Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: What If…?

  • ‘What If…?’ Season 2 Trailer Introduces a Totally Tubular Team of Avengers

    ‘What If…?’ Season 2 Trailer Introduces a Totally Tubular Team of Avengers

    Marvel Studios is trying something all-new and all-different with the second season of their first canonical animated adventure, What If…?, by switching up their long-standing release strategy. Starting December 22nd, fans will be able to tune into one multiversal adventure per day for nine days and, as seen in the first trailer for the project, will be meeting an interesting variant Avengers team.

    The trailer comes out swinging by introducing fans to an alternate universe where a very powered-up Peter Quill in what, based on Quill’s age, is either set in the late 1980s or early 1990s. The young Quill Variant, who based on the use of his powers, seems to have spent some time with his father, Ego, draws the attention of S.H.I.E.LD., run by Peggy Carter and Howard Stark, who send a very interesting team of Avengers to deal with the boy.

    As revealed over several scenes from the trailer, Quill is met by Bucky Barnes, Mar-Vell, Hank Pym/Ant-Man, Bill Foster/Goliath, King T’Chaka/Black Panther and Thor. The team is quite time-appropriate given what we know about the Sacred Timeline, though the inclusion of T’Chaka and Mar-Vell is very interesting given the relative anonymity of their alter egos in the 616 multiverse. Avengers Assemble!

  • Marvel Studios’ Reshuffles its Disney+ Release Slate as ‘Agatha’ Gets a New Name

    Marvel Studios’ Reshuffles its Disney+ Release Slate as ‘Agatha’ Gets a New Name

    Marvel Studios has been shifting quite a few of its release dates as of late. While they certainly are going to for all projects that have yet to finish, it seems they also decided to map out some of their TV shows that were set to release on Diseny+ in the coming months. The biggest surprise is that Echo was pushed back (again) to a January release date even though it was previously slated for November 29th.

    What If…? is going to be released on Christmas Day, which is our first confirmation as it was initially going to be released in 2023. So, it’ll be the only other show releasing this year besides Loki later in October, which is already being heavily advertised by Marvel Studios. X-Men ’97 also seemingly is getting a release timing, as it is set for early 2024 after initially planned to release later this fall. Season 2 of the series is already in the works.

    Ironheart is off the schedule for now, as it seems it is affected by the strikes. The same goes for Daredevil: Born Again and Wonder Man, which had to pause in the middle of production. The big surprise is that Agatha: Coven of Chaos is getting another new name, this time Agatha: Darkhold Diaries. It initially was announced with the title Agatha: House of Harknes and is now set to release on Halloween next year.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • The MCU’s Watcher Set to Make His Next Move in a Most Unexpected Place

    The MCU’s Watcher Set to Make His Next Move in a Most Unexpected Place

    Marvel Studios’ first canonical animated adventure, What If…?, introduced one of the most powerful and enigmatic characters in Uatu the Watcher. A member of a race of nigh omnipresent and omnipotent aliens, Uatu lived in the Nexus of All Realties where he was tasked with observing the Multiverse while swearing an oath never to intervene. That oath was tested and ultimately broken in Season 1 of What If…? when Uatu gathered a team of heroes, the Guardians of the Multiverse, to take on Ultron after the AI became aware of the presence of the Watcher.

    That team, comprised of alternate reality versions of Peggy Carter, T’Challa, Doctor Strange, Gamora, Thor, Black Widow and N’jdaka, took on and ultimately defeated the Infinity Stone-powered Ultron and Uatu returned to the Nexus of All Realities to await whatever came next. Now, thanks to a new trailer, Uatu’s next MCU appearance has been revealed and it’s certainly not what anyone expected.

    Dr. Strange Supreme & The Watcher in Marvel Studios’ WHAT IF…? exclusively on Disney+. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.

    During the trailer for Season 2 of I Am Groot, the Watcher was spotted overseeing the feisty sapling taking off in the Guardians’ ship. While rumors of his appearance in the show had circulated a while back, the trailer is the first confirmation of the surprising return of the character who is voiced by the talented Jeffrey Wright. What could Groot be up to draw the attention of Uatu? Will the events of Season 2 of I Am Groot be tied to the events of Season 2 of What If…? ? Answers to those questions will be answered soon as five new I Am Groot shorts will hit Disney Plus on September 6th!

  • Laurence Fishburne Confirms His MCU Return in ‘What If…?’

    Laurence Fishburne Confirms His MCU Return in ‘What If…?’

    Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania skipped out on a few of its iconic characters introduced throughout the first two entries. Sadly, we will have to wait a bit longer to see Laurence Fishburne return as Bill Foster once more, but it seems the wait might not be as long as we may have assumed.

    While promoting John Wick Chapter 4, the actor revealed in an interview with Brandon Pope TV that he voiced his character once again in the upcoming second season of What If…?. While he doesn’t give away any details, it’s great to know that we’ll get a bit more from the actor in the MCU sooner rather than later.

    We’ve wondered if we might see Bill Foster in Thunderbolts, as his adoptive daughter Ava Starr, better known as Ghost, is set to have a major role in the story. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to explore what has happened to the two of them after Ant-Man and the Wasp.

