WHAT IF...? Director Reveals Which Characters Were Off-Limits And Suggests There Are Movie Plans For Them

WHAT IF...? Director Reveals Which Characters Were Off-Limits And Suggests There Are Movie Plans For Them

What If...? director Bryan Andrews has revealed the names of three characters who Marvel Studios wouldn't let his team use in the animated series. Is that because there are big screen plans for them?

By JoshWilding - Dec 24, 2024 10:12 AM EST
Filed Under: What If

What If...? season 3 will be the show's last season and, for many fans, the series never quite reached its full potential. For every episode that took full advantage of the premise - the introductions of Captain Carter and T'Challa Star-Lord, for example - there have been throwaway efforts adding little to the Multiverse Saga. 

This final batch of episodes looks to end on a high, though, as we'll get a Mjolnir-wielding Storm in what promises to be a moment showing just how good What If...? can be.

We're also hoping the groundwork will be laid for The Watcher to play a role in the next Avengers movies, Doomsday and Secret Wars.

There are likely many scrapped ideas that haven't made it into the Disney+ series, of course, and in an interview with Agents of Fandom, director Bryan Andrews revealed who Marvel Studios said they couldn't include in season 3. 

"Off-limits? You know, it's funny...I wanted to do something with Beta Ray Bill but that's like [Laughs]. I also wanted to do something with Ghost Rider," he revealed. "They were just like, 'Well...not so much.' Or get Iron Fist and Shang-Chi together and have a real super mega Kung Fu-centric episode."

"They're very careful about making sure we don't step on the toes of films that are about to come out. Throughout our tenure, our writers would often be coming up with stuff and the higher-ups would be like, 'Nope, that's happening in Guardians or such and such.' They were really close and sometimes spot-on to things happening in those movies," Andrews added. 

While by no means confirmed, this does suggest that there are live-action plans in place for Beta Ray Bill, Ghost Rider (who is rumoured to factor into Spider-Man 4), and Iron Fist. 

In a separate interview with Entertainment Weekly, Marvel Television boss Brad Winderbaum was asked how What If...? season 3 fits into the wider MCU. "I can't really answer that specifically, but I will say that it does fit into the saga as we enter the third act of the saga," he responded. "What If...? season 3 does set the table in a lot of ways."

As for why the series is ending now - the Multiverse Saga doesn't end until 2027 - he explained: 

"There are bigger universe reasons to culminate it now. If you're a fan of the overall MCU, you'll notice that the first season premiered after Loki season 1, when the Sacred Timeline blossomed into a multiverse and all of a sudden all these new stories emerged. That was when we started telling those stories in What If...? And at the end of season 2, when the Watcher takes Peggy to look out at the multiverse, it's taken the form of the tree of stories that Loki sits in the middle of at the end of Loki season 2. So the culmination of season 3 and of the series itself does fit in to the overall MCU tapestry in that way. That being said, there's infinite stories to tell with What If...?, and time will tell whether we make more. But for now it is, I think, a beautiful way to end this era and to culminate the story of the Watcher."

You can read our recaps of the first three episodes of What If...? season 3 by following the links below. 

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WHAT IF...? "The Red Guardian Stopped The Winter Soldier?" Spoiler Recap: Goliath, CIVIL WAR Undone, And More

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TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 12/24/2024, 10:39 AM
Interesting , definitely seems like they are plans for those characters in other projects ( isn’t an Iron Fist rumored for Eyes of Wakanda) which is cool though can be understandable frustrating & restricting for the creatives involved in this show.

I wonder ideas they have been close to or spot on with that were rejected while others like the Red Guardian & Winter Soldier one or Strange Supreme were allowed to happen considering they seem similar to what we will see in Thunderbolts and what we saw in MoM..

I’m guessing the situations or circumstances were different enough that they were allowed to continue.

Anyway , I have enjoyed the show overall though some episodes more then others like any anthology which this is for the most part..

