What If...? Trailer Breakdown: All MCU Character Changes & Alt Timelines

Marvel Studios has dropped their first official trailer for Marvel's What If..?, and here are all the biggest takeaways. The Multiverse is becoming increasingly important to the MCU's Phase 4 slate. As explained in Loki, the timeline is naturally chaotic, and any moment has the potential to create a new branch - according to one comment, something as simple as a person being late for work could create an entirely new timeline.

There are still lots of unanswered questions about the MCU's Multiverse, not least being its origin given Loki has introduced a secretive group called the TVA whose job is to prune branches before they can become well-established. But it's now clear Multiversal variants of the various heroes and villains could be wildly different to the characters viewers are familiar with, so much so that Loki episode 5 introduced a version of Loki who's actually an alligator. That means the story potential is almost limitless - and Marvel's upcoming What If..? series will mine that potential, introducing audiences to a range of timelines where characters turned left instead of right, switched places, or even turned into zombies.

Marvel has dropped the first full trailer of What If..?, introducing a number of the key variants in play - and hinting some sort of Multiversal catastrophe is going on that will force them to work together. Here's every alternate character and timeline that can be identified in the trailer.

10. Tony Stark Is Saved By Killmonger

Iron Man launched the MCU, and so appropriately, Marvel's What If..? trailer starts with a switch-up version of what should have been Iron Man's origin. Here, the industrialist never gets shrapnel embedded in his chest, because he's rescued by Erik Killmonger. Although Killmonger is wearing his MCU costume, this is likely set during his time in the United States Navy SEALs, and Marvel has confirmed he did indeed see action in Afghanistan. He and Stark are set up as becoming friends, and this would be something of an unholy alliance, given this variant of Stark never learned humility in the Afghan caves.

A later shot shows Killmonger leading an army of some sort against the forces of Wakanda, and androids can be seen in the background - presumably Stark tech he has been given to secure his kingship. A Funko Pop has indeed confirmed Killmonger will become King of Wakanda, attaining the title of Black Panther. But it looks as though Killmonger's reign will not be secure, because the trailer also shows members of the Wakandan Royal Family rebelling against his rule. Shuri is noticeably younger here, and the Royal Family are assisted by Pepper Potts; it seems Stark's long-suffering secretary will betray her boss, which makes sense given Stark has never walked the path of redemption. The presence of Pepper suggests the Killmonger episode will be about a variant of Tony Stark almost as much as it is about Killmonger.

9. An Evil Doctor Strange

There have been reports Marvel's What If..? will introduce an evil version of Doctor Strange, one who turns to magic after the death of his true love - and becomes a terrifyingly powerful evil sorcerer. It's difficult to piece together this character's story from the trailer, simply because - as a voice-over acknowledges - magic is about the manipulation of reality itself. Still, it's possible elements of the evil Doctor Strange's origin story are shown, with Strange entering a chamber in which he is surrounded by mystical runes reminiscent of the ones seen in WandaVision. These runes may well be an important addition to the MCU, because it's reasonable to assume the laws of magic in this timeline are the same as those in the prime MCU timeline, so they could exist there as well. The runes transport Strange into the Multiverse, and the visual effect here is similar to that seen in Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, a curious choice on Marvel's part that may subtly confirm that story exists in the same Multiverse.

Another shot shows Strange entering a chamber with a pink tree at the center, which doesn't seem to be related to the comics. He is accompanied by an unseen figure, who may well be the one who teaches Strange magic in this timeline. Clearly Strange learns some powerful spells, because he's shown casting illusions - the green is similar to Loki's magic, and probably isn't meant as a callback to the Time Stone - and unleashing devastating fireballs. Strange's path ultimately leads him into battle against the Ancient One herself, and the two look to be evenly matched. Given the Ancient One was drawing upon the power of the Dark Dimension, that is truly testimony to Strange's power - and there's some evidence he will win the battle, because in some shots he's wearing the Eye of Agamotto, which she possessed.

