The death of Chadwick Boseman was a tragic event. Fans the world over mourned the loss of the actor. His death not only robbed us of all the great performances he could have produced in the decades to come, but it also required big changes to work that had already been planned... even more than we actually knew. That includes a Black Panther project that never came to be.

The most high-profile pivot required was in the production of the planned Black Panther sequel that had to go forward without Boseman, but it turns out we would have likely seen another Boseman/Marvel project had he lived. Bryan Andrews, the showrunner of the upcoming Marvel Zombies! animated series (which is spinning off from What If…?) confirmed we'll see the appearance of a voiceless T’Challa in the likeness of Boseman. He recently told ScreenRant that an entirely different spinoff from the series would have happened if the late actor were still with us. He explained…

What If…? saw different takes on the existing Marvel Cinematic Universe. One Season 1 episode saw the MCU invaded by a zombie virus, and that episode will lead into the upcoming Marvel Zombies! series, available with a Disney+ subscription. However, the second episode of the show was titled “What If…T’Challa became Star-Lord" and created a world in which the Wakandan was grabbed by the Ravagers instead of Peter Quill.

While not every MCU actor voiced their character in What If…?, Boseman did. His voice role as Black Panther on the series, in which he appeared in four episodes of the first season, is actually his final recorded performance. T’Chala appeared in the zombie episode as well, so including him in the spinoff made sense. Even if the character couldn’t be given a voice.

While recasting Chadwick Boseman has always been an option, Marvel has simply refused to do that. In live-action, the death of the actor meant the death of the character as well. It seems that even in animation, the decision was made that the MCU Black Panther is Chadwick Boseman, and that’s just the way it is. Even if he couldn’t be given a voice, that character will still be seen when possible. Andrews continued…

This potential What If…? series wasn’t even the only thing potentially cancelled as a result of Boseman’s death. A new Avengers attraction currently under construction at Disneyland Resort was, based on concept art, going to have Black Panther and Wakanda as a big part of its story. The attraction, called Avengers Infinity Defense, is now a multiverse storyline. While it’s never been stated that Boseman’s death led to the change, it’s not difficult to see the connection.

Chadwick Boseman was truly unique. Recasting him, even as a voice actor, is clearly something that Marvel doesn’t feel can truly be done. At least in animation, we can still see him again, and we will when Marvel Zombies arrives this week.

What makes anthology TV shows some of the best television out there is that no two episodes are the same. These types of series continuously deliver new stories that challenge the mind, scare you to death, or even warm your heart.

The question is, which of these diverse tales is the most essential, thought-provoking, and overall entertaining from each of TV's best anthology series? Well, the answer is truly up to you, but these are the picks that we came up with.

Black Mirror - "San Junipero"

Everyone has a different choice for the best Black Mirror episode, many of which posit a tragic take on technology's ever-increasing influence on society. However, topping the list for many fans of Charlie Brooker's Netflix exclusive hit is the Emmy-winning "San Junipero," which is an uplifting romance following two young women (played by Mackenzie Davis and Gugu Mbatha-Raw) in the 1980s... or so it seems.

Are You Afraid Of The Dark? - "The Tale Of The Dead Man's Float"

Nickelodeon's own original horror anthology TV show, Are You Afraid of the Dark? may have been conceived with a young audience in mind, but never held back from delivering genuine thrills. One of the scariest stories the Midnight Society ever told was "The Tale of the Dead Man's Float," which makes the ridiculous idea of a haunted pool effective with its ghostly antagonist.

Modern Love - "When The Doorman Is Your Main Man"

For people who cannot get enough of romantic-comedy movies, Amazon Prime's Modern Love gives you multiple stories about the ups and downs of contemporary romance. However, one of the most acclaimed episodes does not follow a romantic relationship, but a friendship between a New Yorker (played by Cristin Milioti) and her building's doorman (played by Laurentiu Possa), who offers her advice on everything from her dating life to her career.

Room 104 - "Mr. Mulvahill"

Mark and Jay Duplass' Room 104, which could technically count as one of the best horror TV shows on Max, presents a series of distinct standalone tales that each take place in the same motel room. Topping many fans and critics' list of its best episodes is the dark and wildly subversive story about a troubled man (played by Rainn Wilson) who invites his third grade music teacher, Mr. Mulvahill (Frank Birney), to meet, and grows desperate to get him to remember a life-changing encounter they once shared.

The Outer Limits - "Demon With A Glass Hand"

The arguably scarier and undeniably weirder counterpart to The Twilight Zone was The Outer Limits, which lasted a memorable two seasons in the early 1960s. The episode often credited as its crown jewel is "Demon with a Glass Hand," in which the fate of the human race rests on the shoulders of an amnesiac with a bizarre mechanical appendage.

Love, Death & Robots - "Bad Traveling"

Curiously, the one tale most often cited as the best Love, Death & Robots episode has nothing to do with two out of the three titular themes that define the Netflix original animated anthology series. Directed by David Fincher, "Bad Traveling" is a bleak, paranoia-driven story about a sailing crew torn apart (sometimes literally) by a vicious creature that makes itself at home on its ship.

Guillermo Del Toro's Cabinet Of Curiosities - "The Autopsy"

Widely considered the best episode of Cabinet of Curiosities is director David Prior's "The Autopsy," starring Oscar winner F. Murray Abraham as a coroner asked to examine the victims of a freak mining accident. The discovery that there is more than meets the eye with one of the bodies leads to one of the most shocking moments in the unsettling fantasy series from creator Guillermo del Toro.

Amazing Stories - "The Mission"

The aim of Amazing Stories was never to scare but to explore the fantastic possibilities of human imagination, and few episodes demonstrate that better than "The Mission." Series co-creator Steven Spielberg helms this story of a gunner (played by Casey Siemaszko) for a World War II-era B-17 crew (also including Kevin Costner and Kiefer Sutherland) who gets trapped in the turret ball underneath the plane after an accident, which also destroys the plane's landing gear.

Goosebumps - "The Haunted Mask, Parts 1 & 2"

R.L. Stine's Goosebumps is a series of creepy children's novels that was later made into an anthology series. The first book adapted for the show, resulting in one of its scariest episodes, was "The Haunted Mask," in which a bullied girl makes the horrifying discovery that her new Halloween costume is causing her to undergo a physical and behavioral transformation

The Twilight Zone - "Time Enough At Last"

The quintessential anthology series would have to be creator and narrator Rod Serling's highly imaginative and always undeniably chilling The Twilight Zone, which would go through several iterations over six decades. One of the most iconic episodes of the original late '50, early '60s run, "Time Enough at Last," stars Burgess Meredith as a bookworm who is finally given the chance to read as much as he wants after becoming the sole survivor of a cataclysmic event. However, the shocking twist sees his luck change on a dime.

Alfred Hitchcock Presents - "Breakdown"

The director of classic cinematic thrillers like Psycho and Vertigo would also bring his expertise in suspense to the small screen with Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Hitchcock directed 17 episodes of the anthology, including a masterclass in simple stories with spine-tingling executions called "Breakdown," which follows a film producer fighting for his life after a car accident leaves him paralyzed.