However it is unfortunate it is ending so soon due to the Saga being at its end so I hope we do get more in the future even if it seems like the multiverse won’t exist post SW.
Spike101
Spike101 - 12/24/2024, 10:46 AM
What if Marvel returned to making quality movies like Ironman, all the first three Captain America ones and Infinity War?
TrentCrimm
TrentCrimm - 12/24/2024, 11:41 AM
@Spike101 -

It'll never happen unless they scale back their slates.

After Endgame they TRIPLED the number of productions, we've had more MCU entries just since Endgame than we had leading up to Endgame starting with Iron Man.

There is absolutely no way you can triple your productions while maintaining the same quality and keeping things cohesive.
Lokiwasright
Lokiwasright - 12/24/2024, 10:54 AM
Who cares?

Saving characters in 2024 is whack.
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 12/24/2024, 11:09 AM
Think a cause of this is just doing whatever with the show. Think it takes the What If premise in the widest sense possible, while it could've just done What Ifs spins on the movies. Still bummed there's no What If Project Insight Succeeded.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 12/24/2024, 11:12 AM
@bkmeijer1 - I feel like What If spins on just the movies could be restricting aswell while these are as you said , the writers just coming up with an idea and trying to take it to its wildest possible conclusion for the most part.

The Project Insight one is a good idea but I am interested to see the Emergence one.
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 12/24/2024, 11:16 AM
@TheVisionary25 - and with the writers doing whatever, it sometimes feels they tacked on the What If because it otherwise wouldn't fit in with the show.

But yeah, the Emergence one is interesting as it spins off of a movie event. Wonder how Mysterio ties into it though.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 12/24/2024, 11:18 AM
@bkmeijer1 - that’s fair

I think they are two ways of doing a What If and they are trying to do both which can be an issue

Guess it’s about preference
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 12/24/2024, 11:45 AM
@TheVisionary25 - I don't mind the more out there stories. Hela and the ten rings was cool, but others really stretch the premise or could've done it better
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 12/24/2024, 11:47 AM
@bkmeijer1 - fair enough
JDL
JDL - 12/24/2024, 11:40 AM
"What if Marvel returned to making quality movies like Ironman, all the first three Captain America ones and Infinity War?" Then you would find something new to bitch and whine about. Nothing much would change.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 12/24/2024, 11:47 AM
@JDL - Ii find it funny how he mentioned those when people would still wine about most of them

The rose tinted glasses are crazy.
MisterBones
MisterBones - 12/24/2024, 11:41 AM
That’s so dumb. Off limits for a WHAT IF STORY. It’s what if. Nothing should be off limits
MyCoolYoung
MyCoolYoung - 12/24/2024, 11:51 AM
@MisterBones - agreed
MyCoolYoung
MyCoolYoung - 12/24/2024, 11:52 AM
This is why they haven't taken the what if stories to the potential they could be. Every character should be available and any story
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 12/24/2024, 12:27 PM
@MyCoolYoung - I guess this is why some new characters have been created too but yeah

It’s weird they could use Storm then but it seems to be the same one in X Men 97 which we have already seen I guess that’s why we’re able to.
MyCoolYoung
MyCoolYoung - 12/24/2024, 2:31 PM
@TheVisionary25 - I just feel like there are so many different versions of each character and so many stories. Are people really only able to think of one?

But also, isn't nova debuting in what if? Or am I tweaking?
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 12/24/2024, 2:45 PM
@MyCoolYoung - I didn’t hear anything about Nova being in this , I don’t think so

I get yah but I guess they don’t want them to use characters that haven’t made their MCU or multiverse debut as of yet
MyCoolYoung
MyCoolYoung - 12/24/2024, 5:10 PM
@TheVisionary25 - just a gross misuse of the concept. Makes the world feel small, in my opinion.

