Many beloved characters from Phase 1 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe are returning for Marvel's What If...? Beyond being the first animated series produced as part of the MCU, Marvel's What If...? promises the first extensive look at the Marvel Comics' multiverse and all the alternate realities that exist beyond the Quantum Realm. This has many fans excited, given the ongoing story of Phase 4 of the MCU and the suggestion that the Multiverse will play a major role in several upcoming movies.
First debuting in 1977, What If...? was a revolutionary comic for its time. While Marvel and DC Comics had always published "imaginary stories" set outside of regular continuity and DC Comics had an extensive multiverse populated by different versions of their most popular heroes, What If...? was the first monthly comic devoted to exploring how various classic stories might have played out had one small change been made or one decision made differently. Most of these stories were narrated by the all-seeing Uatu the Watcher; a cosmic being sworn to observe all that had happened or might happen, yet never to interfere with the affairs of mortals.
Marvel's What If...? will be presented in the same anthology format, with the role of Uatu the Watcher being played by Westworld's Jeffrey Wright. The series boasts an impressive ensemble, with most of the actors from the original MCU films reprising their roles. Here is a breakdown of every Phase 1 MCU character returning for Marvel's What If...? and what we know about their new roles.
Tony Stark was famous even before he became the invincible Iron Man, but his life would never have taken that turn had it not been for a well-time terrorist attack and a bit of bad fortune. The trailer for Marvel's What If...? revealed one episode will be based around Michael B. Jordan's Erik Killmonger preventing the attack that caused Tony Stark to get shrapnel in his heart. Another episode will include a zombie version of Tony Stark, presumably based on the Marvel Zombies universe.
Tony Stark's beleaguered executive assistant went on to become his wife and a hero in her own right with her own suit of power armor. Pepper Potts will have a role to play in at least one episode of Marvel's What If...? but will not be played by Gwyneth Paltrow.
A former boxer whom Tony Stark hired to act as his personal bodyguard and chauffeur, Harold "Happy" Hogan went on to become Head of Security at Stark Industries and an unlikely mentor to Peter Parker. Jon Favreau will return to lend his voice to the gruff but loveable character.
Christine Everhart was a reporter for Vanity Fair who first appeared in Iron Man, where she had a one-night stand with Tony Stark and went on to hound him about his company's business practices. She appeared once again in Iron Man 2, before moving on to a new position as an anchor for WHiH World News in the MCU web series WHiH World Newsfront. She will once again be played by Leslie Bibb.
A Colonel in the United States Air Force and Tony Stark's best friend since college, James "Rhodey" Rhodes fought many metaphorical battles alongside Tony before going into literal war zones piloting his War Machine armor. Don Cheadle will be returning to play the role in Marvel's What If...?
Nick Fury has worn many hats in his lifetime, along with his trademark eye patch. Soldier. Spy. Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., and more. It is unclear where the multiverse may take him in Marvel's What If...? but he will once again be played by Samuel L. Jackson.
Dr. Bruce Banner was forever changed by the accident that unleashed his inner rage in the form of the Incredible Hulk, but Banner's tale has been the subject of many What If...? comics that saw him changed in other ways or other people being transformed by the gamma bomb instead of him. Mark Ruffalo, who has played Dr. Banner in all his incarnations since the first Avengers movie, will be returning to play at least one Hulk variant in Marvel's What If...?
Introduced in Captain America: The First Avenger before moving on to her own short-lived solo series Agent Carter, Peggy Carter always had a greater role to play in the MCU than being Captain America's lost love. The first trailer for Marvel's What If...? emphasized this fact, revealing that, in at least one universe, it was Peggy Carter who took the Super Soldier Serum instead of Steve Rogers, throwing a mighty shield against the armies of the Axis Powers. Hayley Atwell has been confirmed to return as the voice of Captain Carter.
While Chris Evans is not returning for Marvel's What If...?, Steve Rogers will appear in at least one episode of the animated series. Another episode, presumably set in the reality of Marvel Zombies, will feature a zombie version of Captain America.