What If...? - "What If... Zombies?!"

The Marvel Cinematic Universe canon already diverges from the original comics' main timeline in many ways, but Marvel Studios' animated Disney+ series, What If...? explores additional variants of those characters existing in the Marvel Multiverse. One of the most exciting interdimensional tales, however, takes inspiration from the popular Marvel Zombies series, in which surviving vigilantes are forced to fight reanimated corpses of their colleagues following the outbreak of a horrifying virus.

Tales From The Crypt - "Yellow"

HBO's Tales from the Crypt, hosted by the decrepit and kooky Cryptkeeper, was so popular that it inspired a few feature-length spin-offs, including 1995's Demon Knight, which some believe is, technically, the best tale the series ever produced. However, one of its most acclaimed official episodes is "Yellow," which is a World War II-set story from director Robert Zemeckis about a general (played by Kirk Douglas) who attempts to help his son (played by Eric Douglas) avoid death by firing squad.

Documentary Now! - "Waiting For The Artist"

From creators Bill Hader, Fred Armisen, and Seth Meyers, Documentary Now! is a collection of short films inspired by (and poking fun of) some of the most renowned examples of non-fiction filmmaking. For instance, 2012's Marina Abramovic: The Artist Is Present was parodied in the show's most acclaimed installment, "Waiting for the Artist," which features a stirring, and quite hilarious, performance by Cate Blanchett as a renowned performance artist with over-the-top ambitions.

Creepshow - "Public Television Of The Dead"

Imagine if Ash Williams from the Evil Dead movies pursued a career in hosting a low-budget TV show about painting, a la Bob Ross. The result would have looked a lot like "Public Television of the Dead," which is easily the most fun episode of Creepshow, Shudder's series adaptation of the classic horror anthology movie from director George Romero and writer Stephen King.

Night Gallery - "They're Tearing Down Tim Riley's Bar"

Rod Serling's follow-up to The Twilight Zone was Night Gallery, which was also plenty high on otherworldly themes and creepy tones, but far shorter on episodes that concerned themselves with social commentary. That must be why Serling's favorite episode was one of its most poignant, "They're Tearing Down Tim Riley's Bar," in which a widowed business executive (played by William Windom) finds himself immersed in memories of his past after learning his favorite hangout spot is being demolished.

Lore - "Unboxed"

Before there was Chucky, or Annabelle, or other creepy characters from scary doll movies of the like, there was Robert – a stuffed, child-like toy resembling a sailor that is on display at East Martello Museum in Florida, according to the Key West Art and Historical Society. The infamous legend of its supernatural abilities served as the basis of "Unboxed," which is one of the highest-rated episodes of Amazon Prime's fact-based horror anthology series, Lore.

Monsterland - "Port Fourchon, Louisiana"

One of the best horror TV shows on Hulu is Monsterland, which is adapted from the short story collection North American Lake Monsters by Nathan Ballingrud. The first episode, "Port Fourchon, Louisiana," is anchored by a stellar performance by Kaitlyn Dever as a restaurant server and single mother struggling with poverty when she encounters a stranger with a peculiar talent.

Tales From The Darkside - "Seasons Of Belief"

Horror master George Romero created his own spooky anthology TV show called Tales from the Darkside, which ran from 1983 to 1988 and even inspired a cinematic spin-off in 1990. One of its most revered episodes, also considered one of the scariest Christmas episodes of any show, is "Seasons of Belief," which involves a couple who attempt to scare some Christmas spirit into their children by telling the terrifying story of "The Grither."

Monsters - "The Waiting Game"

The title of the late '80s horror anthology, Monsters, mainly referred to the suburban family of otherworldly creatures tuning in to see the next creepy story, but also teased what each episode had in store. For instance, one of the most acclaimed episodes is "The Waiting Game," in which survivors of a nuclear disaster discover that the dead are rising from their graves.

Dimension 404 - "Cinethrax"

Hulu tried its hand at a Black Mirror-style sci-fi anthology, but with a less earnest and more overtly supernatural edge, with Dimension 404, which is narrated by Mark Hamill. One episode that seamlessly blends its elements of horror and comedy is "Cinethrax," starring Patton Oswalt as a movie buff who takes his niece, played by Sarah Hyland, to see a new blockbuster in an experimental theatrical format that must be seen to be believed.

Two Sentence Horror Stories - "Tutorial"

Creator Vera Maio used the Reddit thread, "Two Sentence Horror Stories," in which users craft something spooky out of just a handful of words, as inspiration for a CW series of scary half-hour tales. One of the most engaging, "Tutorial," is shot in the style of a found footage movie and follows a young internet influencer (Aleyse Shannon) whose makeup tutorial video is interrupted by events that hint at an intruder. However, nothing is quite what it seems.

Star Wars: Visions - "The Ninth Jedi"

The ever-growing universe of the Star Wars saga was further expanded upon in multiple directions with the release of the animated series, Star Wars: Visions. One of its most revered tales is "The Ninth Jedi," which follows the daughter of a lightsaber maker who is pursued by dark forces.

Electric Dreams - "Autofac"

One of the most prolific writers in science fiction history is Philip K. Dick, whose work inspired Amazon Prime's Electric Dreams. Janelle Monae stars in an episode adapted from his 1955 novelette, "Autofac," which follows a rebellion taking form in a dystopian society in which humans are forced to give up their basic human rights for the freedom of consumerism.

Accused - "Val's Story"

Accused is a collection of stories told from the perspective of people on trial for a crime. One of its most powerful episodes, "Val's Story," stars How I Met Your Mother cast member Cobie Smulders as a divorced mom who becomes the top suspect in the investigation of her ex-husband's murder.

American Horror Stories - "Dollhouse"

While American Horror Story tells a different bizarre story every season, American Horror Stories takes things one episode at a time. It kicked off its second season with the fan favorite, "Dollhouse," starring Kristine Froseth as a doll factory employee hopeful who is kidnapped and made to be a part of a toy maker's collection of women dressed as dolls.

The Guest Book - "Story Eight"

TBS' The Guest Book does have an overarching story taking place at the same cottage, but each episode focuses on a different guest. One of the more memorable guests, coming from the first season's eighth episode, is a medical researcher (played by Jenna Fischer) who brings an Alzheimer's patient (played by Orson Bean) to the cottage, hoping to help regain his memories.

Oats Studios - "Rakka"

Neill Blomkamp made extraterrestrial visitors victims of oppression in his 2009 breakthrough feature, District 9, but flips the script for the first installment in his collection of shorts films, available on Netflix, named after his own Oats Studios. Featuring Sigourney Weaver in a major role, "Rakka" peers into the lives of the last remaining humans amid a brutal alien invasion.

Freddy's Nightmares - "It’s My Party And You’ll Die If I Want You To"

In 1988, the menacing villain from one of the classic horror movies, A Nightmare on Elm Street, was given his own show in which he haunted the dreams of various other characters. Often cited as the top episode of Freddy's Nightmares is "It’s My Party and You’ll Die If I Want You To," in which Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund) possesses a fake psychic and seeks revenge on an old prom date.