8. T'Challa Becomes Star-Lord

T'Challa and Yondu talk in Marvel's What If

In another timeline, Peter Quill isn't the one kidnapped as a boy by Yondu - T'Challa of Wakanda is. Quill split away from the Ravagers to do his own thing, but T'Challa clearly remained with them, and he has a much stronger father-son relationship with Yondu - as seen in one shot in which Yondu acts as his adviser. This version of Star-Lord is very different to Quill, a natural tactician and team player who draws upon the strengths of the other Ravagers and even leads them on occasion. "A Ravager never flies solo," T'Challa declares in one entertaining scene, although amusingly Yondu misses the command and doesn't initially step in as ordered.

As different to the typical Star-Lord as T'Challa may be, his path still leads him to the Orb containing the Power Stone in 2014. This can be dated accurately because Morag is an aquatic planet, entirely covered in water, and the temple only becomes accessible briefly every 300 years. It's likely Ronan and Thanos are involved in this episode, because they'd be looking for the Power Stone; certainly T'Challa crosses paths with Drax, who's shown interacting with him. Ultimately, T'Challa seems to consider returning to Earth, because he's seen looking at a hologram of his homeworld.

7. Black Widow Infiltrates The Hulk Project

Merchandise has shown a version of Natasha Romanoff in the Red Room's customary Black Widow gear, hinting at a timeline in which she never left the program. If that is indeed the case, then some shots in the trailer suggest this variant of Black Widow will infiltrate General Ross' super-soldier projects and interfere with the creation of the Hulk in some way - she's seen facing off against the Jade Giant while dressed in U.S. military gear. It looks as though we're going to see an alternate version of the Hulk's origin story, one in which the Red Room got involved - and, curiously, the Hulk is then seen smashing an army of Ultrons. The androids crop up a lot in the Marvel's What If..? trailer, so it's possible they are a recurring threat.

6. Party Thor Versus Ultron

Merchandise has already introduced viewers to "Party Thor," presumably a version of the God of Thunder who never learns to take life seriously in the slightest. Party Thor still wields Mjolnir, but it's probable the hammer was never given the worthiness enchantment from the main timeline, simply because this Thor never cared enough about the Nine Realms to become king. If that is the case, then this timeline is the same as one in which there are several shots of Loki showing him leading the armies of Asgard on Earth. Loki confronts SHIELD in an alternate version of the scene in Thor, with Asgardian spears pointing straight at Agent Coulson and his men, and there's another shot of the trickster god unleashing the Casket of Ancient Winters upon them. As seen in the first Thor film, the beams from the Casket of Ancient Winters turn anyone and anything it touches into ice, meaning poor Coulson won't be winning friends and allies in Asgard in this timeline.

One of the most curious shots in the Marvel's What If..? trailer shows Party Thor battling an Ultron with Mjolnir, supporting the theory these androids are some sort of Multiversal menace - a concept lifted from comic book stories such as 2013's Age of Ultron and 2015's Secret Wars. It seems Party Thor will be forced to leave his hedonistic lifestyle and become a hero after all.

5. Captain Carter and Howard Stark

One of the most exciting prospects in Marvel's What If..? is the opportunity to see a twisted timeline in which Peggy Carter becomes the world's first super-soldier instead of Steve Rogers - likely taking up the identity of Captain Britain. The first trailer offers some tantalizing shots of Captain Carter in action, and seemingly confirms long-standing rumors Steve Rogers will become her sidekick, donning his own version of the Iron Man armor created by Howard Stark. Notice the armor is branded with the insignia of the USA, confirming this is an alliance of nations. Captain Carter's mission is generally concerned with the Nazis, and there are a number of shots of her demonstrating her skill against Nazi soldiers, but there's one mysterious moment in which she's also attacked by what seems to be an extradimensional entity. It seems similar (but not identical) to the Abilisk in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. This hints something is going badly wrong with the Multiverse, and the fabric of reality is beginning to tear.

