What if…? is the first animated show in the MCU that explores alternate ways that could have happened in classic Marvel storylines. For example, what if Peggy Carter got the super soldier serum instead of Steve Rogers?
All nine episodes of the first season have now aired – but will there be more? We’ve rounded up everything we know about the future of What If…?, including upcoming episodes, cast and plot predictions.
You can read our thoughts on the show after watching the first three episodes. You can also check out all of the Marvel shows and movies currently available on Disney Plus.
Will there be a “What if…”? season two?
There will be more than one season of What If…? give. In an interview with Discussing Film, showrunner Ashley Bradley confirmed that around 30 episode ideas have been written – so if they are all used there will be room for a total of three seasons.
What if…? Season 2 release date and number of episodes
At San Diego Comic-Con, Kevin Feige confirmed that What If…? Season 2 will air in early 2023. However, we are three months into the year and there has been no news so far.
It is currently marked as “Coming Soon” on Disney+, which could indicate that it was pushed back from its original slot. If we hear more, we’ll update this article.
There will be nine episodes in total, the same number as Season 1.
Which cast and crew are returning for Season 2?
No actor has been confirmed to be cast in Season 2 of What If…? will return. However, Jeffrey Wright is expected to return as Watcher – the series’ storyteller. We also anticipate the return of other actors like Hayley Atwell, Samuel L. Jackson, Tom Hiddleston and more.
The show will continue to be written by AC Bradley and directed by Bryan Andrews. The animation was co-developed by Marvel Studios and Squeeze, with Stephan Franck serving as head of animation and Brad Winderbaum as executive producer.
What if…? Season 2 episode plots
What if…? is an anthology series, so most of the episodes stand on their own as stories. Season 1, however, has built an overarching narrative through Uatu, aka The Watcher. The Guardian is an alien being who plays through alternate timelines within the multiverse to see how the stories end.
Brad Winderbaum confirmed to iO9 that Captain Carter will have multiple episodes across the seasons and will be the common thread for the overall narrative.
Season 1 eventually evolved into a story about Ultron conquering the world and eventually battling the Guardians of the Multiverse. However, the showrunners have confirmed that the next season will be more character-centric (EW).
Season 2 will feature an episode related to the film Black Widow, according to The Direct. Director Bryan Andrews also confirmed that there will be episodes related to Eternals and Shang-Chi, and possibly even Spider-Man. These will likely be extensions to the plots told in Phase 4 of the MCU.
Season 2 introduces a new superhero. She is a young Mohawk woman named Kahhori who discovers the Tesseract as it falls to earth, ending up in the sovereign Haudenosaunee Confederacy prior to the colonization of America.
This episode tells the story of the Akwesasne region, which is now Upstate New York. Here’s a first look at their design:
You may also have noticed that in the final episode of Season 1 there was a reference to a story starring Gamora and Tony Stark. This episode was shortened due to production delays and will now air Season 2. We assume that this will explore the Infinity Crusher.
At Comic-Con, visitors in Hall H could see the first exclusive trailer for What If…? Season 2. This featured Steve Rogers as the Winter Soldier plus an episode set in Neil Gaiman’s 1602 limited series.
How to watch “What if…”?
What if…? is exclusive to Disney Plus, which means you can only watch it there. At the time of writing, Disney+ costs $10.99/£7.99 per month for an ongoing subscription and $109.99/£79.90 for an annual pass. Sign up for Disney+ here.
Marvel’s first animated show in the MCU, “What if…?” explores alternate versions of classic Marvel storylines. The nine episodes of season one have now aired and showrunner Ashley Bradley confirmed around 30 episode ideas have been written, so there is potential for three seasons in total. “What if…?” season two is set to air in early 2023, although no official cast members have been announced yet. Season two will feature an episode related to Black Widow and possible extensions to Phase 4 MCU plots, including Eternals and Shang-Chi. The show is exclusive to Disney Plus.