU lineup— Loki, WandaVision, and Falcon & Winter Solider, all included. But, the upcoming animated series, What If?, stands out the most seeing as it is the only series that will not be live-action; the entire series is animated in a cell-shaded style.
Similar to the namesake comics, What If? will follow new and different scenarios that take place in a somewhat parallel MCU— completely changing some of the universe’s more flagship moments. Earlier in the week, leaked images of the series’ concept art made rounds at the D23 convention, despite not being officially released by Marvel.
Although not considered to be part of the canon like the actual comics, audiences can expect the anthology series to mix things up in a fun and exciting way. Stills show Peggy Carter as Captain America, Howard Stark making an Iron Man suit for Steve Rogers, T’challa as Star Lord, amongst other changes.
Initially launched in 1977, the comic book series also saw alternate timelines where Spider-Man joined the Fantastic Four or the Hulk joining the Avengers with the brain of Bruce Banner— an event that became a reality in Avenger’s: Endgame.
At the D23 conference Marvel president, Kevin Feige, debuted new footage from the series, including the story of how Peggy was enhanced by the super-soldier serum instead of Steve Rogers, and another where Bucky confronts a zombie Captain America, which is most likely where the images came from.
During the event, most of the original MCU actors and actresses were also confirmed to be returning to their iconic roles in the spin-off such as:
Hayley Atwell (Peggy Carter),Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther), Josh Brolin (Thanos), Dominic Cooper (Howard Stark), Michael Douglas (Hank Pym), Karen Gillan (Nebula), Jeff Goldblum (Grandmaster), Sean Gunn (Kraglin), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Djimon Hounsou (Korath), Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury), Toby Jones (Arnim Zola), Michael B. Jordan (Killmonger), Natalie Portman (Jane Foster), Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye), Michael Rooker (Yondu), Paul Rudd (Ant-Man), Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner/The Hulk), Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes), and Taika Waititi (Korg).
Actor Jeffery Wright will also serve the series narrator in the role of Uatu the Watcher, a celestial being who watches over the events of the MCU. No official date has been released on when the series will premiere.