Creeped Out - "The Many Place"

Netflix's own answer to Are You Afraid of the Dark? and Goosebumps is a (somewhat) kid-friendly horror anthology TV show called Creeped Out, which boasts a genuinely creepy episode that deals with cross-dimensional travel and borrows from the "Backrooms" creepypasta. In "The Many Place," pushing every button on a hotel elevator sends three vacationing siblings to an endless labyrinth of hallways and rooms, but the only way home may be impossible to find.

Soulmates - "Watershed"

In 2020, AMC aired an anthology series called Soulmates, set in a near future where there exists a test that can match someone with the true person they are meant to be with, with 100% accuracy. One of the highest-rated stories involving how this test has affected people follows a woman (played by Sarah Snook) who secretly takes the test without the knowledge of her husband (played by Kingsley Ben-Adir).

Bloodride - "Lab Rats"

Most of the episodes of Netflix's Norwegian horror anthology, Bloodride, have a supernatual element. However, arguably its strongest story, "Lab Rats," is a grounded crime thriller in which a pharmaceutical company owner subjects his dinner guests to a night of humiliation and ruthless interrogation when he suspects one of them stole the prototype for a new product.

If you ask the average person who’s watched the Marvel movies in order, but isn’t familiar with the comics, chances are they don’t know who Howard the Duck is. That’s fair considering he only made minor appearances in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies and a blink-and-you-miss it cameo in Avengers: Endgame. However, the animated TV show What If… ? did showcase alternate versions of Howard in several episodes. But could the wisecracking, anthropomorphic bird brain get a solo project in the MCU?

Seth Green, who’s been voicing Howard the Duck since 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy, gave his thoughts on this while speaking to Comicbook. In his opinion, Howard is better administered in small doses and doesn’t need to be the focus of his own story. As he explained:

I would push back against that a little considering all the Marvel Comics titles Howard the Duck has led since he was introduced in 1973’s Adventure into Fear #19, created by writer Steve Gerber and artist Val Mayerik. But then I remember 1986’s Howard the Duck, which is frequently considered to be one of the worst movies ever made (though some good came out of it for star Lea Thompson). Nearly 40 years after its release, I wouldn’t blame Marvel Studios to be hesitant for wanting to place Howard front and center, even if Seth Green’s version of the character is more faithful to the source material.

Seth Green seems to be ok with that, though that’s not to say he doesn’t want to voice Howard anymore. Rather, he’s content with the character continuing to hang out on the sidelines. Green enjoyed how Howard was used in the Guardians movies and those What If… ? episodes, but he’s not sure what can be done to effectively boost him in a more prominent capacity.

Not only do I agree with him, I’d go a step further and say it may be a long time until we see Howard the Duck in the MCU again, if ever at all. What If… ? ended last December after three seasons, and now that James Gunn is running DC Studios, there’s no indication of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 4 will happen with a different filmmaker at the helm (although Vin Diesel did share that a Groot movie is apparently in the works). Unless Joe and Anthony Russo are keen on including Howard in the next two Avengers movies, I can’t of any other project where he could fit in seamlessly.

But I’m happy to be proven wrong, and if that day comes, we hear at CinemaBlend will let you know. Until then, stream all of Howard the Duck’s MCU appearances with a Disney+ subscription.

Major spoilers below for the final episode of Marvel’s What If…?, so be warned if you haven’t yet streamed it with a Disney+ subscription.

Of all the TV shows ending in 2024, or any year, nothing was quite comparable to Marvel’s multiverse-exploding anthology What If…?, which wrapped up its third and final season mere days before the 2025 TV schedule kicks off. The final episode surprisingly killed off a major character in Captain Carter, while also giving fans the (presumably non-canonical) elimination of the Council of Kangs. And it also sparked a ton of similar complaints from viewers who were left disappointed by both the final season and the series as a whole.

Some of the biggest What If…? complaints voiced on social media in the wake of the finale’s arrival are all tied to the second half of the ep, where we’re shown a wide assortment of awesome variant characters who, much to everyone’s disgust, weren’t actually utilized in the show itself. Let’s dig into some of what was shown, and then how fans reacted to it all.

Some Standout Variants That Were Teased in What If...?'s Finale

Much of the What If…? finale centers on Uatu attempting to convince the Eminence, the Incarnate and the Executioner that his universe-changing foibles were for the greater good, and the battle that ensues when his efforts are unsuccessful. The Watcher trio eventually comes together as one mega-force and threatens to erase every multiversal iteration of Peggy, Byrdie, Storm and Kahhori from existence, which kicks off the first round of surprise variants.

The rest of the previously unseen alt-heroes pop up just before the end credits, as Jeffrey Wright’s Uatu is sharing his closing thoughts. Combined, it makes for a wild lineup of combo characters that would have been extremely fun to explore in any capacity. Here’s a smattering of A+ options:

• Black Panther Storm
• Wolverine Peggy Carter and Sabretooth Peggy Carter
• Riri WIlliams' Punisher
• Weapon X Thanos
• Scarlet Witch Duck
• Samurai Ghost Rider
• Old West Loki
• Maestro's Dr. Strange

That's only around a fourth of the total characters that flashed across the screen during the What If...? finale, but that group alone would justify a Season 4 order, or an entirely different spinoff dedicated to just these particular variants. Seriously, Scarlet Witch Duck teaming up with Samurai Ghost Rider is a dream beyond dreams. But for all the positive feelings embedded in that kind of speculation, there also exists a ton of negativity.

How Fans Reacted To What If...?'s Final Episode

By and large, the comments directed at What If...?'s final season ranged from somewhat negative to extremely harsh, and anyone who searched up the series around the holidays likely ran into much confusion over a full episode devoted to Howard the Duck and Darcy having a species-mashing baby together. (We love seeing Kat Dennings return to the MCU, but what a weird arc.)

When it came to the finale itself, it seems like Marvel would have been better off scrapping all of the variant-related animation, since that's largely what the comments were focused on. We'll kick off with this post before diving into more detailed comments.

• The funniest thing about #WhatIf is that it ends with a montage of variants who look infinitely more interesting than the ones the show was about. - @therealsupes
• MAESTRO SUPREME?! That would have been so much cooler than saying "what if Peggy Carter was really important" for the thousandth time lol. Marvel needs to stop this kind of bullshit and focus more on those they showed at the end - @TonystarsR2011
• I'm crying literally all their ideas are "What if this character was this character instead" So glad this shitfest ass show is over - @celestialdevils
• WHAT IF we gave you a glimpse of these cool variants and never do anything with them - @MyTimeToShineH
• The ending of what if I shows how they fumble a show Basically the ending is: yeahs here what we COULD’VE done” 😭 BOI I GOT HEATED - @qCandywing
• You gotta give it to #WhatIfSeason3 for ending the series with a montage that was basically “What If… we did any of these more interesting variants instead of what we did for Season Three.” - @mktoon

It's rough out there for a What If...? creative team member, even if most of the naysayers were still inherently highly positive about all of the art and designs for the unused variants, even while taking shots at the show itself.