    Of course, there’s still a chance they might add him for a brief appearance or they’ll hint at what happened to the two after the events of that film. Who knows how they were affected by the Blip and if her involvement with the unlikely team is to protect him.

    Either way, it’s great to know that the second season of What If…? will feature another familiar face and we’ll get our first look at an animated Laurence Fishburne. He’s always been an actor who had a great time and perhaps he’ll get to do something a little crazy like finally become Giant Man in the animated spinoff.

    Source: Twitter

  • New Details Emerge on ‘What If…?’ Season 2’s New MCU Character

    New Details Emerge on ‘What If…?’ Season 2’s New MCU Character

    The first season of Marvel Studios animated series What If…? was a hit with critics and audiences. A second season was already in the works by the time the first episodes hit Disney Plus, but nearly a year and a half later, no word on its release has been revealed. There have been some tidbits about what to expect, however, including the fairly major news that a brand new character will be introduced to the MCU in Season 2.

    The news, via Boardwalk Times, confirms the identity of the new character as Kahhori, who was recently leaked via a Funko product. According to the Twitter account, Kahhori, a young Mohawk woman, will be the star of an episode that explores the impact of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy coming into possession of the Tesseract in pre-Colonial America.

    Additional details from Marvel.com describe the episode as a look what happens when “The Tesseract takes on a new life and a new mythology, transforming a lake into a gateway to the stars and leading Kahhori, a young Mohawk woman, on a quest to discover her power.” Writer Ryan Little scripted the episode in collaboration with members of the Mohawk nation and the episode will “take place in the Mohawk language” and from the perspective of the Mohawk people. The episode will see Kahhori have to “live up to her name (which means she stirs the forest in Mohawk) to recruit powerful allies into the fight to save her people and change the course of history forever.”

    Though no official word has come from Marvel Studios at this time, insider KC Walsh recently shared a potential timeline for the release of the second season of What If…?. According to his sources, the show is tentatively set to debut in early 2024. As Marvel Studios looks to find a better pace with their streaming releases, no time frame (even those originally shared by Marvel) should be considered etched in stone at this time.

    Source: Marvel.com

  • ‘What If..?’ Composer on Adapting to Each Episode’s Genre

    ‘What If..?’ Composer on Adapting to Each Episode’s Genre

    We’re still anxiously awaiting any news on what Marvel Studios’ next season of What If…? has in store for us. Besides the brief tease from San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel Studios has gone quiet on their animation front. Wild rumors have circulated that didn’t help matters much, but it seems we have something to carry us over in an interview by Laura Karpman on what it’s like working on the animated series, and it looks like she’s having a blast.

    Oh, I love it. The thing about What If…? that’s amazing is that every episode is different, so you’re kind of starting all over again. So every episode is its own little world or a big world. And so it really is… It’s doing these series of little films, and it’s a pleasure. It’s a great gig

    Laura Karpman

    Karpman is no stranger to working with Marvel Studios, as she’s recently been involved with Ms. Marvel and even next year’s film release, The Marvels. While details on those projects aren’t divulged, she does tease how she had to adapt to each episode’s unique theming while also adhering to the scores that inspired them, if it was a Captain America or Guardians of the GAlaxy-focused episode.

    So it’s one of those things where big decisions have to be made in every episode. And in fact, it’s the opposite of prescriptive. Although there are materials that we can draw from if we choose to. So there are preexisting materials. If I want to use some of Ludwig [Göransson]’s music or Alan Silvestri music, or anybody who’s worked in the MCU, we think about how do we want to do it. And I only have one kind of monster rule for myself when it comes to using the great themes written by the composers, and that is that I don’t actually ever look at the sheet music. I do it all by ear because I think if it filters through my brain somehow, then it’ll feel like the show. Then it’ll feel like I’ve had my influence rather than just really drawing exactly from what was written. And I think it’s better for the show too, because then it feels somewhat new.

    Laura Karpman

    It definitely sounds like the series gave her a fun challenge while flexing her creative muscle. There’s something unique about their first animated project that is steeped in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s history. Now, we only need to wait for an official release date.

    Source: Collider

  • RUMOR: Marvel Studios’ Animated Series May Be Facing Troubles

    RUMOR: Marvel Studios’ Animated Series May Be Facing Troubles

    Marvel Studios has been on a roll as of late. They kicked off Phase 4 with their usual cinematic fanfare but also added some Diseny+ series to the mix. No matter where one stands on the matter, it’s not an easy undertaking, and has expanded Marvel Studios as a result as well. They absorbed Marvel TV and have started a big move in hiring many people to take over the new load. So, this isn’t something they weren’t preparing for in the first place.

    Still, it seems that a rumor has been making the rounds in regard to Marvel Studios’ other major project, animation. While What If…? released last year, they have been actively working on various projects with a Marvel Zombies spin-off, a revival of the cult 90s X-Men: The Animated series in X-Men ’97, a Spider-Man series, and who knows what else is in the works. Yet, according to Geeks Worldwide’s KC Walsh, they may be facing some layoffs and are actively waiting for their release to greenlgiht future seasons.

