Marvel Comics material has been adapted to animated projects for ages, but we’ll be seeing the first things that are directly from Marvel Studios and connected to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The “What If…?” series is their first big entry in this new animation phase, with announcements already made about a second season and the animated short series “I Am Goot,” heading to Disney+ as well.
However, more is coming. During a chat with Variety, Victoria Alonso, executive VP of film production at Marvel Studios, she revealed Marvel’s going to break out animation production in a bigger and more formal way.
“We’re going to have our animation branch and mini studio, and there will be more to come from that as well. We’re super excited about animation, which is my first love,” Alonso said about the updated push towards more animation.
How many projects this animation branch will handle remains to be seen but likely means they’ll be adding more shows in the future, with some probably already in development.
“What If…?” will begin airing August 11 on Disney+ and jumps headfirst into the deep waters of The Multiverse. Actor Jeffrey Wright (“The Batman,” “Westworld“) will voice Utu The Watcher, a cosmic being that will act as the narrator and host of the series focusing on alternative versions of the characters and settings of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Many existing actors will reprise their MCU roles, and “What If…?” features the final appearance of T’Challa as voiced by the late Chadwick Boseman.
With Kevin Feige now the chief creative officer of Marvel, it means that future animated projects will likely fall under the MCU brand and considered canon by proxy.
Here are the official synopses for both “What If…?” and “I Am Groot” directly from Marvel:
“What If… ?” features fan-favorite characters, including Peggy Carter, T’Challa, Doctor Strange, Killmonger, Thor and more. The new series, directed by Bryan Andrews with AC Bradley as head writer, features signature MCU action with a curious twist.
“Marvel Studios’ I Am Groot will feature the seedling, along with several new and unusual characters joining Groot in a series of shorts.”