Of course, not everyone had such a foul time watching the animated anthology's last outing, though the balance seemed to be tipped in the more dour direction. But let's end this particular story with more positivity.

We know that What If...? wasn't able to use Hugh Jackman as Wolverine despite one director's desire to make that happen. But there's always the future, even if it doesn't involve Deadpool.

What If…? is now a done deal, at least in its current capacity. It’s unclear whether or not Marvel will opt to continue on with new animated adventures centering on The Exiles, or if we’ll get standalone specials akin to the One Shots of years past.

Major Spoilers lie ahead for the series finale of What If…? – “What If... What If?” – lie ahead, so read on at your own discretion.

For Marvel’s What If…?, the end is not near, it is here. The series wrapped up its three-season run this weekend amid the 2024 TV schedule, marking the end of a major part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Multiverse Saga. It was an eventful series finale, which featured game-changing developments. One of those was the death of a major character that fans have been watching over the past several years. While that was a doozy, I’m really curious about how Watcher’s some big decisions could impact the overall MCU.

Which MCU Character Met Their Demise During What If…?’s Series Finale?

This defining chapter of the show picked up shortly after the events of the penultimate episode, “What If… the Watcher Disappeared?” Said installment saw Captain Peggy Carter and her allies – Kahhori, Byrdie the Duck and Storm – teaming up with Infinity Ultron to rescue the Watcher at his observatory. The all-seeing being had been subdued by his superiors and scolded for interfering with events across the multiverse. Ultimately, Peggy tried to rescue him alone – as not to risk sacrificing her allies’ lives – but was captured.

Eventually, the remaining heroes, along with the Ultron variant, arrived at the observatory. The formerly evil android ultimately sacrificed himself to hold off the Watchers’ teachers – Eminence, Incarnate and Executioner. However, this isn’t the character death we’re focusing on.

The Watcher, Carter and their allies eventually took on the aforementioned trio of multiversal beings and nearly lost their lives. However, the Watcher managed to grant Peggy, Kahhori, Brydie and Storm with the powers of Watchers, making them all-powerful beings as well. In the end, their only way of defeating Executioner, Incarnate and Eminence was by transporting them to Strange Supreme’s recreated universe, where the spirit of the reincarnated doctor could remove the trio’s powers. Peggy managed to transport the group there but at the cost of her own life.

Yes, Captain Carter – at least the variant that fans have been tracking over the past three seasons of this animated series – is now gone. It’s a truly bittersweet development, but it honestly makes sense, given the character’s journey. Carter experienced significant loss during her life and couldn’t bear to lose more friends. In a way, her sacrifice brings her arc full circle, and it’s fitting that the show’s first major MCU variant received a hero’s death. Of course, there’s more to discuss when it comes to this finale.

The Watcher’s Choices Could Have Some Serious Ramifications

It goes without saying that Jeffrey Wright’s Watcher has changed a lot throughout the course of What If…? At the onset, he was staunchly against interfering with timeline events but, by Season 3, he occasionally helped events along where he saw fit. That brought him into conflict with his fellow multiverse observers but, after defeating them, he convinced Eminence and the others to change their approach to watching events. On top of that, Watcher reclaimed his original name – Uatu.

The notion of fellow Watchers following Uatu’s lead when it comes to looking over the multiverse is daunting. I mean, should they truly adopt his ways, there’s a chance that they may also feel empowered to interfere with events when deemed necessary. While that could cause great good, it could possibly do some unintentional harm as well. Uatu’s thinking is definitely good in theory but, with his allies possibly shifting the multiverse as well moving forward, there could be unintended consequences.

And then there's the fact that three former mortals are also Watchers now. I trust Kahhori, Storm and Byrdie as benevolent heroes, but the notion of them having such immense power now is daunting. These are some powerful beings within the multiverse and, as such, I really can’t help but wonder if we’ll see them in upcoming Marvel movies. I’ve long believed Watcher will appear in live-action, but I now have to consider the others as well. To me, they could certainly pop up in the forthcoming Avengers: Doomsday or Secret Wars.

Much of that is just speculation on my part, but I’d be quite surprised if this were to be the last time we see the Watcher in any shape or form within the MCU. After all, Marvel TV’s Brad Winderbaum attributed this show’s conclusion to “bigger universe” developments. While I didn’t get the Uatu/Loki meeting scene I was hoping for, I was mostly pleased with this finale. Yes, it did feature the death of Captain Carter, though it ultimately ended on an optimistic note, with Uatu feeling reinvigorated and hopeful about the future of the multiverse.

You can check out all three seasons of Marvel’s What If…? with a Disney+ subscription now.

It was just several days ago that What If… ? Season 3 premiered to those with a Disney+ subscription, but because a new episode is dropping daily, this Marvel TV show is almost over, as it’s ending for “bigger universe reasons.” However, at the time of this writing, one character who hasn’t appeared yet is Storm, reprised by X-Men: The Animated Series and X-Men ’97’s Alison Sealy-Smith. This version of Ororo Monroe wields Mjolnir, and while it’s cool we’ll get to see her put Thor’s hammer to good use before What If… ? concludes, one of the show’s directors wishes that another popular X-Men characters could have been included too.

Bryan Andrews, who directed four of What If… ? Season 3’s episodes, including today’s Shang-Chi and Kate Bishop’s Old West adventure and the series finale, told Agents of Fandom that he would have liked to thrown in Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine. Unfortunately, because of how long it took to develop the show, Andrews and his team didn’t realize at the time that would be an option, with him explaining:

Can you imagine? We already got Hugh Jackman’s Logan to bust out his adamantium claws again for Deadpool & Wolverine, the 34th of the Marvel movies in order, this year, but what if the badass mutant had also gotten to participate in another adventure set in the Marvel multiverse before 2024 wrapped up? Alas, for whatever reason, while the What If… ? team was able to work out an arrangement to use Storm in Season 3, the prospect of using Wolverine didn’t seem feasible at that time. It’s a shame, because it would have finally given Jackman to voice the character in an animated project after over 20 years of playing him on camera.

Fortunately, we weren’t lacking in animated Wolverine action this year, as Cal Dodd’s iteration of the superhero was present throughout X-Men ’97 Season 1. While the whereabouts of that Wolverine, as well as the show’s Storm and Morph, remain a secret as we wait for the arrival of Season 2, at least What If… ? will have its own Storm bring the thunder and lightning in more ways than one. As pointed out in the article, Storm’s inclusion in What If… ? is interesting because aside from original creations like Devery Jacobs’ Kahhori, the weather-manipulating mutant is the first instance of a Marvel character debuting in this series first without having already made a live-action appearance in the MCU.

What If… ? comes to an end this Sunday, December 29. Not to worry, as there are plenty of upcoming Marvel TV shows to look forward to on the 2025 TV schedule and beyond.

