What If...? Season 2 Release Date, Cast, Plot, Trailer And More Details
Marvel Studios has spent the last few years exploring the strangest and most intriguing corners of its vast multiverse. This approach is especially pronounced in its Disney+ streaming shows. The most colorful of them all is "What If...?," an anthology series that takes its name and inspiration from the long-running Marvel Comics series. Each episode peers into a Marvel universe where things are just a little bit different.
How different are we talking about, here? Really different. Season 1 glimpses worlds in which Peggy Carter takes the super-soldier serum, Doctor Strange becomes deranged with grief, and T'Challa becomes Star-Lord. It's a ton of fun to see these alternate takes on heroes who have permeated the zeitgeist — and it appears the MCU isn't done with these stories just yet. "What If...?" Season 2 is speeding towards us, and we have all the details you need to know to tackle this new slate of episodes.
When will What If...? Season 2 be released?
Rejoice, Marvel fans: You don't have long to wait before "What If...?" Season 2 graces your screen. This second slate of episodes will debut on December 22, 2023. Specifically, Episode 1 will drop on that day. Following this, one new episode will premiere every day for a total of nine consecutive days.
This is a pretty unique way to debut the new season; as any streaming-savvy viewer knows, most platforms either drop an entire season's worth of episodes on fans all at once, debut a new installment once per week, or split the season into two halves (an increasingly popular option). "What If...?" Season 2 will be blazing a genuinely new trail. It makes sense, though, if you think about it. Season 2 will hit at the heart of the holiday season, which will make this day-by-day schedule feel a little like an advent calendar. Every day, there will be a new present from Marvel to unwrap, full of multiversal shenanigans and eye-catching action. Happy holidays indeed.
What is the plot of What If...? Season 2?
As an anthology series, each episode of "What If...?" takes place in a different universe. Said difference could spring from a small change or a massive one, with galaxy-ending consequences. Interestingly, the show breaks out of its anthology format towards the end of Season 1. To stop an Infinity Gauntlet-wielding Ultron, the Watcher breaks his policy of nonintervention and brings together Season 1's featured heroes.
This surprising moment seems to have changed the Watcher in a major way; in the Season 2 trailer, he remarks, "I don't do sequels ... normally. But things have gotten a little twisted in the multiverse." This is far from an understatement: Season 2 will see Captain Carter face her Winter Soldier equivalent in the Hydra Stomper (who is, naturally, Steve Rogers), wild races across the dusty plains of Sakaar, and Hela land in the mystical realm of Ta-Lo from "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings."
As director Bryan Andrews told Deadline, "We take it up a notch in season two ... There's lots of really cool stuff and I can't wait for people to see it." Fans should brace themselves to hit the ground running: The first two episodes, "What If ... Nebula Joined the Nova Corps?" and "What If...Happy Hogan Saved Christmas?" are said to be especially electric. The former takes place in a world in which Ronan dispatched Thanos, leaving Nebula to join the Nova Corps as some sort of interstellar detective. The latter gives Happy the "Die Hard" treatment, pitting him against Justin Hammer.
What If...? Season 2 brings a new hero to the Marvel universe
Technically, every episode of "What If...?" introduces new heroes to the MCU since it pulls in characters from throughout the multiverse. But Season 2 is going further by adding a character we've never seen before. Kahhori is a Mohawk woman living in the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, before the European colonization of the Americas. Her life changes forever when she comes into contact with the Tesseract, which transforms a lake near her home and gives her cosmic superpowers. "Kahhori, pronounced 'KAH-HORTI,' is a real, Wolf Clan name, meaning 'she stirs the forest' or is someone who motivates those around her," writer Ryan Little said in an interview with Marvel.com. She'll need to use her natural leadership abilities to pull together a team of heroes in her first adventure, according to Little.
Kahhori isn't just new to the MCU. She's entirely new to Marvel, never even appearing in the comics before. She was created for "What If...?" by Little with the help of Mohawk historian Doug George and language expert Cecelia King. According to Marvel, multiple members of the "What If...?" production team collaborated with members of the Mohawk Nation to ensure that Kahhori and her people were accurately depicted in the series. For now, Kahhori is just part of the "What If...?" story, but in the future, we might see her popping up in other MCU projects, or even issues of Marvel comics.
