What If…? could have been much bigger! Series director Bryan Andrews reveals they couldn’t reveal some characters due to other MCU projects.
With What If…? officially coming to an end, fans can’t help but feel a bit saddened by how the show ended up. The series was pitched as a way to explore the endless possibilities of the multiverse. While fans certainly got to see some fun alternate scenarios set within the MCU, the project felt relatively confined when it came to what characters they could and couldn’t use in episodes.
Though it seems that sterility wasn’t for a lack of trying. Bryan Andrews, who served as a director on What If…?, recently spoke on some of the things that Marvel wouldn’t let them do in their three season run. This includes introducing a number of key characters fans have been begging to appear in the MCU, such as Beta Ray Bill, Iron Fist, and even Ghost Rider!
“Off-limits?” Andrews began when speaking to Agents of Fandom. “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. 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.”
Why The MCU Blocked Heroes From What If…?
Any comic fan familiar with TV usage rights should be getting a cold sweat from hearing a studio blocked a series from using a particular character. While Bryan Andrews didn’t reveal why these specific characters were blocked from appearing in What If…?, he did say that they broadly weren’t allowed to step on any plans for the MCU, even if they got close at times.
“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.”
Characters like Ghost Rider and Iron Fist have long-been rumored to be gearing up for their debut in the MCU. It makes sense that Marvel wouldn’t want to spoil the occasion by having them appear in What If…? only a few years before then. So even though it may be disappointing to hear that these fan-favorite characters were blocked from their roles, it at least means good things may be coming sooner rather than later.
What If…? season 3 is now streaming on Disney Plus. Stay tuned for the latest news regarding the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content!
