'What If...?' Animated Series Comes Summer 2021 To Disney+; Jeffrey Wright Will Voice The Watcher

Marvel has stolen the show at Comic-Con before, but never, ever, ever like this before. Tonight in Hall H, Kevin Feige and several members of the Marvel team thundered down and dominated with a gigantic roar, revealing 11 new projects, ten that are part of the upcoming Phase 4 plan.

While much of it was expected, much of it was a surprise as well. The Disney+ line-up was a massive part of the line-up demonstrating how these various limited series would be as important as the movies and totally interconnected. Saved for last, however, and more off-the-beaten-path then the rest is “What If…?” Marvel’s first animated series.

This one wasn’t a total surprise and announced earlier by Kevin Feige at a Disney+/Marvel presentation last year. The Marvel chief, however, did add a few details, noting that actors from the Marvel Cinematic Universe will reprise their voice roles—so we could hear Chris Evans or Robert Downey Jr. as Captain America or Iron Man again. Additionally, Feige revealed that “Westworld” actor Jeffrey Wright would be joining the show and lending his voice to the role of The Watcher.

In case you’re unaware, “What If…?” is a comic book line that tells alternate reality stories in the Marvel universe. Like what if Jane Foster had found the hammer of Thor? What if Doctor Strange was a disciple of Dormammu? What if Captain America had been elected President? These are real comic book storylines that went to print and the idea of “What If…?” gave comic book writers free rein to come up with some crazy and wacky stories. The animated series should be a fun one.

Here’s Marvel’s press release.

Kevin Feige offered new information on “What If…?,” the first animated series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. “What If…?” is being created exclusively for Disney+ and features stories that present alternate realities in the Marvel universe.

Feige mentioned that many actors from across the Marvel Cinematic Universe will reprise their roles as voice talent in the series. He then surprised the audience by bringing Jeffrey Wright to the stage and introducing him as the voice of the popular character The Watcher in the new series.

“What If…?” joins the Disney+ lineup in the summer of 2021.

Just announced in Hall H at #SDCC, Marvel Studios’ WHAT IF…?, the first animated series in the MCU, with Jeffrey Wright as the voice of The Watcher and many actors from across the MCU reprising their roles as voice talent. Streaming exclusively on Disney+, Summer 2021. pic.twitter.com/el6etc3xZH

— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) July 21, 2019