Marvel’s What If: cast, how many episodes are they, release dates – and when do new instalments drop on Disney+

In 2008, the Marvel Cinematic Universe began with Iron Man, starring Robert Downey Jr.

Since then, the rapidly expanding universe of carefully interlinked films and TV shows has been the gift that keeps on giving, and its ongoing “fourth phase” has already given fans WandaVision, The Falcon And The Winter Soldier, Loki and Black Widow.

Just when you think there are no more worlds to conquer, Marvel Studio makes its debut in the animated sector with an intriguing and spectacular new series, What If...?

Here is everything you need to know about it.

What is What If...?

Marvel Studios’ first animated series enters the multiverse and reimagines key events from the series with unexpected twists and turns.

It explores alternate timelines in the multiverse set up in the finale of the recent Loki live action television show on Disney+, and asks what would happen if major moments from the MCU films occurred differently.

For instance, the first episode of the series asks “What If... Captain Carter Were The First Avenger?” and explores an alternative narrative in which Peggy Carter – and not Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers – receives the Super Soldier Serum to turn her into a female Captain America of sorts.

The rest of the series features key MCU characters, including T’Challa, Doctor Strange, Killmonger and Thor, and action with a curious twist, reimagining events from the movies and creating a multiverse of infinite possibilities.

An enigmatic otherworldly entity called the Watcher (voiced by Jeffrey Wright) is a passive observer and narrator to new allegiances and fierce battles for survival directed by Bryan Andrews (Star Wars: Clone Wars, Samurai Jack).

Who stars in it?

With an ambitious reach that covers the legnth and breadth of the MCU, to give a detailed breakdown of each of the hundreds of animated characters and the actors who lend their voices to them would be a futile task.

Vocal performances from actors who have portrayed heroes in the flesh include Benedict Cumberbatch, Chadwick Boseman, Chris Hemsworth, Clark Gregg, Danai Gurira, Don Cheadle, Evangeline Lilly, Hayley Atwell, Jeremy Renner, Jon Favreau, Josh Brolin, Karen Gillan, Mark Ruffalo, Michael B Jordan, Michael Douglas, Michael Rooker, Natalie Portman, Paul Bettany, Paul Rudd, Samuel L Jackson, Sebastian Stan, Taika Waititi, Tilda Swinton, and Tom Hiddleston.

How many episodes are there?

There are 10 episodes of What If…?

They will be streaming exclusively on Disney+ from 11 August, with new episodes dropping weekly on Wednesday.

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