The Marvel's What If..? trailer shows Peggy Carter introduced to Doctor Strange, confirming the theory the Multiverse is breaking down. This further suggests viewers are wrong to expect the show to be mostly standalones; there's some sort of overarching narrative, with some of the various stars colliding in extradimensional adventures. Given this is an evil Doctor Strange, though, Captain Carter would be wise not to trust him.

4. Marvel Zombies

Another of the more heavily-teased What If..? stories sees the Winter Soldier go up against a zombie Captain America, but he won't be the only Marvel superhero transformed into a zombie. The concept of "Marvel Zombies" originates from the comics themselves, with The Walking Dead's Robert Kirkman and Sean Phillips introducing readers to a world where their favorite superheroes had become zombies back in 2005. It's been revisited countless times in the comics, and the "Marvel Zombies" brand is known for being pretty bleak. It works best in tales where characters from other dimensions accidentally crash into this horror-inspired world, or where the voracious appetites of the zombies leads to them invading other realities.

3. Vision Tears Out The Mind Stone

There are a couple of shots featuring the Vision, and at one point he is the one who appears to be telling people about the Multiverse, suggesting he has somehow become aware of it. Vision's role is something of a mystery, but it seems this variant will eventually choose to tear the Mind Stone from his own head, for unknown reasons. Early voice-overs feature nods towards the Infinity Stones, so there may be an Infinity Stone plot at some point.

2. The Guardians Of The Multiverse

Marvel What If Guardians of the Multiverse

Leaked merchandise for Marvel's What If..? featured the Guardians of the Multiverse, suggesting the variants would come together as an actual alliance. The trailer confirms this, with Doctor Strange introducing himself to Captain Carter and another shot in which Black Widow is seen tossing Captain Carter's shield. There's a third in which the Guardians assemble for a group shot that's deliberately compared to the first Avengers movie. Only part of the team are visible, but you can clearly see Killmonger's Black Panther, a version of Gamora who wields Thanos' trademark blade from Avengers: Endgame, T'Challa's Star-Lord, and Party Thor. The merchandise suggested other team members will include Captain Carter, Doctor Strange, and a version of Black Widow.

But how will the Guardians of the Multiverse come together? The most likely explanation is that the cosmic being known as the Watcher will interfere, breaking his vow to simply observe. Although the Watcher's voice-over in the trailer suggests that won't be the case, voice actor Jeffrey Wright has indicated he'll go through something of a character arc. "In the comics, he's an observer—and then some," Wright observes. "Here, in the first season, he starts off as an observer, but he gradually becomes more compelled by what he watches." If the Watcher does gather together the Guardians of the Multiverse, then they feel akin to another concept from the comics, the Exiles, a band of interdimensional heroes who jaunted across the Multiverse doing good. Marvel Studios would be wise to riff on the Guardians of the Galaxy brand instead of calling their version the Exiles, though, because the brand is far more significant.

1. A Possible Glimpse Of Scarlet Witch

One shot in the Marvel's What If..? trailer shows what seems to be Scarlet Witch unleashing a flare of energy, with Okoye throwing a spear at her - and the spear disintegrating as it approaches her. WandaVision left Scarlet Witch studying the forbidden magic of the Darkhold, and according to Elizabeth Olsen her character will pick up a number of new abilities from this mystical tome - and Scarlet Witch can now "travel between universes". Most viewers are expecting Wanda Maximoff's expanding powerset to be the cause of Doctor Strange 2's Multiverse of Madness, and if that's the case then Marvel's What If..? may be the beginning of that, with dimensions colliding - explaining why the evil Doctor Strange could meet Captain Carter, and why the Guardians of the Multiverse can ultimately assemble. There could even be a glimpse of the MCU's own Doctor Strange, as he learns something is going badly wrong with the fabric of reality, positioning himself as the Multiverse's champion in his own movie.

More: Everything We Know About Marvel's What If...?