The MCU Has No Reasons To Make A Marvel Zombies Movie Now (Sadly)

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Marvel's What If...? episode 5.

Marvel’s What If…? episode 5 addressed what would happen in a timeline within the Marvel Cinematic Universe where the world is infected by a virus that turns people into zombies, and while the episode has been very well received, it also means there won’t be a Marvel Zombies movie now. The MCU continues its expansion now that the Infinity Saga is over, and its highly anticipated Phase 4 is doing things differently by covering both movies and TV shows. Its latest TV project is the animated series What If…?, which has been exploring different scenarios and stories fans had been waiting to see in the MCU.

What If…? is an animated anthology series that explores what would have happened in the MCU had the characters taken other decisions or, simply, key moments in this universe happened slightly different, making way for a reality completely different from the one fans know well through the movies and TV shows. What If…? has already covered timelines in which Peggy Carter became Captain Carter, T’Challa became Star-Lord, Hank Pym killed the Avengers, and Doctor Strange became evil, and the latest adventure, and one that fans were eagerly waiting to watch, is all about Marvel Zombies.

Episode 5 of What If…? showed what would have happened if a virus, brought from the Quantum Realm, infected the world turning everyone into zombies, including Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and other characters with superpowers and magical abilities. Only a couple of heroes managed to avoid getting infected, of which some ended up becoming zombies on their quest to get to a camp where a cure was being developed, and the cure turned out to be the Mind Stone, which kept Vision safe. The only person who showed resistance to the Mind Stone was Wanda Maximoff, so Vision sacrificed himself and left the Stone for Peter Parker, Scott Lang’s floating head, T’Challa, and the Cloak of Levitation to spread the cure. The Marvel Zombies episode of What If…? has been very well-received by critics and viewers, but this also means that there are no more reasons to adapt this story to the big screen.

Marvel Zombies is a limited comic book series written by Robert Kirkman and set in an alternate universe where the world’s superheroes have been infected with a virus that turns them into zombies. Marvel Zombies is a favorite among Marvel fans, who had hopes of seeing it adapted to the big screen as part of the MCU, but now that it has been used in What If…?, the studio has no reason to make a movie about it. If Marvel still decided to make a Marvel Zombies movie, it would be hard for it to live up to What If…?’s version given the success of it, and there’s also the possibility of the story working best as an episodic one rather than a full-length feature. Besides, and as interesting and exciting as a Marvel Zombies movie could be, it doesn’t quite fit with the style of the MCU (so far, at least), so the chances of it happening are even slimmer.

Although a Marvel Zombies movie doesn’t seem likely at all now, fans are grateful that they could see the MCU’s version of these comic books even if briefly in What If…?, and the story was quite exciting as it brought together superheroes that the MCU has already established and wasn’t a retelling of past MCU movies. Marvel Zombies will surely continue to be one of the most popular stories from Marvel Comics, but fans shouldn’t expect to see it on the big screen anytime soon.

Next: Every MCU Easter Egg In What If? Episode 5

Marvel's What If...? releases new episodes Wednesdays on Disney+.