Who is starring in What If...? Season 2?
One of the most impressive aspects of "What If...?" Season 1 is the fair number of MCU movie stars it features. This includes Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, and many others. Plenty of new voices get in on the fun as well. Most notably, Jeffrey Wright, best known for his work in "The Batman" and "Westworld," portrays the Watcher, who oversees the multiverse and guides the audience through each new excursion.
Who's set to return for Season 2? Wright, for sure — he's confirmed to be continuing on as the Watcher. We also know that Cate Blanchett will reprise her role as Hela, Laurence Fishburne will portray Bill Foster in his Giant-Man guise, Hayley Atwell will once again be Captain Carter, Jude Law will return as Yon-Rogg, Kurt Russell will portray Ego, Michael Douglas will be Hank Pym, and Sam Rockwell will reprise the role of Justin Hammer. Beyond that, many marquee roles will be played by eminent voice actors. Two names are especially notable: Lake Bell will play Black Widow, while Josh Keaton will play Steve Rogers.
Who is directing and writing What If...? Season 2?
Bryan Andrews will serve as director on Season 2 of "What If...?" while A.C. Bradley will act as head writer. As eagle-eyed fans might already realize, Season 2 won't be new ground for either talent; they also served in these roles on Season 1. Andrews has an extensive filmography under his belt; it reads like a list of the best animated projects of the past 20 years. He worked as a writer on "Primal," "Samurai Jack," and "Star Wars: Clone Wars," in the art department on "Hotel Transylvania" and "Toy Story 2," and as a director on "Jackie Chan Adventures." Notably, his experience within the MCU is extensive, encompassing roles on "Avengers: Endgame," "Doctor Strange," "Captain Marvel," and a number of other projects.
Bradley's list of credits is a bit shorter, but no less impressive. In addition to acting as head writer on "What If...?" Season 1, she served as a writer on the delightful "Ms. Marvel" series. Bradley also worked on "Arrow" and "Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia."
Is there a trailer for What If...? Season 2?
The trailer for "What If...?" Season 2 is positively electric. The Watcher's solemn voice guides us back into this kaleidoscopic world, which appears to be more complex than ever. Some faces are familiar, from Ant-Man to the Hulk (though it should be noted he's sporting some seriously surprising facial hair). Others appear in totally new guises. Consider Hela, whose horn-laden helmet strikes a sinister silhouette in this trailer. She lands in Shang-Chi's realm of Ta-Lo, where she seems to fit in well — to the point that we eventually glimpse her fighting Odin alongside someone wielding the Ten Rings. Similarly portentous shots of the Scarlet Witch, Gamora, and Ant-Man indicate this season will be packed with thrills.
It's not all action and drama, though. One particularly funny moment sees the Grandmaster wink at his own gigantic golden statue. Perhaps the most smile-making moment in the trailer belongs to Happy Hogan, however, who pops up at the very end in an air vent. Avengers Tower is in danger, apparently, and on Christmas Day at that. He's the only one who can save it — with a little assistance from Darcy, of course.
Who is on the What If...? Season 2 soundtrack?
The MCU has a ton of great music. Movies like "Guardians of the Galaxy" and "Black Panther" come to mind immediately, but where would the Avengers be without their epic theme? Creating the soundtrack for "What If...?" is a tall order, because the series needs to draw on the best of the MCU's past while also incorporating new twists and turns that properly sell all these alternate universes. Luckily, the film's score is in good hands.
Laura Karpman worked on the score for "What If...?" Season 1, and now she's back in charge of the music for Season 2. Karpman's in a great position to handle the score not just because of her past experience with "What If...?" but also because she's worked on other MCU projects like "Ms. Marvel" and "The Marvels." She's already a part of the multiverse, so bringing it all together for Marvel's zaniest show is no problem.
