“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 last 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 steadiness 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, plainly the present’s connective tissue to the grand MCU plot could have been the rationale for its finish after three seasons, a minimum of 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 at all times tied into the larger MCU and the Multiverse Saga,” Winderbaum defined. “And for causes that may turn into clear within the subsequent couple of years, this was the proper time to culminate the sequence from a narrative perspective.” It is also true that three seasons is a fairly first rate run for something animated within the trendy streaming panorama — an extended run than every other Marvel Studios Disney+ exhibits have but acquired.
What If…? could not be related to the MCU
In accordance with Brad Winderbaum, there is a compelling narrative purpose why now could be the proper time to wrap up “What If…?” Nonetheless, as a consequence of how muddled the MCU’s multiverse period has turn into, that reasoning is not instantly clear.
Whereas a lot has occurred lately concerning the assorted “branches” of the so-called “Sacred Timeline,” the multiverse itself is not going wherever as a core narrative assemble, or a minimum of it would not appear to be. Kang the Conqueror was pushed apart as a consequence of controversy surrounding actor Jonathan Majors, however Robert Downey Jr. will probably be enjoying Physician Doom within the upcoming “Avengers: Doomsday.” It is nonetheless onerous 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 completely different sorts of tales.
That mentioned, there are certainly 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 during the last 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 might be different the explanation why Marvel’s What If…? has been cancelled
Whereas Marvel is at all times holding 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 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 these days.
The huge success of “X-Males ’97” doubtless made some of us at Marvel Studios rethink future TV tasks. The present has no connection to the MCU in anyway, and for followers who merely could not sustain with all of the streaming sequence which have come out lately, that was sort 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 doubtless be extra instantly tied into the bigger MCU, however its angling, which Winderbaum described as “a narrative about conquest and nationwide identification,” makes it considerably distinct thematically, a minimum of in principle. By its very nature, “What If…?” is a much less targeted present, making it doubtlessly much less of a match with Marvel’s upcoming animated slate.
As soon as once more, the third and last season of Marvel’s “What If…?” will premiere December 22, 2024, on Disney+.