Born to the name Timothy Alloysius Cadwaller Dugan, it's easy to see why "Dum Dum" Dugan preferred his nickname. One of the original Howling Commandos led by Captain America during World War II, "Dum Dum" Dugan went on to lead the unit after Steve Rogers' apparent death and aided Peggy Carter and Howard Stark with several SSR missions. Dugan will once again be played by Neal McDonough.
A Swiss-born scientist in the employ of HYDRA, Armin Zola was the first to research the powers of the Tesseract. He later went on to rebuild HYDRA in the shadow of S.H.I.E.L.D. following World War II. Zola will once again be played by Toby Jones.
Steve Rogers' best friend since childhood, James "Bucky" Barnes was captured by HYDRA forces and, unbeknownst to his allies in the Howling Commandos, brainwashed into becoming the Winter Soldier. It is unknown how Barnes' life will be changed in Marvel's What If...? but he will once again be played by Sebastian Stan.
Dr. Abraham Erskine was a German-born scientist who fled his country rather than serve the Nazi war machine, working with the SSR to develop the first MCU Super Soldier Serum. Unfortunately, he died from an assassin's bullet just after seeing his life's work completed and the secrets of the serum died with him. Stanley Tucci, who played Dr. Erskine in Captain America: The First Avenger, will return to voice him in Marvel's What If...?
The father of Tony Stark and the creator of Captain America's Vibranium shield, Howard Stark paved the way for the MCU's first publicly recognized superheroes with his work. He is once again played by Dominic Cooper.
Chris Hemsworth returns as the son of Odin and champion of Asgard. It is unclear just what role the wielder of Mjolnir will play in Marvel's What If...? but it is probably safe to presume he will not be appearing as Throg, as Loki already made that joke.
Burdened as ever with glorious purpose, the God of Mischief will appear in at least one episode of Marvel's What If...? and be voiced by Tom Hiddleston. It has been speculated that one episode of Marvel's What If...? will be devoted to exploring what would have happened if Loki was named Odin's heir instead of Thor.
Fresh from her cameo in Loki, Jaimie Alexander will also appear in Marvel's What If...? as Lady Sif of Asgard. It has yet to be revealed how this Sif may differ from the one MCU fans are familiar with, but it may tie into her mysterious disappearance during Thor: Ragnarok.
One of the most unexpected casting announcements for Marvel's What If...? was Natalie Portman's return to the role of Jane Foster ahead of her appearance in the upcoming Thor: Love and Thunder. Some have speculated that the version of Jane Foster seen in the film might be a variant Jane from another reality and Marvel's What If... could easily set such a story up.
First appearing as the "sassy sidekick" of Jane Foster Thor and Thor: The Dark World, Darcy Lewis went on to a more prominent role in WandaVision, helping S.W.O.R.D. assess the anomaly around Westview. Kat Dennings returns to voice some version of Darcy from another reality.
Sharp-of-eye and hard-of-hearing, Clint Barton offered a unique viewpoint as one of the founding Avengers and an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. alongside Natasha Romanoff. Jeremy Renner returns as the archery-themed Avenger, ahead of his upcoming Hawkeye series.
The former Deputy Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. and right-hand of Nick Fury, Maria Hill was there keeping the lights on through various crises. Cobie Smulders will be returning to voice the super spy in Marvel's What If...?
Indoctrinated into the Red Room as a child and trained to be a deadly assassin, Natasha Romanoff defected to S.H.I.E.L.D. and make up for the red in her ledger. Scarlett Johansson will not be returning to voice the character, but at least one version of the Black Widow will appear in Marvel's What If...?
One of SHIELD's top agents, Phil Coulson inspired the formation of the Avengers with his untimely death. While there's some debate as to the canonicity of his later tenure as director of SHIELD in the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. series, the newly formed multiverse proves that the events of that series happened somewhere, if not the scared timeline of the main MCU. In any case, Clark Gregg will return to voice at least one version of the Son of Coul in Marvel's What If...?.
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