What Marvel fans can expect from the brand-new season of What If…?
L.A. corresponded
Season 2 of the series will start streaming on Dec. 22 on Disney+ with one episode premiering each night.
And this writer has seen two awesome episodes already.
The Philippine STAR was invited to the Season 2 premiere at the Disney lot in Burbank, CA last week. We were shown episodes one and three of the series. The first episode will feature Karen Gillan’s Nebula in What If… Nebula Joined the Nova Corps? The noirish story finds Nebula in Xandar, where in this particular universe, the mighty Ronan has defeated Thanos, and Nebula has joined the Nova Corps to become a detective.
The third episode puts the spotlight on beloved MCU character Happy Hogan in his own stand-alone episode in What If Happy Hogan Saved Christmas? In this universe, Tony Stark’s archrival Justin Hammer attacks the Avengers Tower during the annual Christmas party in an attempt to steal the valuable Hulk Blood. All the Avengers are out and only one man is on site to fight the intruder. Iron Man’s cheerful assistant Happy Hogan is only happier to be the hero this time.
Episode one is for die-hard MCU fans, while episode three is for die-hard fans. Yes!
Jon Favreau returns to voice Happy Hogan in an episode written especially for him. He appeared in two episodes in Season One. Executive producer and series director Bryan Andrews revealed that during the post-screening Q&A Jon suggested that maybe Happy Hogan could have his own story for Season Two, and they all agreed.
For an added treat to MCU fans, joining Jon this season are superstars Cate Blanchett, Jude Law, Kurt Russell, Sam Rockwell, and Michael Douglas. They will voice the animated versions of their beloved live-action MCU characters.
For new audiences to the series, What if…? Season 2 continues the journey as The Watcher guides viewers through the vast multiverse, introducing brand-new and familiar faces throughout the MCU. The series questions, revisits and twists classic Marvel Cinematic moments with an incredible voice cast that includes a host of stars who reprise their iconic roles.
Bryan Andrews was joined by writers AC Bradley and Matthew Chauncey during the Q&A where they teased what fans can expect this season.
“We had so many great ideas in the first round for the first season, but there’s only so many episodes you can make,” Bryan explained. “So, some of those carried right on over.”
Matthew added other episodes were from ideas to mix genres. For episode one, the homage to Blade Runner was inspired by Karen Gillan’s fantastic work as Nebula in Season One. “She just came in so game and so alive and so collaborative that from that moment, we decided in Season Two, we really have to do something for her where she is center stage.”
While What If…? is an anthology series with stand-alone episodes, AC Bradley disclosed that there are recurring characters that will guide the stories each season, namely: The Watcher, Captain Carter, and the Sorcerer Supreme.
“Fate has made Carter and The Watcher lone warriors. Part of the fun of watching their journey throughout the show is that they are mirrors for one another. The Watcher is going to reckon with some of the choices that he made in Season One, through how he engages, and watches Captain Carter navigate her life in these episodes, she said.”
Bryan added that the Season One episode, What If... The Watcher Broke His Oath? cliffhanger will get resolved this season.
Season Two will have an episode that will not be in the English language.
Original Mohawk superhero Kahhori will have her own spotlight this season in the episode titled What If... Kahhori Reshaped the World?
The episode imagines what would have happened if colonization had never happened in America. For this episode, the writers consulted with the Smithsonian to get the most authentic rendering of what might that world have been.
“We brought them in for everything from design, story, music,” AC Bradley disclosed. “It was really a collaborative effort, and we were so lucky to get all the help. It was really amazing and beautiful.”
The consultants helped develop the design for the story. “When they would see the artwork, after doing a few notes and things like that, they were amazed. They wrote us a letter saying that they felt for the first time that their people were honestly being represented in the media. And that was huge for us to hear,” Bryan added.
The animated series is executive produced by Brad Winderbaum, Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Bryan Andrews and AC Bradley.
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