Marvel Studios What If...? Theories

    Welcome back to HLS Entertainment today we are going to be discussing five What If theories and how this show could effect the MCU. What If is going to be Marvel Studios and the Marvel Cinematic Universe's first animated show. The entire idea of this show is based on the Marvel comics based on the same name, "What If...?", these comics were generally just fun one off comics that were not cannon that explored weird what if scenarios in the world of Marvel comics. This show being animated does not mean it is for kids or does not count, it still has the same standard PG-13 rating that the rest of the MCU has. As well as the show WILL be completely cannon towards the MCU and must watch tv for MCU fans.

    Quick Spoilers for Loki. The marvel multiverse is officially open, so absolutely everything in this show is TECHNICALLY cannon. The question will be will these multiversal stories change or impact the MCU as we know it. Short answer is absolutely yes, we can safely go into this show expecting it to have an impact on our "sacred timeline" in the MCU. Longish answer is this show could go a few different directions, this could be a direct testing ground for crazy ideas that might later be twisted or adapted into the live action movies and shows. My personal main thought process with this show is this show is it is an amazing way to introduce giant concepts, places, or groups of people at once in a SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper way than live action. But once those ideas, places, or people are introduced we as an audience are already prepped and ready for them.

    In this blog we are going to be discussing my big five theories / possibilities for this show. I am delineating that right there because my theories are direct predictions for the show while possibilities are much less likely to happen, but could still be on the table. One thing I want to get out ahead of is this, yes I know there have been reports and interviews of people saying that one of the ground rules for this show from Kevin Feige was that no "new characters" can be in this show. This means if a character has not been introduced into the MCU then they were untouchable for the writers of the show. But answer this simple question, where was Uatu the Watcher in the MCU? The that is who the narrator of the show is and will be voiced by the amazing Jeffrey Wright, but that character in itself IS a new character to the MCU. So I am calling their bluff. Like I said before in previous blogs, a main theme thus far in Phase Four of the MCU has been misdirection, in shows and in promotional materials. 

    Treat this entire blog as spoilers, for everything in the MCU past and future. If you love (or hate) any of the following theories and possibilities hit me up on twitter @HaroldLStokes, hit the follow button and tweet at me your opinions! On to my crazy ramblings!

1. Getting Fans Used to the Multiverse

    This shows primary objective is very clear, get fans used to multiple timelines and multiverses going on. It will introduce the idea of the multiverse being an active thing, being the world/frame of reference we have while the "sacred timeline" will be live action for now. But that WILL change soon and we as an audience need to be able to wrap our heads around that. Uatu will be our guide as he looks through the multiverse, and you better believe we will see Jeffrey Wright as live action Uatu soon.

    This show will be showing us all of the what if scenarios for familiar moments throughout the MCU but with tweaks small or gigantic. Some of these possibly being:

    What if Hawkeye kills Thor in Thor 1?

    What if Ultron won?

    What if Tony was saved by Killmonger?

    What if Bruce Banner never learned to control the Hulk?

    What if Ego was successful in his plan?

    What if the Collector was successful in collecting the Infinity Stones?

    And many more

    The entire multiverse was just cracked open in Loki so we will need some time to adjust to the idea of it. We have been so blessed with a singular contained MCU timeline for now over THIRTEEN years and there will be a learning curve for fans. If the rumors surrounding Spider-Man: No Way Home come to be true then this show is necessary to have fans in the right head space. Spider-Man: No Way Home will be the next step to a full on multiverse but it is, in the grand scheme of things, hand holding us fans by POSSIBLY bringing back past Spider-Men in Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield, not introducing brand new actors and characters.

2. Peggy Captain Britain

   This is my prime example of an idea that WILL cross over into live action. Let's be honest I adore the character of Peggy Carter but there is zero reason for her to still be involved in the MCU at this moment in time. She and Steve are currently living out their lives secretly saving the world from atrocities we never knew about in the mainline MCU. Yes I said mainline, to read more about that and how Black Widow seemed to confirm this theory for me check out my Black Widow Recap and Theories blog.

    Point being Haley Atwell is back as Peggy Carter for more than just being a delight and incredible actor. This is the testing/prepping ground to have fans ready for her to join mainline MCU as live action Captain Britain as we further expand heroes around the globe in Phase Four. Keep this in the back of your head as this could be incredible side plot for the upcoming Captain America 4.

    My huge wish list here would be that THIS Peggy sadly goes through the tragedy of losing Steve but joins live action MCU to meet modern day Captain Britain Brian Braddock (played by Henry Cavill) as they lead a new team of heroes in Europe.

    Something that seems to be pretty firm for this show is that Peggy could be our focal point going through multiple different timelines. Maybe forming a team? Something I am confused about is I SWEAR I think that is Shuma-Gorath in that picture. Maybe whatever specifically is happening also involves the great old ancient multiversal demon trying to devour these multiversal timelines. Maybe the multiverse splitting open awakens him and this show concludes setting him up for Doctor Strange Multiverse of Madness.

3. Deadpool

    I am officially the boy who cried Deadpool. I will continue to be so for What If... You simply do not understand how much I would freak out if one of the episodes is a "What if Deadpool killed the Fox universe" and showing him go through killing the Fox Marvel characters. 

    Just permanently put me down for Ryan Reynolds will be in the MCU BEFORE Deadpool 3 happens. By the way last he spoke it sounds like the production for that might kick off in 2022. Also before someone jumps on me no that is not some sort of Deadpool leak image it is from a different animated show.

    Not sure where to put this but Deadpool has had a few run in with zombies himself so I will put it here. I am calling it right now that the Zombie episode is "What if Hope Van Dyne was infected with a zombie disease when Hank saved her from the quantum realm in Ant-Man and the Wasp?"

4. We will get the history of Kang and the Multiversal War

    This is a very solid possibility for this show. We are going to get a specific Kang storyline for the MCU that could last much longer than people think (further than Quantumania) so what better place to show possible Variants of Kang fighting it out.

    I am also using this section to push this point forward, this ENTIRE show could be showing what happened in the previous (or current) multiversal war. Maybe the zombies are a ploy of Kang's to get rid of the Avengers so they cannot stop him? Maybe Kang is back in WW2 and using Hydra and the Nazis to build an empire and that is who Captain Britain Peggy Carter is facing down? Maybe T'Challa Star Lord and the Ravagers have to fight Kang in space? 

    I am thrilled for the possibilities. But remember, just because you or I get a theory wrong does not mean it is okay to fuss online about the show "getting it wrong". Those people are the worst, do not be that person.

5. The X-Men will be introduced in this

    This is my craziest theory/possibility for this show, we know that the X-Men are coming at some point. I imagine the actual realistic point for their introduction will be in Phase 5 once this madness of the multiverse saga concludes this phase, but I can not help but wish. What if the X-Men had been a part of the MCU from the beginning would be an INCREDIBLE What If episode, but maybe they will save that for season 2-3.

    Picture this, the episode has a cold open that we just see some fighting happening but we can not make it out and them out walks in all his glory the bright yellow costumed Wolverine and we hear the SNIKT and it cuts to the opening credits that is now mixed with the X-Men Animated Show theme from the 90's. Try to tell me that would not be a chills moment.

    Thank you so much for reading! Please be sure to follow me on twitter @HaroldLStokes and share this everywhere on social media with your friends!