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What If...? season 2

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What If...?
Season 2
Promotional poster
StarringJeffrey Wright
Release
Original networkDisney+
Season chronology
← Previous
Season 1
Next →
Season 3
List of episodes

The second season of the American animated anthology series What If...?, based on the Marvel Comics series of the same name, explores alternate timelines in the multiverse that show what would happen if major moments from the Marvel Cinematic Universe films occurred differently. It is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The season is produced by Marvel Studios Animation, with A. C. Bradley serving as head writer and Bryan Andrews directing.

Jeffrey Wright stars as the Watcher, who narrates the series, alongside numerous MCU film actors reprising their roles. Development of the season began by December 2019.

The second season is scheduled to debut on December 22, 2023, on Disney+ and will release each of its nine episodes daily until December 30, as part of Phase Five of the MCU.

Episodes

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
TBATBA"What If... Captain Carter Fought the Hydra Stomper?"[1]Bryan Andrews[2]TBDDecember 2023 (2023-12)[3]

An episode, written by Ryan Little and directed by Andrews, will introduce an original MCU character named Kahhori, a young Mohawk woman who seeks to discover her powers after the Tesseract crash-lands in the Haudenosaunee Confederacy in pre-colonial America.[4]

Cast and characters

The series is narrated by Jeffrey Wright as the Watcher, a member of the alien Watcher race who observes the multiverse.[5] Each episode features different versions of characters from the MCU films, with many actors reprising their roles for the series.[6][additional citation(s) needed] Cynthia McWilliams and Mick Wingert reprise their respective roles of Gamora and Tony Stark from the first season finale in an episode that was cut from the first season due to production delays,[7][better source needed] as do Hayley Atwell and Lake Bell as Peggy Carter and Natasha Romanoff, respectively, in the first episode of the second season,[8] while Cate Blanchett voices her MCU character Hela,[9] along with Laurence Fishburne voicing Bill Foster / Giant-Man,[10] and Atandwa Kani voicing a younger T'Chaka / Black Panther.[11] The season sees the introduction of a young Mohawk woman named Kahhori, who is an original MCU character.[4]

Production

Development

In December 2019, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige revealed that work had already begun on a second 10-episode season of What If...?.[12] However, because of the production delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic during the first season, the first two seasons will each have nine episodes. Executive producer Brad Winderbaum explained that the proposed tenth episode of the first season,[13] centered on versions of Tony Stark and Gamora first seen in the first season finale,[14][15] would not have been completed in time, and will be included in the second season. The episodes are approximately 30 minutes in length.[13] A. C. Bradley and Bryan Andrews return as head writer and director, respectively.[2]

Writing

While development of the second season was beginning, Captain Carter became the character that the writers wanted to continue to revisit every season to continue her story after she had "bubbled up" in the first season as a prominent character.[16] Some of the 20 concepts not chosen from the first season's initial 30 will appear in the second, with Winderbaum noting that since those were initially conceived, "the world's changed and the fictional Marvel Universe has changed" which would allow for new ideas to be presented as well.[17][18][19] Andrews noted that following the first season, in which the "what if" concept were only small changes from what was established, further seasons were able to "expand out" beyond these small moments and "get a little bit wackier".[19] The season includes an episode based on the Marvel 1602 comic book limited series; one with characters from Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) fighting Asgardians; one with Valkyrie and Iron Man racing on the planet Sakaar from Thor: Ragnarok (2017); and one with elderly Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter reunited post-Avengers: Endgame (2019).[20] Characters introduced in Phase Four of the MCU will also be featured in the season,[21] which will show alternate storylines of Phase Four films.[22] Writing for all of the season's episodes was completed by October 2021. At that time, Bradley said the season would focus more on revealing new sides to MCU characters than the "big, let's end the world"-style stories from the first season.[23] The season goes "a little deeper" into what makes the Watcher "tick".[24]

