What If…? Season 3 Episode 1: Speculating on the Premiere’s Potentials

What If…? Season 3 Episode 1, if following the show’s established pattern, will likely present an alternate reality branching from a key moment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline, offering a fresh perspective on familiar characters and events. While its exact subject remains shrouded in mystery, logical speculation suggests it could involve a significant “fixed point” being altered, perhaps showcasing a vastly different outcome to a pivotal battle or a character making a fundamentally contrasting choice.

Unpacking the Hypothetical: What Could the Premiere Explore?

Predicting the narrative of a “What If…?” episode is inherently speculative, but we can leverage past trends, lingering MCU questions, and potential areas for impactful divergence to formulate credible possibilities. The strength of “What If…?” lies in its ability to subvert expectations, exploring the ripple effects of seemingly small changes.

The Significance of Divergence Points

The cornerstone of the show is identifying a crucial moment in the established MCU timeline and exploring its alternate consequences. These divergence points can range from the obvious (e.g., “What If Captain America was a Hydra agent?”) to the more subtle and nuanced (e.g., “What If Peggy Carter arrived a few minutes later at Project Rebirth?”). The greater the impact of the divergence, the more radically different the resulting reality becomes.

Lingering MCU Questions and Unexplored Potential

Several intriguing threads remain unexplored within the established MCU narrative that could serve as compelling fodder for a “What If…?” episode. For example:

• The Ten Rings’ Influence: What if the Ten Rings organization had successfully orchestrated a different outcome in “Iron Man” (2008), perhaps preventing Tony Stark from becoming Iron Man altogether?
• The Incursion Threat: Could an episode delve deeper into the origins and consequences of incursions, potentially showcasing a reality where the Illuminati’s actions to prevent them in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” were far more devastating or ineffective?
• The Legacy of Thanos: What if Thanos had achieved his goals in “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers: Endgame” in a significantly different manner, perhaps through a more subtle and insidious approach?

Potential Character-Focused Episodes

The show also excels at reimagining familiar characters by placing them in drastically altered circumstances. Some possibilities include:

• A World Without Doctor Strange: What if Stephen Strange never became a sorcerer, leaving the Ancient One and Kamar-Taj vulnerable to Dormammu’s influence?
• Captain Marvel: A Kree Ally? What if Carol Danvers had remained loyal to the Kree Empire, becoming a powerful weapon against the Skrulls and potentially Earth itself?
• Loki: The True Avenger? What if Loki, instead of betraying Thor, had embraced his heroic potential from the outset, becoming a dedicated protector of Asgard and Earth?

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About “What If…?” Season 3

H3: General Information

1. When is “What If…?” Season 3 expected to be released? While an official release date hasn’t been announced, based on previous seasons and production timelines, a late 2024 or early-to-mid 2025 release seems plausible. The show’s animation style is complex and time-consuming.

2. Where can I watch “What If…?” Season 3? “What If…?” streams exclusively on Disney+. A subscription is required to access the series.

3. How many episodes will be in “What If…?” Season 3? Similar to previous seasons, Season 3 is expected to consist of around nine episodes, each exploring a self-contained “What If…?” scenario.

4. Will the original MCU actors voice their animated counterparts? The show aims to feature voice performances from as many original MCU actors as possible, though scheduling conflicts and other factors can sometimes lead to recasting. The dedication to using the original cast is a significant aspect of the show’s appeal.

H3: Speculation & Theories

5. Are the “What If…?” stories considered canon to the MCU? While the “What If…?” realities exist within the broader Marvel Multiverse, they are generally considered to be separate from the main MCU timeline (Earth-616). However, some elements and characters from “What If…?” have crossed over into live-action projects, blurring the lines of canonicity. The introduction of the multiverse in “Loki” and “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” has further complicated this discussion.

6. Could a “What If…?” episode explore events from the X-Men or Fantastic Four universes before their official MCU introduction? This is highly unlikely. While Marvel Studios now owns the rights to these characters, they are more likely to introduce them organically within the main MCU timeline before exploring alternate versions.

7. Will the Watcher play a significant role in Season 3? The Watcher, voiced by Jeffrey Wright, has served as the narrator and observer of the “What If…?” realities. He’s likely to continue playing a central role, possibly intervening more directly as the multiverse expands and the stakes rise.

8. Is there a possibility of a “What If…?” episode adapting a specific Marvel comic book storyline? While the show draws inspiration from the comics, it typically crafts original narratives for its “What If…?” scenarios rather than directly adapting existing comic book stories. This allows for greater creative freedom and unexpected twists.

H3: Production & Content

9. What is the animation style of “What If…?” and why is it used? The show utilizes a distinctive cel-shaded animation style that blends 2D and 3D techniques. This allows for a visually dynamic and stylized presentation that differentiates it from live-action MCU projects and provides a unique artistic identity.

10. How is the “What If…?” team able to ensure accuracy and consistency with the established MCU lore? The “What If…?” production team works closely with Marvel Studios executives and writers to ensure that the alternate realities remain grounded in the established rules and mythology of the MCU, even while exploring deviations and unexpected outcomes.

11. Will Season 3 feature any returning characters from previous “What If…?” episodes? The possibility of characters like Captain Carter or the Guardians of the Multiverse reappearing in Season 3 is certainly plausible, especially given the interconnected nature of the multiverse. These returning characters provide continuity and deepen the overall narrative arc of the series.

12. How does the “What If…?” series impact the broader MCU storytelling landscape? “What If…?” serves as a valuable experimental ground for exploring different character dynamics, narrative possibilities, and thematic ideas within the MCU. It allows Marvel Studios to test the waters with certain concepts and gauge audience reactions before potentially incorporating them into the main MCU timeline. The show also strengthens the concept of the multiverse, making it a more integral part of the overarching narrative. Ultimately, “What If…?” enriches the MCU by expanding its scope and inviting viewers to imagine the limitless possibilities of alternate realities.