Marvel to Develop Animated Series for Disney+ Based on ‘What If’ Comics

Episodes will involve popular MCU characters but will not be considered canon

Deleted Scene from "Thor Dark World"
Marvel

Marvel Studios is producing an animated TV series for the Disney+ streaming platform based on the series of “What If” comics, an individual with knowledge of the project told TheWrap.

/Film says that the episodes will involve popular Marvel Cinematic Universe characters in alternate histories from what we’ve previously seen in the films, but these stories will not be considered “canon” to the MCU. Kevin Feige is overseeing the series for Marvel.

The “What If” comic book series were stories that explored an alternate history from established comic book storylines and lore. /Film says that one of the confirmed episodes will be an adaptation of “What If? Vol. 1 #47” titled “What If Loki Had Found the Hammer of Thor?”

The “What If” comics originated in 1977 and have continued in runoffs since then, and the stories have been used to either provide fan service, settle long-running comics debates or imagine ways to tell otherwise impossible or outlandish stories. They range from imagining if all the X-Men had been killed on their first mission, to Jessica Jones joining the Avengers or Spider-Man joining the Fantastic Four, to Iron Man being sent back in time to the time of King Arthur.

The Disney+ animated series, however, will primarily focus on alternate universe stories based on the established Marvel Cinematic Universe films.

As an animated series, it opens the door for existing Marvel talent to reprise their roles in voice work. It was reported in September that Marvel was planning a pair of live-action shows based on MCU characters Loki and Scarlet Witch, with their original actors Tom Hiddleston and Elizabeth Olsen expected to reprise their parts. No talent has yet been confirmed for the “What If” series.

The news of the series was first reported by /Film.

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