The season introduces an original MCU character named Kahhori, a young Mohawk woman who seeks to discover her powers after the Tesseract crash-lands in the Haudenosaunee Confederacy in pre-colonial America. Marvel, Andrews, and the episode's writer Ryan Little worked with members of the Mohawk Nation to ensure cultural accuracy when creating the character and setting. The episode's dialogue is in the Mohawk language.[4]

Casting and voice recording

Marvel's plan for the series was to have actors who portray characters in the MCU films reprise their roles in What If...?[6] In January 2021, Frank Grillo revealed that he had to return the following month to record more episodes as Brock Rumlow.[25] Jeffrey Wright returns to narrate the series as the Watcher.[5] Hayley Atwell and Lake Bell reprise their roles as Peggy Carter and Natasha Romanoff, respectively, from the first season,[8] as do Cynthia McWilliams and Mick Wingert as Gamora and Tony Stark, respectively.[7][better source needed] Cate Blanchett, Laurence Fishburne, and Atandwa Kani reprise their MCU roles as Hela,[9] Bill Foster / Giant Man,[10] and T'Chaka / Black Panther, respectively, in the season.[11]

Music

Laura Karpman returns as the composer, and is joined by her wife Nora Kroll-Rosenbaum.[26] The Kahhori episode features traditional Mohawk music.[4]

Marketing

The season was discussed during Marvel Studios' animation panel at the 2022 San Diego Comic-Con, where "What If... Captain Carter Fought the Hydra Stomper?" was shown, then planned as the season's first episode.[27][28][1] A trailer for the second season was released on November 15, 2023. Bradley Russell at Total Film felt the season was "serving up the weirdest, wildest side to the MCU yet".[29]

Release

The second season is expected to premiere on Disney+ on December 22, 2023, with its nine episodes releasing daily until December 30.[3] It will be the first Marvel Studios television project to release new episodes daily.[30] It was originally announced to be releasing in early 2023,[20] but by February 2023 it was reportedly unlikely to premiere that year as Disney and Marvel Studios were re-evaluating their content output.[31][32] The late December 2023 release date was announced in September.[5] The season will be part of Phase Five of the MCU.[33]

