As a die-hard Marvel fan and someone who has spent countless hours poring over comics, I can’t help but feel like Christmas came early with the latest round of interviews from Kevin Feige. The man knows how to keep us on our toes!
Marvel Studios’ head of streaming Brad Winderbaum has a lot to be proud of this year.
Building on the positive reception of ‘X-Men ’97’ and ‘Agatha All Along’, as well as Disney+’s profitable Q3, Winderbaum aims to continue this success into 2025. However, before moving forward, he is saying goodbye to one of the studio’s cornerstone series, ‘What If…?‘ – an animated anthology with numerous intriguing what-if stories. The decision to end the A.C. Bradley-created show stems less from a lack of potential stories and more from the requirements of the broader Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Winderbaum shares with The Hollywood Reporter that ‘What If…?’ has consistently linked to the broader MCU and the Multiverse Saga. He explains that, as we’ll soon understand, this was the ideal moment from a narrative standpoint to conclude the series.
One significant insight Winderbaum has gained since Marvel Studios began airing series on Disney+ in 2021 is that it’s not essential for them to craft content that appeals to all audiences alike.
According to Winderbaum, the key task for our studio is to create stories that deeply connect with people. He doesn’t believe every production needs to aim for the grandeur of a movie like ‘Endgame’, appealing to everyone across all demographics. If we can touch even one viewer emotionally, then we have fulfilled our mission.
2025 will see Marvel Television kick off the year with an eagerly awaited series: the comeback of Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock/Daredevil in “Daredevil: Born Again”. Earlier this year, Winderbaum clarified that all Netflix’s previous Marvel shows now fall under the MCU canon. Additionally, Winderbaum offers some insight into what fans can anticipate from their upcoming slate of animated series.
“Winderbaum describes Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man as an enjoyable journey. It’s a cartoon that explores Peter Parker’s life in high school, his friendships, and his dual role as a student and a vigilante in New York City, all while juggling everyday challenges and maintaining friendships.
Below, during a recent conversation with THR, Winderbaum also addresses the future of non-Daredevil Netflix characters, such as Jessica Henwick’s Colleen Wing, as well as what’s next for Iman Vellani’s fan-favorite character, Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel.
From my observation of the two episodes I’ve watched, it appears that the series continues to be creatively compelling. Therefore, I’m curious as to why they chose now as the right moment to conclude it?
Essentially, just as the first season of Loki unfolded following the Sacred Timeline splitting into numerous alternate realities at its conclusion, What If…? has consistently aligned with the larger MCU and the Multiverse Saga. For narrative reasons that will soon become apparent, this was an opportune moment to conclude the series.
In one of the episodes, Bucky, played by Sebastian Stan, and Alexei, portrayed by David Harbour, embark on an exciting journey together. Could this adventure be a prelude to their relationship in next year’s Thunderbolts team?
The design wasn’t originally planned that way. Instead, we were brainstorming ideas, as is our usual practice in the writers’ room for What If…?. Bucky, portrayed by Sebastian Stan, is one of the most memorable characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and I have a great appreciation for David Harbour who plays Red Guardian so brilliantly. He’s incredibly charismatic and his performance really stands out. So, when we thought about bringing these two characters together, it felt like a logical choice. They both share Russian roots, and the premise of the story — “What if you prevent the death of Tony and Maria Stark?” — was an entertaining concept to explore.
Originally, “What If… the Red Guardian Stopped the Winter Soldier?” was planned as an episode for season two. That’s why I mistakenly assumed it was delayed to serve as a sneak peek or promotion for Thunderbolts.
Interestingly enough, the timing works out quite fortuitously. The animated episodes featuring Anthony Mackie’s Captain America (before “Captain America: Brave New World”) in the Mech Avengers series coincide with the release of Thunderbolts, which is quite convenient. We’ve longed to bring this on-screen, and due to the difference in production times between animation and movies, an additional year needs to be factored in for animation. So, it turns out that these What If…? episodes are perfectly aligned with these two films scheduled for 2025.
Previously, during our conversation about X-Men ’97, you agreed that the streaming landscape was a factor in Marvel Studios’ cautious approach. However, since then, you’ve achieved remarkable success with X-Men ’97, Agatha All Along, and a successful third quarter for Disney+. Given these accomplishments, do you now feel like you have a fresh boost of momentum?
What truly matters for our studio is crafting narratives that strike a chord with our audience. It’s not essential that every production strives to be as grandiose as a Endgame-like phenomenon, catering to all four quadrants and evoking massive emotional responses from everyone. Instead, it’s crucial that we touch the hearts of any viewer, enabling us to create stories that resonate with any segment of our fanbase. By doing so, we can recreate the joy they felt in the theater watching Endgame. If we manage to move just one person, if even a single fan feels connected, then we’ve achieved our goal. This will allow these shows to find their audience and spark word-of-mouth recommendations, so that more people can enjoy them.
We also explored the plan for incorporating previous Netflix series into Disney+’s Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline, specifically how Daredevil: Born Again has been revamped to fit seamlessly with these narratives. However, have all the former Netflix characters been given a chance now? Could someone like Colleen Wing (played by Jessica Henwick) potentially return if the right conditions were met?
In this interconnected universe, characters can unexpectedly appear in different stories. It’s thrilling to incorporate these tales into our established narrative, making them officially part of our canon. Whether they were always a part of it or not, their inclusion now is official, and we have the freedom to explore these characters further in our storytelling universe. There are some intriguing twists ahead that I can’t reveal yet, but fans of the Netflix shows should be excited for an upcoming series titled “Daredevil: Born Again“.
As we’re almost at the doorstep of 2025, could you please share a concise and compelling summary about next year’s lineup on Disney+?
As a youngster, I’d frequently step into a comic book store, where Marvel comics were my passion. I had amassed quite a collection of these superhero tales. The selection was vast, ranging from the thrilling mythology of Thor to the dramatic soap operas like X-Men, offering social insights. Then there were the action-packed adventures in The Avengers and Iron Man. Marvel has always been more than just one thing; it’s a diverse universe with numerous narratives spanning various genres, striking a chord with different fan groups. We aim to mirror this diversity in our television series and content as a whole.
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man is just a fun ride. It’s a cartoon about Peter Parker in high school and his friends and the high stakes world of vigilantism in New York, while you’re trying to make ends meet and keep your friend group together. Daredevil: Born Again is a very, very grounded street-level violent story with a lot to say about the world we live in. Eyes of Wakanda is a story about conquest and national identity, in a way, through this four-part adventure. Marvel Zombies is this sprawling adventure story that uses the whole world as its backdrop. Every one of these shows has a different tone and a different type of story in a different genre. And just like the comics, it speaks to the breadth of the Marvel brand.
I see the Ms. Marvel emblem behind you currently, which brings to mind your successful casting of Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan. Can you share some insights into what lies ahead for her character?
I’m deeply fond of Iman, she’s simply amazing. That character holds a special place in my heart. To put it mildly, she plays a significant role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for me. The Ms. Marvel series is particularly significant to us, and while I won’t delve into specifics to avoid spoilers, she’s been on my mind quite a bit lately. So, it’s going to be thrilling to see where we encounter her next.
***
What If…? season three premieres Dec. 22 on Disney+.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-12-18 03:25