As Marvel's first animated series, What If...? is an intriguing prospect – but how many episodes does the Disney+ TV show feature, and when will the finale release? Marvel Studios announced the production of What If...? as an adaptation of comics of the same name in April 2019, saying the intention was for each episode to show what could have happened had the characters involved in the MCU's storylines made different decisions. August 2019 saw the announcement of A.C. Bradley would be creator and head writer for the series, and that Bryan Andrews (MCU storyboard artist) would direct the episodes, and Jeffrey Wright will star in a new role as The Watcher, acting as the narrator for the series (and potentially more).

The first episode of What If...? arrived on Disney+ on August 11, 2021, and paid off its concept immediately, depicting a fascinating alternate history retelling of one of the MCU's oldest stories. Trailers for What If...? offered a tantalizing selection of alternate-history retellings of Marvel stories, with a host of Marvel actors returning to voice characters, including Peggy Carter becoming a Super-Soldier, T'Challa becoming Star-Lord, and even zombies making an appearance in the MCU.

Related: Is Marvel's What If? For Kids: How Violent & Gory Is It?

Fans won't have to wait long for more – What If...? will follow the new release plan established by Loki, with new episodes landing every Wednesday. Disney+ doesn't confirm what time its episodes release, but if the show follows other MCU shows' timing, each episode of What If...? should land on Disney+ at 12 am PDT. So how many episodes of What If...? can viewers expect, and when will the finale episode air?

Everything We Know About Marvel's What If Replacement Header

What If...? will feature nine episodes in total, meaning the release plan stretches for nine weeks. While the original plan was for a 10-episode season, the Covid-19 pandemic meant the final episode was not completed in time, and moved into the confirmed second season, which will also have nine episodes. While the trailers hint at a string of unconnected stories posing bewildering questions about what could have happened, there may be potential for these alternate-reality characters to wind up in each others' episodes, meaning there would be a more interconnected narrative at play in the show. Marvel producers have also confirmed every episode of What If...? is canon, and even hinted that popular storylines could go on to feature in live-action adaptations.

With nine episodes in total, the finale episode of What If...? will release on October 6, 2021. While other MCU TV shows have had shorter runs (six each for Loki and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier) What If...? will have tie for the most episodes in a season with WandaVision. Both those shows explore a kookier, more mysterious side of the MCU, and so viewers can enjoy a longer run for this MCU show. While What If...? takes the multiverse concept established in Loki and runs with it, viewers will just have to wait and see what effect the storylines included in the show mean for the greater MCU.

Next: Every MCU Character Recast For What If...?

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