In an interview with Collider, Karpman talked about how big musical decisions need to be made in every episode. "Every single time you sit down with the creative executives on the show and the director Brian Andrews, you have to think about, 'What is it we want to accomplish in this particular episode musically?'" she said. Karpman follows one rule, and that's learning any past MCU themes she wants to use by ear. "I think if it filters through my brain somehow, then it'll feel like the show," she told Collider.
What to watch before seeing What If...? Season 2
By now, we've all gotten used to the fact that every MCU project is tied into a larger storyline. It's part of what fans love most about the franchise, but it can also make it hard to jump in if you're new or if you missed the last couple of releases. In some ways, "What If...?" manages to be a perfect jumping-on point because many of its episodes tell one-off stories in alternate universes. That said, the end of "What If...?" Season 1 took a turn for the canonical, so if you're going to watch Season 2, you at least need to see what happened last time.
While you could definitely get away with only watching "What If...?" Season 1 to catch up, there is an argument to be made for diving deeper into the MCU canon. Part of the fun of this series is seeing how the alternate realities play on everything we've seen before. If you aren't up to date on the MCU, you'll still be able to follow all the stories in this new season, but you might miss some of the jokes and the finer details. Catching up on 20-odd flicks is a big ask, but if you focus on movies like "Captain America," "Guardians of the Galaxy," "Black Panther," and "Doctor Strange," you'll have a good basis for the "What If...?" saga. Season 2 will also be pulling specific storylines from "Thor: Ragnarok" and "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings." All of those are available on Disney+ already, so catching up isn't too hard.
Who won't be in What If...? Season 2?
The nine episodes of "What If...?" Season 1 carry us to a dazzling array of alternate realities. We see different versions of some of our favorite characters — but we definitely don't see everyone. The show faces some restrictions just because of its length, but there are also certain rules in place for "What If...?" which necessitate notable absences. This will continue to be the case with Season 2.
Speaking with Collider, executive producer Brad Winderbaum said that "What If...?" is only allowed to play around with alternate versions of characters who've already appeared in the MCU. In Season 2, the show gets to introduce an entirely original character, but it isn't going to jump ahead of the rest of the MCU to give us episodes featuring the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, or Deadpool. We'll have to wait until those characters get their big MCU debuts in the movies before they show up in this particular anthology series.
Will What If...? Season 2 tie into other Marvel shows?
For the most part, the MCU's TV shows and movies exist in the same universe. Many of the TV shows center around characters from the movies like Loki and Sam Wilson, while more recent projects like "Ms. Marvel" introduce characters who proceed to jump to the big screen. "What If...?" works a bit differently. Even though it wholeheartedly dives into multiverse shenanigans, it hasn't really interacted with any other MCU projects.
That trend is probably going to continue in "What If...?" Season 2. You shouldn't expect it to have much crossover with the other Disney+ MCU shows — but that's mostly because of the logistics of making the series in the first place. In an interview with SlashFilm, "What If...?" director Bryan Andrews explained why the series would mostly stay away from the other TV shows. "The thing is we were doing even our season two stuff while they were still making those," Andrews said. "So they were kind of off market for us at the time." He added that he definitely wants to explore the other TV characters in the future, which means that the next season of "What If...?" will probably contain a ton of new faces.
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What comes after What If...? Season 2?
We've all heard about superhero fatigue, but it's barely slowing down the MCU. Back when Marvel announced that "What If...?" was getting a second season at San Diego Comic-Con in 2022, it also revealed that the show had already been renewed for a third season. The multiverse is only getting bigger as time goes on, and "What If...?" is going to keep growing alongside it. There's no telling yet if the series will continue leaning more into telling an ongoing story or if it will shift back to focusing on one-off episodes, but there's plenty of room for the series to explore and try new things.
It's also incredibly likely that "What If...?" Season 3 will feel a bit different than the first two seasons. A.C. Bradley, the head writer for the first two seasons of "What If...?" and a contributor to the first season of "Ms. Marvel," has announced that she's leaving Marvel Studios and won't be the one running the show for "What If...?" Season 3. We don't know yet who will be taking the reins, but one way or another, "What If...?" is going through some big changes as it moves forward.