“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 collection’ third and ultimate season premieres on December 22, 2024, mimicking the vacation launch window for “What If…?” season 2 in 2023.
Via its run, “What If…?” has tried to strike a tough 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. In the long run, plainly the present’s connective tissue to the grand MCU plot might have been the rationale for its finish after three seasons, not less than in response to Marvel TV head Brad Winderbaum.
In a latest interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Winderbaum defined a part of the reasoning for cancelling the animated collection. “‘What If…?’ has at all times tied into the better MCU and the Multiverse Saga,” Winderbaum defined. “And for causes that may change into clear within the subsequent couple of years, this was the suitable time to culminate the collection from a narrative perspective.” It is also true that three seasons is a fairly respectable run for something animated within the fashionable streaming panorama — an extended run than every other Marvel Studios Disney+ reveals have but acquired.
What If…? might not be related to the MCU
In response to Brad Winderbaum, there is a compelling narrative purpose why now’s the suitable time to wrap up “What If…?” Nonetheless, as a consequence of how muddled the MCU’s multiverse period has change 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 not less than it does not appear to be. Kang the Conqueror was pushed apart as a consequence of controversy surrounding actor Jonathan Majors, however Robert Downey Jr. will likely be enjoying Physician Doom within the upcoming “Avengers: Doomsday.” It is nonetheless exhausting to inform the place precisely the franchise goes in overarching phrases, nevertheless it additionally would make sense for Marvel Studios to begin transferring away from narratives about the multiverse explicitly and begin utilizing it extra as a justification for telling totally different sorts of tales.
That stated, 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 numerous “Star Wars” and Marvel streaming collection launched during the last a number of years have been extremely costly — typically 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 latest Disney+ fare like “X-Males ’97” or “Agatha All Alongside.”
There could possibly be different the reason why Marvel’s What If…? has been cancelled
Whereas Marvel is at all times protecting 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 vital consideration or been an enormous money cow for Disney+, I am positive 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 large 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 way, and for followers who merely could not sustain with all of the streaming collection which have come out lately, that was type of a promoting level. In the identical interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Winderbaum described one other upcoming animated challenge, “Your Pleasant Neighborhood Spider-Man,” as “only a enjoyable experience,” emphasizing its comparatively impartial standing, which has similarities to that of “X-Males.”
“Eyes of Wakanda,” yet another upcoming animated collection, will probably be extra straight tied into the bigger MCU, however its angling, which Winderbaum described as “a narrative about conquest and nationwide id,” makes it considerably distinct thematically, not less than in principle. By its very nature, “What If…?” is a much less targeted present, making it probably much less of a match with Marvel’s upcoming animated slate.
As soon as once more, the third and ultimate season of Marvel’s “What If…?” will premiere December 22, 2024, on Disney+.
