What If...? Season 2: Stories, Variants & Everything We Know

Summary

Marvel's What If...? season 2 is set to premiere on December 22, 2023, with the finale airing on December 30, 2023.
The new season will continue the anthology format and focus on character stories, including alternate narratives from Phase 4 of the MCU.
Marvel has confirmed that What If...? season 3 is happening, indicating that there is potential for more multiverse stories in the future.

Even before the premiere of the series, Marvel’s What If…? season 2 was already confirmed — and Marvel has already revealed information about what's to come. The first animated MCU series on Disney+, What If…? extended the established connection between their TV shows and movies as well as expanded upon the concept of the multiverse brought up in Loki. What If…? season 1 had nine episodes in total, with each one pondering its titular question from a new angle. The animated anthology series What If...? introduced alternate timelines (i.e. universes) in the multiverse caused by significant moments in the main MCU timeline playing out differently.

After launching standalone stories, including Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) receiving the Super Soldier serum and becoming Captain Carter, T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) becoming Star-Lord, and the Avengers Initiative recruits getting killed, What If…?, through The Watcher (Jeffrey Wright), assembled the Guardians of the Multiverse to prevent Ultron’s multiverse conquest. Ever since What If…? season 1 ended, viewers have been keen to know what the show’s future holds. The series was well-received by critics, with one noting "What If...? may not add much to the larger MCU narrative, but surprising takes on beloved characters and some of the best action sequences in the entire franchise make for engaging viewing.” (via Rotten Tomatoes).

Every Upcoming Marvel Movie: Full MCU Phase 5 & 6 List (& Beyond)

Between Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures Entertainment, here is every upcoming Marvel movie release date and what we know about the projects so far.

Marvel What If...? Season 2 Latest News

mjolnir weighing down captain marvel in what if

The most recent noteworthy news regarding the new upcoming MCU season is that of the release of the What If...? season 2 trailer, which came out on November 15, 2023. This trailer also revealed a December 2023 release date for the new season, and, of course, gave an insight into what the episodes of the show themselves will look like, including a look at a new MCU hero named Kahhori.

What If...? Season 2 Trailer

Nebula with the Nova Corps in What If season 2

The What If...? season 2 release date is December 22, 2023, with the finale of the new season set to release just over a week later on December 30, 2023. This makes the new stories a seasonal affair, and marks just under two years between the first and second installments of What If...?. This window also allows the show to close out 2023's MCU slate, with the next release being close by, as Echo is set to release January 10, 2024.

Only one MCU movie - Deadpool 3 - is currently set to release in 2024.

Marvel What If...? Season 2 Is Confirmed

Marvel confirmed details of What If...? season 2 at San Diego Comic-Con 2022. In 2019, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige announced that Marvel's What If…? season 1 would consist of ten episodes and that season 2 was in pre-production already. However, because of production issues due to COVID, only nine episodes were included in season 1. Also, in an interview to discuss the season finale, head writer A.C. Bradley revealed that all of What If…? season 2’s scripts have already been completed.

What If...? Season 2 Stories

Uatu The Watcher talking and floating in space in Marvel's What If...?

In an interview with head writer A.C. Bradley, it was revealed that Marvel's What If...? season 2 would stick with anthology stories, drawing some alt-narratives from Phase 4. She also hinted at season 2 focusing "more on the character stories and these heroes and showing a different side of them that people don't expect, and hopefully, they can relate to." That means the characters from MCU films released in 2022 can be included. However, Bradley clarified that What If…? is not supposed to set up Avengers 5 like other Phase 4 projects, as the show will just focus on the multitude of possibilities available for the already existing movies, TV shows, and characters.

The first episode of What If...? season 2, "What If… Captain Carter Fought the Hydra Stomper?" was shown in its entirety at SDCC 2022, and confirmed that Captain Carter and her universe's version of Steve Rogers will meet again, though the latter has now become a Winter Soldier parallel. A few other What If...? season 2 storylines were also revealed, including ones that see Odin fight The Mandarin, Tony Stark replace Thor for a Valkyrie/Hulk team-up on Sakaar, and another tale set in 1602. Captain Carter, Iron Man, Black Widow, Thor, Hawkeye, The Wasp, and even Bigfoot will all feature in What If...? season 2's episodes.

How What If...?'s Season 1 Ending Sets Up Season 2

The Hydra Stomper in Marvel's What If...?

In the What If…? season 1 finale, the Watcher broke his oath. While he ultimately reached his goal of protecting the multiverse, it also set up possible consequences for his actions. Surely, a being of his stature meddling with human events will cause repercussions that affect the multiverse in major ways. In addition, The Watcher's What If...? interference and claiming the role of protector signals a bigger, more active role in the future. He also tasked Doctor Strange, who literally holds the fate of the multiverse in his hands, with watching over Killmonger and Ultron frozen in eternal battle, as their escape would spell doom. This is another story thread What If...? season 2 could pick back up.

What If …? Season 2 Cast

A blended image features Captain Carter in What If...? and Haley Atwell as Peggy Carter in the MCU

Because Marvel What If…? season 2 was prepared as season 1 was filmed, many of the actors who provided voiceover work for the series will remain the same. Jeffrey Wright is the watcher, Haley Atwell is Peggy Carter, Josh Keaton is Steve Rogers, and Lake Bell voices Natasha Romanoff. Actors who voiced characters for the season 2 premiere screening in 2022 include Elizabeth Olsen and Rachel Weisz, reprising their MCU roles of Wanda Maximoff and Melina Vostokoff, respectively. Cynthia McWilliams will also return to voice Gamora, as a season 1 episode centering on the character was moved to season 2. Cate Blanchett has also been confirmed to appear as Thor’s sister Hela.

Because the series is also set to feature characters who were prominent in Phase 4 of the MCU, fans can expect to hear some new voices in the new season. While not officially confirmed, it would make sense for season 2 to feature voices from actors already appearing in other Disney+ series like Moon Knight, Ms. Marvel, and She-Hulk since those cast members don’t solely have a relationship with Marvel, but also with Disney+. It would also be possible for actors from Shang-Chi and the Ten Rings to pop up in What If…? , or for members of the Eternals to appear, since it’s unclear when they’ll next be seen in the MCU.

What If...? Season 2 Trailer

The What If...? season 2 trailer proves the sequel season will have just as much action and just as much comedy as its predecessor, giving glimpses at a range of interesting scenes within the next era of the show. Most notably, the narration done by the Watcher over the video sees the character mention that "things have gotten twisted in the multiverse," suggesting that the overarching plots of season 1 do indeed appear to be set for further exploration in this installment.

Is What If...? Season 2 The Last Season?

The Marvel animated show What If...? was confirmed for a season 2 even before season 1 had premiered, and the same thing has happened again: Comic-Con 2022 saw the announcement that Marvel's What If...? season 3 is officially happening. This means that whatever events transpire in season 2 will likely set up even more multiverse stories, though they don't need to. The format of Marvel's What If...? allows for potentially infinite storytelling and actually works better the more "what ifs" emerge from the concept. The only limit is Disney/Marvel's budget, so there's not really a limit at all, and season 3 should ably demonstrate this.