    For those that might be wondering if that isn’t the norm, animation takes a long time to develop and any wasted minute means that production will take even longer to keep the momentum up. Commonly they develop a season and are already working on the next when it starts airing. Yet, Marvel Studios may be taking cues from its previous experiences and trying to get a feeling that this project is even worth the investment.

    On the one hand, it sucks that animation tends to get shafted first when there’s a need for saving money but there’s also the fact that they could use the time to focus more on their live-action ventures. Animation being treated as its own division may help keep that focus and take away the pressure from the bigger expectation set upon it as part of the Marvel Cinematic Multiverse.

    Still, this is only a rumor for now and there’s also the fact that during San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel Studios renewed most of their upcoming animated series. We haven’t seen any footage from Spider-Man: Freshman Year but they’ve already renewed it for a second s called Sophomore Year. The same goes for X-Men ’97 and What If…? is even getting a third season. So, we’ll have to see if more information comes to light on why they may be facing these troubles.

    Source: Twitter

  • Chadwick Boseman Wins Posthumous Emmy for Marvel Studios ‘What If…?’

    Chadwick Boseman Wins Posthumous Emmy for Marvel Studios ‘What If…?’

    Chadwick Boseman has been gone for two years, but his legacy continues to shine. Best known for his iconic portrayal of King T’Challa – the Black Panther – in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the late actor picked up his first and only Emmy win at last night’s Creative Arts ceremony for his work voicing a multiversal Star-Lord in Marvel’s animated What If…?. One of many MCU stars who returned to do voice work for the series, Boseman was a noticeable stand-out when he appeared in the episode “What If…T’Challa Became a Star-Lord?” and quickly grew in popularity as he recurred throughout the rest of the season. His efforts, recorded before he died but released almost a full year after, earned him the award for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance.

    Boseman beat out an extremely competitive group at this year’s event, rising above the likes of Bridgerton‘s Julie Andrews, Moon Knight‘s F. Murray Abraham, Big Mouth‘s Maya Rudolph, Central Park‘s Stanley Tucci, fellow What If…? alum Jeffrey Wright, and Archer‘s Jessica Walter, who passed away in 2021. The win puts an end to Rudolph‘s victory streak, after the comedian won the award for the past two years in a row. Boseman‘s wife, Taylor Simone Ledward, accepted the Emmy on his behalf, giving the following statement to Deadline:

    When I learned Chad was nominated, I started thinking of everything that was going on in the world and our world and being so in awe of his commitment and dedication and what a beautiful moment that one of the last things he would work on was something so important to him and to the world but also something new. You can’t understand your purpose unless you ask what if? What if the universe is conspiring in my favor? What if it’s me? Chad would be so honored and I am honored on his behalf.

    Taylor Simone Ledward

    What If…? will return for both a second and third season on Disney+, though the release dates are currently unknown.

    Source: Deadline

  • SDCC: Elizabeth Olsen Will Return to Disney+ in ‘What If…?’ Season 2

    SDCC: Elizabeth Olsen Will Return to Disney+ in ‘What If…?’ Season 2

    Last night, Marvel Studios unveiled its first-ever animation panel at San Diego Comic-Con. What made the occasion was that attendees got an exclusive look at what the future has in store for its animation department. That included teases of Spider-Man: Freshman Year, X-Men ’97, and much more. They also got exclusive streaming of an episode of What If..?’s upcoming second season which won’t premiere until next year.

    The premiere will once again feature Captain Carter and will focus on her fighting the Hydra Stomper. The opening credits however also include the confirmation that Elizabeth Olsen will reprise her role as Wanda Maximoff in the animated series, though how she plays into the story isn’t known just yet. But, it’s exciting to see how much of a presence she has had throughout Phase 4 with the recent appearance in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

    What makes this stand out is that this is her first time voicing Wanda on the Diseny+ animated series. While she made quite the splash with the first ever Disney+ release from Marvel Studios with WandaVision, her appearance as a zombie wasn’t actually voiced by her. So, we’ll see if she potentially has some additional appearances in other episodes throughout the latest season.

    Source: The Direct

  • SDCC: ‘Doctor Strange 2’ Captain Career Isn’t The Same From ‘What If…?’

    SDCC: ‘Doctor Strange 2’ Captain Career Isn’t The Same From ‘What If…?’

    When the animated series What If… ? first dove into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, one of the first character it introduced was Captain Carter. A variant of Peggy Carter from the Captain America franchise, Carter went on to take the super soldier serum instead of Steve Rogers.

    Captain Carter made a surprise appearance in live-action in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness where she was a member of the Illuminati. Her character was the first to make the jump for animation to live-action, so her presence in the Doctor Strange sequel raised many questions. Primarily, fans have wondered if the Captain Carter seen in What If… ? was the same variant in Multiverse of Madness.

    Marvel Studios confirmed at their animation panel at San Diego Comic-Con that the two Captain Carters are indeed variants of one another. Importantly, that means that the What If… ? Captain Carter did not die at the hands of the Scarlet Witch. It also means that both the animated and live-action future of What If… ?’s Captain Carter, voiced and played by Hayley Atwell, may be bright.

    Source: Twitter