Debut of Marvel’s What If…?
Last Wednesday morning, the next big Marvel Studios project What If…? was released as their first animated series. Fans already love and respect Marvel Studios for transforming their favorite comic book heroes into spectacular and quality live-action films. Over the last decade, Marvel Studios has mainly focused on live-action hits, so this newest animated release is certainly a change of pace. Producers, however, feel more than comfortable with the switch.
And What If…? is just the start. Series producer Brad Winderbaum spoke with Variety, saying they were already in “various stages of development” for other animated projects. According to Winderbaum, animation allows for limitless possibilities when it comes to content.
Marvel Studios Switch to Animation
Switching over to animation projects for the time being feels like a breeze for Marvel Studios. Winderbaum says, “There’s a lot of cool avenues you can explore with animation.” Though he also adds that, “There’s very little desire to take a piece of IP that’s popular because we’re coming out with a movie and just make an animated show about it. We’re not going to do that.”
It is clear Marvel Studios wishes to take new, untouched content and create it into an animated series all its own. Or in What If…?’s case, take previously recognized content and switch it up for fans.
What to Expect with What If…?
Expect a fresh, new perspective on Marvel characters when watching What If…? The animation format suits the show well, as it could not have worked otherwise, considering the original MCU actors are much older than their characters are at the show’s start. As an example, it would cost the studio more than a fortune to remake Captain America: The First Avenger with a focus on Peggy Carter, as What If…? attempts.
The original actors may not come back for a live-action reboot, but their voices will certainly be used! Most of the characters in What If…? are voiced by talents that played them in a prior live-action format. What If…? is just one of the many animated projects set for theatrical release and on Disney+ streaming. Fans will soon be overwhelmed by the amount of available content, both animated and otherwise. Stay tuned!
