Why Marvel’s What If…? is ending after three seasons

“What if Marvel…?” has been part of the Disney+ Marvel Cinematic Universe umbrella since very close to the beginning. It was the fourth official Marvel Studios show to launch on the then-burgeoning streaming platform in 2021, following “WandaVision,” “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” and “Loki” season 1. The final season premieres on December 22, 2024, mimicking the Christmas premiere window of “What If…?” season 2 in 2023.

Throughout its run, “What If…?” has tried to strike a tricky balance between presenting true one-off stories from alternate universes and tying them into the MCU’s larger “Multiverse Saga.” There have been recurring characters and ongoing storylines, even as the episode-to-episode arcs remain relatively hypothetical and self-contained. In the end, it seems that the show’s connective tissue with the larger MCU plot may have been the reason for its end after three seasons, at least according to Marvel TV head Brad Winderbaum.

In a recent interview with The Hollywood ReporterWinderbaum explained part of the reason for the animated series’ cancellation. “‘And if…?’ has always been related to the MCU and the Multiverse saga,” Winderbaum explained. “And for reasons that will become clear in the years to come, this was the right time to cap off the series from a story perspective.” It’s also true that three seasons is a pretty decent length for anything animated in the modern streaming landscape – a longer run than any other Marvel Studios Disney+ show has received thus far.

According to Brad Winderbaum, there’s a compelling narrative reason why now is the right time to conclude “What If…” However, because of how confusing the MCU’s multiverse era has become, that reasoning isn’t immediately clear.

While a lot has happened in recent years regarding the various “branches” of the so-called “Sacred Timeline”, the multiverse itself is not going anywhere as a central narrative construct, or at least it doesn’t seem to be. Kang the Conqueror was sidelined due to the controversy surrounding actor Jonathan Majors, but Robert Downey Jr. will play Doctor Doom in the upcoming “Avengers: Doomsday.” It’s still hard to say where exactly the franchise is headed in general terms, but it would also make sense for Marvel Studios to start moving away from narratives. about the multiverse explicitly and start using it more as a justification for telling different types of stories.

That being said, there are surely other reasons at play for the show’s cancellation. Animation isn’t cheap, and Disney has made no secret of the fact that the many “Star Wars” and Marvel streaming series released in recent years have been incredibly expensive, often without paying for it. “And if…?” has been a fairly consistent hit with critics and fans, but it also hasn’t earned the praise of other recent Disney+ films like “X-Men ’97” or “Agatha All Along.”

While Marvel always keeps the overall history of the MCU in mind, there are many factors that go into the renewal or cancellation of any show. Yes “What if…?” If it had received a lot of attention or been a big moneymaker for Disney+, I’m sure the studio would have found a narrative reason to continue. But even a company as huge as Disney has limited resources, and Marvel’s animated wing specifically has started going in different directions lately.

The enormous success of “X-Men ’97” likely made some people at Marvel Studios reconsider future television projects. The show has no connection whatsoever to the MCU, and for fans who simply couldn’t keep up with all the streaming series that have come out in recent years, that was something of a selling point. In the same interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Winderbaum described another upcoming animated project, “Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man,” as “just a fun ride,” emphasizing its relatively independent status, which is similar to that of “X-Men.” “

“Eyes of Wakanda,” another upcoming animated series, will likely be more directly tied to the larger MCU, but its focus, which Winderbaum described as “a story about conquest and national identity,” makes it somewhat distinct thematically, al less in theory. By its very nature, “What if…?” is a less focused show, making it potentially less compatible with Marvel’s upcoming animated slate.

Once again, the third and final season of “What If…?” will premiere on December 22, 2024 on Disney+.