Part of the fun of watching all the Marvel movies in order is watching the way in which various characters weave in and out of the story. A minor character in one story becomes a key part of the plot in another. Many characters who aren’t the major heroes have become major parts of the MCU in this way and one of the most fun has been Darcy Lewis, one of the best Marvel minor characters, as played by the hilarious Kat Dennings.

Darcy has appeared in most of the Thor movies but has also been part of WandaVision and has voiced Darcy in animated form in What If…?. Speaking with Coillider, Kat Dennings says that she can’t explain why Marvel Studios keeps bringing Darcy back, but she says she loves being part of the MCU so much that she’ll always say yes whenever they ask. She explained…

While humor has always played an important role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Darcy was arguably one of the first characters in the franchise whose purpose was specifically to be comic relief. Darcy always had a sarcastic one-liner at the ready in the original Thor which made her quite different that the god-like title character.

It’s a testament to how much fun Kat Dennings’ character was that she has expended from what was only going to be a couple of scenes to more appearances than many bigger names in the MCU. While she only had a brief appearance in the most recent Thor movie, that came after she wasn’t sure she would be in Thor: Love and Thunder at all.

Darcy’s most significant appearance was in WandaVision, where she played one of the show’s main roles. It was the first Marvel series on Disney+ and is still one of the best. I’m not saying that’s entirely because of Darcy, but she certainly played her part.

And Darcy’s power in the MCU goes beyond simply appearing in shows. Kat Dennings says that the “coolest thing” to happen in her career is the fact that Darcy has been recreated as a LEGO figure. Darcy’s most recent appearance has been in What If…? Season 3. The fourth episode of the series’ final season pairs her up with Howard the Duck, another character who was likely only meant to be a a brief bit of humor, but who has continued to make appearances in the MCU.

When and where we’ll see Darcy Lewis again in any upcoming Marvel movies or series is unclear. The future of the Thor franchise is a big mystery at this point, but we know that Darcy isn’t tied specifically to those films, so she could, and probably will, show up anywhere.

This is shaping up to be a very important season of the animated Marvel series What If…?, available to fans who have a Disney+ subscription. For starters, we learned that What If…? will be concluding its programming after this third and final run of original episodes. And so far, the show has explored some fun new genres, including a dip into anime for What If…? Season 3 Episode 1, followed by a 1930s musical homage in Episode 2. Our friends at Marvel Studios have shared with us an exclusive clip at the upcoming What Is…? Episode 6, which will send heroes Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) and Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld) back to the wild, wild west – specifically, to 1872. Here’s a sneak peek at the episode that’s poised to drop on the Disney+ streaming service on Friday, December 27.

Raise your hand if you are getting a serious Back to the Future Part 3 vibe off of this clip, which sees Shang-Chi encountering another character we expect to see plenty more of as the upcoming 2025 movies start to reach theaters, and that’s John Walker (Wyatt Russell). We know that the U.S. Agent is going to be recruited to join the Thunderbolts alongside Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) and Red Guardian (David Harbour). If only we had a better sense of the mission that Valentina (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) wants them to complete, though I think it will have something to do with Sentinel, as played by Top Gun: Maverick co-star Lewis Pullman.

We also don’t know yet what Episode 6 of What If…? will entail, though the exclusive clip provided by Marvel Studios offers up a classic moment in almost all Westerns. The bad guy – in this case, John Walker – underestimates the abilities of our heroes, and we watch as they suddenly snap into action, subduing the enemy with well-executed kicks, punches, and bullets fired from a six shooter that just won’t miss, when they are in the hands of Hawkeye.

It has been interesting to watch the What If…? Season 3 episodes place an expanded focus on Marvel characters that we will see in upcoming Marvel movies and TV shows, from Red Guardian and John Walker to the inclusion of the villain The Hood in this episode of the show. We will see The Hood later in Ironheart, where the character will be played by Anthony Ramos. I wish that some of these episodes could have set up The Fantastic Four or The X-Men, but I guess we’ll have to wait for possible additional seasons of the show, if those teams ever are going to be included.

New episodes of What If…? drop daily until the finale on Sunday, December 29.

The beginning of the end has arrived for Marvel Studios' What If...? The animated series that launched for Disney+ subscribers in 2021 has begun rolling out its final run, with a new episode premiering every day between now and the launch of the big finale on Sunday, December 29. It's has regularly been a delight, giving Marvel Cinematic Universe fans a tour around the multiverse and offering a glimpse at what might have been had circumstances in the franchise been different – but just because the series is ending doesn't necessarily mean that its presence in the canon is just going to fade away.

Brad Winderbaum, Marvel Studios' head of Streaming, Television and Animation, recently sat down with Entertainment Weekly to discuss the final season of What If...?, and right off the bat he suggests that the show is concluding in direct correlation with the trajectory of the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe. Before too long, audiences will be preparing to sit down in theaters for the Multiverse Saga's capstone films Avengers: Doomsday (arriving in May 2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (arriving in May 2027), and where the MCU's first animated series concludes evidently feeds into what is being planned. Said Winderbaum,

There has been a curiosity pertaining to the potential of What If...? crossing over into the live-action realm since the debut of the animated show, and we still don't know if that's going to happen. That being said, while it has long seemed that the series exists at an arm's length from the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline (given the different medium and stories set outside of the main canon), it's intriguing to know that there is a big picture plan that incorporates it as a puzzle piece just like the TVA-set series Loki.

Where What If...? Season 3 ends is apparently a natural conclusion for the streaming series given where things currently stand in the MCU, and just as the end of Loki Season 2 offered conclusion for Tom Hiddleston's God of Mischief, Brad Winderbaum suggests that it provides some closure for the story of The Watcher (voiced by Jeffrey Wright). That being said, he doesn't totally dismiss the idea of the animated show making a comeback at some point in the franchise's future. He continued,

At the time of this article's publication, the first three episodes of What If...? are available to watch on Disney+ – the latest adventure titled "What If... The Red Guardian Stopped the Winter Soldier?" As for what the future holds for the superhero franchise, you can read about all of the projects currently in the works with our Upcoming Marvel Movies and Upcoming Marvel TV guides.

Christmas is almost here and I hope you were planning on spending the holiday sitting in front of the television because that’s clearly what the best streaming services want you to do. The list of what’s coming to Disney+ on Christmas Day alone could fill this list, but not to be outdone, Netflix’s list of upcoming content includes its next foray into live sports and the second season of one of the most popular shows in the platform’s history.

Live sports are big on Christmas Day and streaming is really starting to get in on the action. The NFL will be hitting Netflix and the NBA is all over Disney+. But if sports isn’t your thing there’s still a lot to watch with new Marvel, the annual Doctor Who holiday special, and more.

Marvel Animation’s What If...? (Season 3) - December 22 (Disney+)

What If…? has been one of the most interesting and creative pieces of the Marvel Cinematic Multiverse. Each episode creates a slight variation of the MCU we know, but each season has also had a cohesive narrative that has continued to play out. Season 3 will be the final season of the show and the first episode debuts on December 22, with a new episode dropping every day for the next eight days. It’s like superhero Hanukkah.

