“Marvel’s What If…?” has been part of the Disney+ Marvel Cinematic Universe umbrella since very close to the start. It was the fourth official Marvel Studios present to launch on the then-burgeoning streaming platform again in 2021, following up “WandaVision,” “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” and “Loki” Season 1. The animated anthology sequence’ third and remaining season premieres on December 22, 2024, mimicking the vacation launch window for “What If…?” season 2 in 2023.
By its run, “What If…?” has tried to strike a difficult stability between presenting true one-off alternate universe tales and tying into the bigger “Multiverse Saga” of the MCU. There have been recurring characters and regular storylines, even whereas the episode to episode arcs stay comparatively hypothetical and self-contained. Ultimately, evidently the present’s connective tissue to the grand MCU plot might have been the explanation for its finish after three seasons, no less than in line with Marvel TV head Brad Winderbaum.
In a current interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Winderbaum defined a part of the reasoning for cancelling the animated sequence. “‘What If…?’ has all the time tied into the higher MCU and the Multiverse Saga,” Winderbaum defined. “And for causes that may develop into clear within the subsequent couple of years, this was the correct time to culminate the sequence from a narrative perspective.” It is also true that three seasons is a fairly respectable run for something animated within the trendy streaming panorama — an extended run than some other Marvel Studios Disney+ exhibits have but acquired.
What If…? might now not be related to the MCU
In response to Brad Winderbaum, there is a compelling narrative purpose why now could be the correct time to wrap up “What If…?” Nonetheless, as a result of how muddled the MCU’s multiverse period has develop into, that reasoning is not instantly clear.
Whereas a lot has occurred lately relating to the assorted “branches” of the so-called “Sacred Timeline,” the multiverse itself is not going anyplace as a core narrative assemble, or no less than it would not appear to be. Kang the Conqueror was pushed apart as a result of controversy surrounding actor Jonathan Majors, however Robert Downey Jr. might be enjoying Physician Doom within the upcoming “Avengers: Doomsday.” It is nonetheless arduous to inform the place precisely the franchise goes in overarching phrases, nevertheless it additionally would make sense for Marvel Studios to start out transferring away from narratives about the multiverse explicitly and begin utilizing it extra as a justification for telling totally different sorts of tales.
That mentioned, there are absolutely different causes at play for the present’s cancellation. Animation is not low cost, and Disney hasn’t hidden the truth that the various “Star Wars” and Marvel streaming sequence launched over the past a number of years have been extremely costly — usually with out the commensurate payday. “What If…?” has been a fairly regular hit with critics and followers, nevertheless it additionally hasn’t earned the sky-high reward of different current Disney+ fare like “X-Males ’97” or “Agatha All Alongside.”
There could possibly be different the explanation why Marvel’s What If…? has been cancelled
Whereas Marvel is all the time preserving the overarching story of the MCU in thoughts, there are tons of things that go into any present being renewed or cancelled. If “What If…?” had acquired important consideration or been an enormous money cow for Disney+, I am certain the studio would have discovered a story purpose to maintain it going. However even an organization as monumental as Disney has restricted assets, and the animated wing of Marvel particularly has began going in several instructions currently.
The huge success of “X-Males ’97” probably made some people at Marvel Studios rethink future TV initiatives. The present has no connection to the MCU in any respect, and for followers who merely could not sustain with all of the streaming sequence which have come out lately, that was form of a promoting level. In the identical interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Winderbaum described one other upcoming animated undertaking, “Your Pleasant Neighborhood Spider-Man,” as “only a enjoyable journey,” emphasizing its comparatively unbiased standing, which has similarities to that of “X-Males.”
“Eyes of Wakanda,” yet another upcoming animated sequence, will probably be extra instantly tied into the bigger MCU, however its angling, which Winderbaum described as “a narrative about conquest and nationwide id,” makes it considerably distinct thematically, no less than in principle. By its very nature, “What If…?” is a much less centered present, making it probably much less of a match with Marvel’s upcoming animated slate.
As soon as once more, the third and remaining season of Marvel’s “What If…?” will premiere December 22, 2024, on Disney+.
