Marvel's What If: Release Date, Cast, Story Details & Trailer

Here's everything known about Marvel's What If...?, a new series that will be part of the MCU's Phase 4 on Disney+, including its cast, story, and when it will release. Based on the eponymous comic series that debuted in 1977, the 10-part production theorizes about twists of fate and alternative franchise storylines. The Disney+ version of What If...? was developed and written by A.C. Bradley, and features Jeffrey Wright as the narrator, Uatu, otherwise known as the Watcher.

The original What If...? comics series ran from 1977 to 1984, which was followed by a second volume from 1989 to 1998. Since then, 11 more installments have been published, with the most recent 2018 collection featuring stories about the Ghost Rider, Magik, the Punisher, Thor, Spider-Man, and the X-Men. In 2019, Marvel broke the news about the Disney+ adaptation, and Marvel Chief Creative Officer Kevin Feige later revealed that production had already commenced for What If...? season 2. At Disney Investor Day 2020, the first teaser for the MCU series released and teased what appears to be a fascinating first 10 episodes.

Marvel fans are certainly hyped for upcoming MCU TV shows like Ironheart, Armor Wars, and Secret Invasion, however What If...? could be a cultural phenomenon given all the unknowns and potential for some wild twists. Fortunately, Marvel has confirmed several storylines so far, along with all the MCU actors who return in the animated series. Here's everything revealed about What If...? on Disney+.

What If...? Release Date Info

Marvel's What If Iron Man, Captain Carter and the Howling Commandos

Disney+ has revealed an August 11, 2021 release date for Marvel's What If? on the streaming service. This continues the announced scheduling change that began with Loki, which will see all future Marvel programs drop weekly on Wednesdays instead of Fridays. Some fans preferred the weekend release strategy, but Disney can't please everyone.

What If...?: Every Confirmed Story

As usual for Marvel Studios, details on What If? have been released slowly and vaguely as the premiere approaches. The official episode titles haven't been announced for What If...?, but the storylines below have been confirmed based on the available footage in various trailers and teasers released by Marvel.

What If T'Challa Became Star-Lord: In the MCU, Yondu (Michael Rooker) kidnaps Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) from Earth in 1988. The character eventually becomes Star-Lord before joining the Guardians of the Galaxy. What If...? imagines if T'Challa was taken and never evolved into Black Panther.

What If Peggy Carter Became Captain Carter: Prior to World War II, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) volunteered for Project Rebirth and received Super Soldier Serum that would transform him into the first superhero on Earth. In What If...?, Project Rebirth leader Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) consumes the serum instead and becomes Captain Briain. In this storyline, Steve Rogers becomes an earlier version of Iron Man.

What If Bucky Barnes Fought a Captain America Zombie: In the MCU, Steve Rogers' childhood friend Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) fights alongside him in World War II and ultimately re-emerges as the Winter Soldier. What If...? references the mid-2000s comic series Marvel Zombies by having Bucky Barnes battle against a zombified Captain America. A zombie Iron Man is also confirmed to appear.

What If? Doctor Strange Fought Doctor Strange: In the original What If? teaser, Doctor Strange is shown waging what looks to be a tough fight against a powerful foe, with the person firing back from the other side turning out to be another version of himself. The multiverse is obviously a big part of What If?, so it's not surprising to see alternate timeline doppelgangers face off.

What If? Killmonger Saved Iron Man: The full context isn't yet clear, but the full What If? trailer re-stages the original terrorist attack that set Tony Stark on the road to becoming Iron Man. Instead of ending up in a cave with a box of scraps though, he's saved from the wreckage by none other than Erik "Killmonger" Stevens, who appears to have taken a more heroic path in this particular timeline.

What If...? Returning Cast

Whaty If...? features Peggy Carter taking the Super Soldier Serum

Numerous MCU stars have been confirmed for What If...? on Disney+, with 51 total movie actors set to reprise either major or minor roles for the animated series. Some of the biggest returning names include the late Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa, Hayley Atwell as Captain Peggy Carter, Josh Brolin as Thanos, Michael Douglas as Hank Pym, Karen Gillan as Nebula, Jeff Goldblum as Grandmaster, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Michael B. Jordan as Erik Killmonger, Natalie Portman as Jane Foster, Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton, Michael Rooker as Yondu Udonta, Paul Rudd as Ant-Man, Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes, and Taika Waititi as Korg.

Marvel's What If...? Trailers

Embedded above are both the initial teaser trailer for What If? from 2020, and the more recent full trailer released in 2021. Both are essential viewing for excited Marvel fans, as they mostly feature different footage, and glimpses of the different storylines and characters mentioned above. Howard the Duck (voiced by a returning Seth Green) also appears, and has been confirmed for episode two of What If?.

More: Every Upcoming Marvel Studios Disney+ TV Show