References

  1. ^ a b Scott, Ryan (July 22, 2022). "What If...? Season 2 Premiere Review: Captain Carter Gets Her Winter Soldier [Comic-Con]". /Film. Archived from the original on July 23, 2022. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Hipes, Patrick (November 12, 2021). "Disney+ Day: All The Streamer's Film & TV News From Premiere Dates To Series Orders". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 12, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Richard, Nate (November 29, 2023). "What's New on Disney+ in December 2023". Collider. Archived from the original on November 30, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d Graves, Sabina (March 9, 2023). "Marvel's What If? Season 2 Will Introduce a Brand New Mohawk Hero". Gizmodo. Archived from the original on March 9, 2023. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c Kit, Borys (September 1, 2023). "Marvel Shuffles TV Calendar with New Dates for 'Agatha,' 'Echo,' X-Men '97' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Sciretta, Peter (March 12, 2019). "Exclusive: Marvel Studios Producing 'What If' TV Series For Disney+". /Film. Archived from the original on March 20, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  7. ^ a b Lethbridge, Thomas (October 6, 2021). "What If…? Episode 9 Cast Guide: Every New & Returning MCU Character". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on October 6, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  8. ^ a b Taylor, Drew (July 22, 2022). "Marvel Previews 'X-Men 97' and 'What If' Season 2 at Comic-Con". TheWrap. Archived from the original on July 24, 2022. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  9. ^ a b Anderson, Jenna (November 1, 2022). "What If? Season 2 Bringing Back Major Marvel Star". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  10. ^ a b Legacy, Spencer (March 24, 2023). "Laurence Fishburne to Reprise Ant-Man and the Wasp Role in Marvel's What If…?". ComingSoon.net. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  11. ^ a b Block, Wanique (November 16, 2023). "Atandwa Kani joins Marvels 'What If...' animated series". The South African. Archived from the original on November 16, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  12. ^ Bonomolo, Cameron (December 19, 2019). "Kevin Feige Reveals What If...? Has More Episodes Than Marvel Studios' Other Disney+ Series". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on December 20, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  13. ^ a b Sneider, Jeff (August 2, 2021). "Exclusive: Marvel's 'What If...?' Episode Count Revealed — And It's Not What You Think". Collider. Archived from the original on August 2, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  14. ^ Bucksbaum, Sydney (September 28, 2021). "Marvel's What If…? team reveals season 1 finale intel: There's 'a bigger plan'". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  15. ^ Vary, Adam B. (October 6, 2021). "Inside Marvel's 'What If…?' Finale, Season 2 Plans and the T'Challa Spinoff That Never Was". Variety. Archived from the original on October 6, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  16. ^ Anderton, Ethan (August 2, 2021). "Captain Carter is the Crux of Marvel's 'What If...?' Animated Series and Will Return in Future Seasons". /Film. Archived from the original on August 2, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  17. ^ Pulliam-Moore, Charles (August 2, 2021). "Marvel's Captain Carter Will Connect Each Multiversal Season of What If". io9. Archived from the original on August 2, 2021. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  18. ^ Deckelmeier, Joe (August 7, 2021). "EP Brad Winderbaum Interview: Marvel's What If". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on August 10, 2021. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  19. ^ a b Fleming, Ryan (August 17, 2022). "'What If…?' Director Bryan Andrews On Creating The Evil Doctor Strange And How The Next Seasons Will Be "A Little Bit Wilder"". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 17, 2022. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  20. ^ a b Moreau, Jordan (July 22, 2022). "'Marvel Zombies,' 'Spider-Man: Freshman Year,' 'What If?' Season 2 Get First Looks". Variety. Archived from the original on July 22, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  21. ^ Silliman, Brian (August 9, 2021). "'What If...?' writer & director on how the alt Marvel series tended to accidentally run into future MCU plans". Syfy Wire. Archived from the original on August 10, 2021. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
  22. ^ Plainse, Josh (August 21, 2021). "Marvel's What If Season 2 Confirmed To Include Phase 4 Movies". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on August 22, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  23. ^ Bucksbaum, Sydney (October 5, 2021). "Marvel's 'What If...?' team promises 'resolution' in season finale and teases season 2". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on October 5, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  24. ^ Johnson, Jim (July 30, 2022). "Marvel's What If...? Season 3 Will Further Explore the Watcher's 'Humanity'". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on August 1, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  25. ^ Lawrence, Gregory (January 11, 2021). "Exclusive: Frank Grillo Returning to MCU as Crossbones in 'What If...?'". Collider. Archived from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  26. ^ Amin, Arezou (December 26, 2022). "'What If...?' Composer on Returning for Season 2 & Creating Music for "These Series of Little Films"". Collider. Archived from the original on December 26, 2022. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  27. ^ Kerr-Jung, Sorrel (July 8, 2022). "Marvel Reveals When and Where X-Men '97's First Look Will Debut". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on July 8, 2022. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  28. ^ Nolan, Liam (July 22, 2022). "SDCC: Marvel Studios Animation Panel Reveals Future of X-Men '97, What If and Marvel Zombies". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on July 22, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  29. ^ Russell, Bradley (November 15, 2023). "What... If? season 2 trailer makes Multiverse of Madness look like child's play". Total Film. GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on November 15, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  30. ^ Adams, Timothy (November 15, 2023). "What If...? Season 2 Premiere Date And Release Schedule Revealed". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on November 15, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  31. ^ Couch, Aaron; Kit, Borys (February 16, 2023). "How Much Is Too Much Marvel and 'Star Wars'? Disney Rethinks Franchise Output". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 16, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  32. ^ Barnhardt, Adam (March 16, 2023). "Marvel's What If Season 2 Gets a Frustrating Release Date Update". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on March 16, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  33. ^ Sandwell, Ian; Longridge, Chris (November 10, 2023). "Marvel's 'Phases' explained: What is Phase 5? What happened in Phase 3?". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on November 14, 2023. Retrieved November 14, 2023.

External links

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