Christmas Gameday - December 25 (Netflix)

The NFL makes its Netflix debut on Christmas Day with a pair of live broadcasts. The Chiefs and Steelers kick off at 1 pm ET and the Ravens and Texans follow at 4:30 pm ET. In addition to the games, music will be on offer as Mariah Carey will have a new version of her hit “All I Want For Christmas” aired and Beyonce will perform during halftime of the Ravens/Texans game.

Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade - December 25 (Disney+)

The holidays at Disneyland and Walt Disney World are an extra special time to visit the parks, but if you can’t actually be there this season, you can still be there in spirit. The annual Magical Christmas Day Parade will be available on ABC or with a Disney+ subscription. Parades and performances take place on coasts and are a great way to spend Christmas morning or, thanks to streaming, any time you want.

Doctor Who: Joy to the World

Ncuti Gatwa made his debut as the newest Doctor on Doctor Who this year, and after making his official debut during last year’s holiday episode he leads the newest Doctor Who Christmas Special, with brand new companion Joy, played by Bridgerton's Niccola Coughlan

Squid Game (Season 2) - December 26 (Netflix)

Once Christmas is over Netflix will offer a somewhat sobering alternative to all the joy and fun with the long-awaited Season 2 of Squid Game. The show’s first season was one of the main reasons to have a Netflix subscription and so we can bet fans won’t be waiting a day to start the new season.

Next week 2025 starts off, whether we like it or not. We can only hope the new year will continue to provide so much great streaming content.

The third and final season of What If...? serves as the MCU's final release ahead of all the upcoming Marvel TV shows hitting the 2025 premiere schedule and beyond, with all kinds of multiversal chaos laid out across the biggest holiday week of the year, with new episodes streaming daily for everyone with a Disney+ subscription. But one of the coolest visuals hitting the internet on the same day as the What If...? Season 3 premiere isn't from the animated series itself, but rather a fantastic domino art stunt celebrating the show's arrival.

Seriously, this exhibit does indeed stand out as a work of art, both before and after its minutes-long fall-down process. The painstaking process of laying all of these dominoes was a task taken by artist Lily Hevesh, who also goes by the name Hevesh5 online. More on her in a bit, but first sit back and welcome the various waves of satisfaction embedded in watching 15,000 dominoes cascading down, with plenty of Marvel-specific references to enjoy along the way.

I could spend hours on end watching complex domino set-ups like this tumbling down, and my blood pressure would probably hit record lows. I need Pluto TV or Tubi to add a Domino Art channel to their lineups ASAP.

As far as fun references go, not only does the domino track feature artwork from What If…?, but also color-coordinates the pieces themselves with the characters on display, starting with Xu Shang-Chi and Kate Bishop, who will appear in Episode 6, “What If…1872?” It airs on December 27, with both Simu Liu and Hailee Steinfeld reprising their respective roles.

That bit leads into a section where Thor’s…ahem…where Mjolnir ziplines down to a spot where a Storm figure is near yellow and black dominoes, which sets up an even bigger version of Mjolnir smashing a lightning bolt display. Which is a reference both to one of the mutant’s classic costume color pairings as well as to the Season 3 episode “What If…The Watcher Disappeared?” in which X-Men ‘97’s Alison Sealy-Smith will once again voice Ororo Munroe, this time as the hammer-wielding Goddess of Thunder.

From there, we see references to episodes featuring Sebastian Stan’s Winter Soldier, Kathryn Hahn’s Agatha Harkness (in the midst of musical notes), Anthony Mackie’s Captain America, and of course The Watcher himself. The only thing that could have made this video slightly more soothing is if Jeffrey Wright had narrated it.

But fans don't need me nerding out while identifying things in the video, since the creator herself Lily Hevesh put out a behind-the-scenes video that shows snippets of the nine-day experience of setting up this massive artpiece. Check it out!

Will What If...? Season 3 set up storylines that lead into the next phase of Marvel's big-screen efforts, possibly even teasing what's to come in the heavily anticipated Avengers: Doomsday? We'll have to stay tuned as new episodes release daily until the presumable game-changer of a finale hits Disney+ on December 29.

December has very nearly come to an end. We are getting close to that holiday period where families will come together, possibly in front of the television. If you're getting an early start, the best streaming services have some quality programming to get you through the start of winter.

What’s coming soon on Netflix and Max includes a pair of potential awards season contenders. What’s upcoming on Disney+ is a double dose of animation, of two very different kinds. Hulu has more Law & Order than you’ll know what to do with, and Peacock brings the funny.

New TV

Law & Order Seasons 1- 20 - December 16 (Hulu)

If you’re looking for a new show to binge through that will keep you busy for a while, I think we have a winner. The first 20 seasons of Law & Order, the show’s entire original run before its brief 2022 revival, will mean getting some serious use out of your Hulu subscription. That means all the Jerry Orbach you can handle.

The Simpsons Christmas Double Episode “O C’mon All Ye Faithful” December 17 (Disney+)

Ever since Disney purchased Fox the Simpsons have become a big reason to have a Disney+ subscription. In addition to being able to watch all previous seasons of the show, a number of animated shorts have been made exclusively for the streamer. Now things get even bigger, as a brand new double-length episode arrives only on Disney+ for Christmas.

Laid, Season 1 - December 19 (Peacock)

Based on an Australian series, Laid stars Oscar-nominated Stephanie Hsu as a woman who discovers that all of her ex-lovers have begun to turn up dead. This forces her to retrace her sexual past and come to terms with it, and revisit all her previous relationships.

Marvel Animation’s What If...? (Season 3) December 22 (Disney+)

One of the most fun and creative corners of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been What If…? The animated series takes story beats from the MCU movies and series and reimagines them in different ways. The third and final season of What If...? debuts on Sunday, with a new episode premiering every day until just before the New Year.

New Movies

The Six Triple Eight December 20 (Netflix)

Written and directed by Tyler Perry, The Six Triple Eight is the story of the only women’s Army Corps unit during World War II. Kerry Washington stars in the new film. It's available this week with a Netflix subscription following a brief theatrical run in order to qualify for Awards season consideration.

Juror #2 - December 20 (Max)

Before he becomes Lex Luthor in next year’s Superman movie, Nicholas Hoult stars as a man who finds himself on a jury where he knows more about the case than he lets on. Directed by Clint Eastwood, in what could be his last film, the movie was largely overlooked in theaters, but those who saw Juror #2 seemed to love it, and now it will be available for a much wider audience.

Next week will bring us Christmas and with it many different holiday specials and celebrations.

Exploring the Marvel multiverse is all the rage these days… which is to be expected when Phases 4-6 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe are being collectively referred to as The Multiverse Saga. Spider-Man: No Way Home, Loki, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, The Marvels and Deadpool & Wolverine have all played with alternate realities to one degree or another in live-action, and then What If… ? has been playing with this subject matter on the animated front. We’re just a month away from What If… ? Season 3 premiering on the 2024 TV schedule, and some new information has come to light that has me wondering if the upcoming Marvel movies Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars have something to do with the show ending.