If anything didn't have to tie into the MCU at large, it's this
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 12/24/2024, 5:54 PM
@MyCoolYoung - I can agree with that

Them having this take be spinning out of the MCU and the events of Loki S1 felt like it could be full of possibilities but in hindsight maybe has been more restrictive then anything

Hopefully if they do revisit What If in the future like Winderbaum has said is possible , they keep that in mind and let the shackles off
MyCoolYoung
MyCoolYoung - 12/24/2024, 8:34 PM
@TheVisionary25 - That’s really all I want. Don’t get me wrong, there have been some good episodes (I haven’t seen today’s yet), but I don’t think they’ve taken enough big swings.

I love the MCU. I love the concept of a cinematic universe, but a cinematic universe is inherently restrictive. A What If...? series, where possibilities are said to be endless, shouldn’t feel like it has limits
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 12/24/2024, 8:43 PM
@MyCoolYoung - fair enough

It’s interesting , I hear stuff like some saying the Mech Avengers for example is a crazy big swing but for some it’s not

It’s just intriguing to see how people’s tastes & preferences can be
MyCoolYoung
MyCoolYoung - 12/24/2024, 9:26 PM
@TheVisionary25 - really? How did you feel about that one?
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 12/24/2024, 9:31 PM
@MyCoolYoung - I thought it was decent

I’m not a big Voltron or me h guy so that didn’t do much for me but I liked the friendship they established between Sam and Bruce.
mountainman
mountainman - 12/24/2024, 11:53 AM
I’d be down for a Thor 5 with a new director and Beta Rey Bill featured in it.
Clintthahamster
Clintthahamster - 12/24/2024, 12:13 PM
"Ghost Rider (who is rumoured to factor into Spider-Man 4)"

I guess the only way to avoid leaks and rumors is to simply not visit this website, huh? Skipping over articles with "LEAKED" or "RUMOR" isn't cutting it. Ah well, any suggestions for leak/rumors/spoiler free fan forums would be welcome.
Vigor
Vigor - 12/24/2024, 12:32 PM
@Clintthahamster - there's reddit. They have a spoiler free marvel subreddit
Clintthahamster
Clintthahamster - 12/24/2024, 1:26 PM
@Vigor - Yeah, that's what I figured. I just hate Reddit. Maybe it's time for me to join the faceless, unwashed masses of the General Audience.
BritishMonkey
BritishMonkey - 12/24/2024, 12:25 PM
What if they followed along the lines of the first episode, took a film, and went another direction with it with a specific moment?
What if they didn't come up with batshit ideas that didn't make sense from anything in the MCU?
What if they didn't half ass shit in the show and stuff episodes with bad jokes because they don't have anything of substance to support an otherwise interesting idea?
YonnyLayna
YonnyLayna - 12/24/2024, 2:08 PM
They were integrating Iron Fist's lore into Shang Chi's origin, with the celestial City stuff frontal Matt Fracttion's maybe getting Shang Chi getting into the Heavealy Citties tournament or having him meeting the other past Iron Fist's trought time travel.
Corruptor
Corruptor - 12/24/2024, 2:21 PM
SIMU VS. FINN, to decide who is BEST EVER SUPER-HERO to beat off the Hulk.
NinnesMBC
NinnesMBC - 12/24/2024, 3:33 PM
Anyone could now easily deduct they are saving Beta Ray Bill for the next Thor film. And the ones that are into the rumors that the reason why they didn't allow them to do anything with Ghost Rider is because he might just have a role, even if it's small, in Spider-Man 4.
SonOfAGif
SonOfAGif - 12/24/2024, 7:57 PM
So Episode 3 of What If Season 3 kind of made a major world building event much more darker. So despite it being self contained in different universes. They still take elements from the sacred timeline and spin them off. So Obadiah Stane gave Dreykov the information about Howard Stark's whereabouts and the Super Soldier serum for the sake of taking over the company. Such a small piece but very impactful.
Comicmoviejunki
Comicmoviejunki - 12/24/2024, 10:17 PM
GOOD GOD THIS SHOW IS HORRIBLE CRINGE!! THIS AND CREATURE COMMANDOS IS SHIT!! MAKE IT STOP!!

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