Brad Winderbaum, the Head of Streaming, Television and Animation at Marvel Studios, stopped by Phase Hero to discuss the recently-concluded Agatha All Along and the slate of upcoming Marvel TV shows, including What If… ? Season 3. While discussing what’s ahead for Jeffrey Wright’s Uatu and the characters who will come into his orbit for this final batch of episodes, the executive said this:

Although Winderbaum didn’t outright mention Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, surely those of you reading this can understand how the tease of a “bigger tapestry” has me thinking about these movies. Just like Infinity War and Endgame in The Infinity Saga, Doomsday and Secret Wars are set to be the climactic chapters that bring The Multiverse Saga to a close. I can’t think of any “bigger universe” reason for why What If… ? would need to end, even though, as Winderbaum said, that doesn’t necessarily mean the show couldn’t return someday.

What exactly could that reason be? That’s hard to say given the amount of secret surrounding Doomsday and Secret Wars, even by Marvel Studios’ standards. Plot-wise, aside from the Avengers obviously reforming, all we know is that this franchise’s Fantastic Four will appear following their debut in The Fantastic Four: First Steps next summer, and Robert Downey Jr. will return to the MCU to play Doctor Doom, who will be the main antagonist in these movies after the plan for Jonathan Majors’ Kang the Conqueror to fill that role was scrapped.

My best guess for now is that the events that unfold in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars will be so monumental that they’ll affect the multiverse in a way that won’t make it possible for What If… ? to tell its standard kind of stories. However, I am hoping that What If… ?is still able to factor into what goes down in these movies. Specifically, I’d like to see Jeffrey Wright reprise Uatu, because you know he’ll have to take notice of what’s happening.

What If… ? Season 3 will be released daily to those who are signed up with a Disney+ subscription starting December 22. Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on May 1, 2026, and Avengers: Secret Wars follows on May 7, 2027.

An enormous chunk of Marvel’s programming post-Endgame has been used to introduce new characters that could be used in both upcoming Marvel movies, but also MCU shows that are available with a Disney+ subscription. The Multiverse Saga launched with introductions to Shang Chi (Simu Liu), the Eternals, Namor (Tenoch Huerta), and countless villains… some of whom will team up in the 2025 Thunderbolts movie. But Marvel also has been using its animated side to explore possibilities on which characters the studio can bring to live-action, and Marvel executive producer Brad Winderbaum told us exclusively which character he’d like to bring over.

Winderbaum has been with Marvel Studios since the earliest days, ,with credits that range from Ant-Man to the current series, Agatha All Along. It was during the press day for Agatha that I asked Brad Winderbaum which Marvel villains he’d like to see get his or her own spinoff, similar to the way that Agatha (Kathryn Hahn) got her start on the award-winning series WandaVision. The producer went right to What If?, the series he oversees that offers up alternate realities in the MCU. And Winderbaum told CinemaBlend:

Brad Winderbaum is referencing the two-episode arc that concluded the first season of Marvel Studios’ animated What If?, where Ultron (James Spader) succeeded in taking over Vision’s body, defeated Thanos – rather easily – and assumed the power of the Infinity Stones. This made the android so powerful that the passive being The Watcher (Jeffrey Wright) actually had to intervene, and stop Ultron from controlling the Multiverse.

And Brad Winderbaum is correct. The story of Infinity Ultron would be an amazing way to do a live-action team up movie sometime in the future of the MCU Saga. In fact, some of the groundwork might be getting laid for this story by Marvel. It has been reported that James Spader would bring Ultron back for Paul Bettany’s announced Vision show. The concept of the Multiverse deserves to be explored beyond what has been done so far in the MCU. So later on, after the one-two punch of Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, it’s possible for Kevin Feige to greenlight a live-action Infinity Ultron movie, where the Guardians of the Mutliverse have the be recruited by The Watcher to defeat this incredibly powerful foe.

Realistically, this would be a long time in the future. Given the return of Robert Downey Jr. as Victor Von Doom, that Latverian monarch appears to be the MCU’s focus for the next few years. We will have The Fantastic Four introduced to the MCU, as well as sequels for Spider-Man, Shang-Chi, Thor and more on the horizon. But for fans of the Infinity Ultron storyline, just know that Brad Winderbaum has your interests in mind. And he shares them.

Marvel’s What If…? Season 2 was incredibly entertaining, as the creative team managed to spin some truly unique yarns using the fictional multiverse. For me, one particularly compelling episode was the sixth, which introduced an original character – Kahhori. The young Native American heroine ultimately played a major role in the season’s overarching narrative, and she also struck a chord with fans like myself. In the months since the character’s exciting small-screen debut, some may have wondered when she’d pop up next. Well, her second big adventure has now been set, and I’m so pumped for what’s to come!

It’s been confirmed that Kahhori is set to return via a new one-shot comic that’s set to release this year. This Marvel Voices special is titled Kahhori: Shaper of Worlds #1 and is partly being overseen by veteran writer Ryan Little, who co-created the eponymous character and penned her What If…? episode. What’s also exciting is that Indigenous writers Arihhonni “Honni” David and Kelly Lynne D’Angelo have been tapped to write the comic. And taking on artwork duties are veteran artists Jim Terry and David Cutler. Check out the cover art below:

The story will thrust the young Mohawk warrior into the 616 continuity as she follows an unnamed threat out of the sacred Sky World. Ultimately, the heroine finds herself on the streets of Hell’s Kitchen, where she must contend with her enemy’s chaotic actions. Further plot details are being kept under wraps, but it also sounds like readers can expect to see some notable guest stars pop up.

For so long now, Marvel Comics has aimed for diversity and inclusion and, in more recent years, that initiative has also seen creatives tell Native American-centered stories. This new Kahhori tale feels like an excellent way for the publisher to work towards representation. What also makes this awesome is that there’s Indigenous talent working behind the scenes. And, of course, it’ll just be great to see Kahhori again, and those who are fans of hers surely know why she’s such a great character.

Introduced in the What If…? installment “What If... Kahhori Reshaped the World?,” the young lady exists in a universe where the Tesseract landed in Haudenosaunee Confederacy during pre-Colonial America. The alien artifact subsequently lands in what later known as The Forbidden Lake, which contains a portal to the aforementioned Sky World. It’s in that location that inhabitants possess superhuman abilities and immortality. Kahhori (voiced by Devery Jacobs) is teleported to the dimension by chance and gains those powers in the process. And she subsequently uses her skills to defend her home and loved ones from Spanish conquistadors.

The notion of Kahhori receiving her own standalone comic is exciting, but I’m also curious as to whether she’ll return for the upcoming What If…? Season 3. I have a lot of wishes for the final season (which has a new head writer) of the animated show (including a certain scene involving The Watcher). And I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t hopeful that Kahhori is part of that last batch of episodes in some way. After all, given her immense power – which was exemplified when she battled Strange Supreme alongside Captain Carter – there’s a lot that can still be done with her.

But, if that doesn’t happen, I’m comforted by the fact that fans can look forward to at least one more adventure with the truly lovable protagonist. It goes without saying that the comic book realm could use fresh characters, and I’m delighted that Marvel is making use of one of its newest additions to its canon.

Pick up Kahhori: Shaper of Worlds #1 when it’s released on November 6. And, if you’d like to see the character in action now, stream What If…? using a Disney+ subscription. That same membership will also allow you access to another Native American-led production, which is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Echo. Also, be sure to read up on upcoming Marvel TV shows.

When it comes to the slate of upcoming Marvel TV shows, one of the productions I’m most looking forward to is What If…? Season 3. The series has truly been a breath of fresh air, as its creative team has produced interesting, multiversal stories related to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It’s because of that and more that I’m sad to hear that the third season will be the show’s final installment. Thankfully, though, the head of the entertainment giant’s TV division is teasing a satisfying conclusion. As I ponder those sentiments though, I’m also hoping to see one specific scene with the show’s narrator – Uatu the Watcher – by the finale.

How Was What If…? Season 3 Just Teased?

Anyone who closely follows Marvel Studios’ exploits likely knows that employees are notoriously tight-lipped when it comes to divulging information about specific productions. However, Brad Winderbaum – Head of Streaming, Television and Animation at the studio – recently dropped a few updates. The bigwig stopped by the Official Marvel Podcast, where he discussed productions like the long-awaited Daredevil: Born Again and the highly anticipated X-Men ‘97 Season 2. But Winderbaum started his spiel by explaining to the hosts just what fans can expect from the final season of What If…?. Based on the sentiments he shared, it sounds like fans are in for a bittersweet ride across the multiverse:

Those comments will certainly leave fans with more questions than anything, but I’m glad to hear that the creative team is looking to go out on a high note. What’s especially good to know is that they’re specifically looking to produce an appropriate final chapter in Uatu’s story. On that note, I think it’s only appropriate that before the show signs off, the all-seeing extraterrestrial has an encounter with another very powerful individual.

Who Should The Watcher Meet Up With Before The Show Ends?

Uatu is probably the MCU character that fans most associate with the idea of presiding over the multiverse. However, there’s another imposing individual who also holds the responsibility of performing the same task – Loki. In the wacky and emotional Season 2 finale of his eponymous show, the God of Mischief saved the entire multiverse by reigniting the various dying timelines. As a result, he now remains at the End of Time, and those on the various branches (including his friends from the Time Variance Authority) can’t see him.

I would absolutely love to see the Watcher and that variant of Tom Hiddleston’s famous character share a scene amid What If…? Season 3. These two characters share an incredibly unique connection in that they both remain in similar positions of power. The thought of seeing them in a scene together, in which they discuss their responsibilities and the downsides of them would be excellent. Those who’ve seen Season 2 of the animated show might also remember that Loki’s fate was referenced by way of a quick shot of the timeline branches, which the ex-Asgardian trickster re-arranged to resemble Yggdrasil – the Norse tree of life.

This may sound like pure fan service on the surface, but I firmly believe that such a scene could propel the Watcher’s characterization and help bring the show full circle. The benevolent being hasn’t had many interactions with multiverse-observing beings like himself. So it would be nice for him to chat with one who can not only relate to him but help him keep the importance of his job in perspective. I obviously have no idea if Brad Winderbaum and co. have anything like that planned for Season 3, but here’s hoping that such a scene comes to pass!

While you wait for the third season of What If…? to arrive, stream the first two with a Disney+ subscription now. You can also find other viable viewing options – including some superhero-related ones – on the 2024 TV schedule.

Animation is one of the earlier moving art forms, and has provided countless artists the means to bring their stories to life, be it through the black-and-white hues of Bosco the Talk-Ink Kid or the multicolored bliss of Fantasia. Toons can be as simple as the Oscar-winning “The Dot and the Line” from legends Chuck Jones and Maurice Noble, or they can be as endlessly complex as Wallace and Gromit’s stop-motion universe. Television has provided audiences with 80 years of memorable projects –- including some forgotten Saturday morning gems — with new shows debuting at a rapid pace, and we’re here to celebrate the very best animated series of all time.

From classic characters like Mickey Mouse and Fred Flintstone to modern favorites like Monkey D. Luffy and the Belcher family, CinemaBlend’s staff is saluting them all. So join us in paying tribute to the funniest, coolest, smartest, and most moving animated series that have graced our TV screens over the decades.

75. The Jetsons

Despite being the first show ABC ever broadcast in color, The Jetsons was canceled after a single season and only 24 total episodes. It just couldn’t find the right audience, at least until the reruns started airing on Saturday mornings and an entire generation of kids fell in love with the futuristic setting and zany plotlines. George, Jane, Judy, Elroy, Astro and Rosey eventually became so popular in syndication that more than 20 years after its cancellation, a further fifty-one episodes were produced, as well as a movie. It’s an unconventional success story but perhaps one fitting for a show filled with futuristic tech that hilariously never works as intended.

74. Aqua Teen Hunger Force

When Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim programming block premiered in September 2001, Aqua Teen Hunger Force was one of its surreal cornerstones, and it’s pretty much stayed that way ever since. The long-running series follows three anthropomorphic fast food items – Master Shake, Frylock, and Meatwad – who get into all kinds of trouble with their neighbor(s), locals, and interdimensional beings. ATHF helped usher in a new era for adult animation at the turn of the century, and it's remained just as hilarious and timeless during that historic run. But for as wild and nonsensical as it gets, there’s a certain charm that makes it not just one of the funniest shows on Adult Swim, but in all of TV animation.

73. Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends

Though not lauded quite as high as animation giants such as Walt Disney or Hanna-Barbera, Jay Ward delivered many of the medium’s most lasting creations, with The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle at the center of his zany, intelligent, and meta-before-meta-was-cool storytelling skills. The titular moose and squirrel’s serialized rivalry with the devious Boris and Natasha can never be forgotten, while the history-adoring side characters Sherman and his pup Mr. Peabody became a pop culture magnet unto themselves over the years. Now if only we could get a Fractured Fairy Tales spinoff for the 21st century…

72. What If...?

Upon its launch, part of the reason why a Disney+ subscription was so appealing involved the streaming service's new content directly connected to major IPs like the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And while we’ve been treated to a number of live-action shows, the studio also took a major risk with the multiversal animated series What If…? The comic book anthology series offers alternate realities to the MCU characters and events we know and love, and shows how the entire franchise could be radically altered if just one character's arc differed. Additionally, the voice cast of What…If? features many Marvel favorites reprising their roles to tell these ambitious stories that could never be produced in live-action.

71. The Proud Family

The Proud Family was all about Penny Proud and her wild, yet relatable, journey through high school. While the premise was simple, this show’s fabulous crew of characters is what made it iconic, and its depiction of the day-to-day lives of an African American family is what made it groundbreaking. From our lead Penny to her father Oscar, her besties Dijonay, Zoey, LaCienega and Sticky Webb — and of course Sugar Mama — this family is the best, and we’ll adore them forever.

70. Beavis and Butt-Head

Besides The Simpsons, arguably no animated series from the 1990s sparked a bigger array of multi-generational reactions around the country than Beavis and Butthead. As soon as it premiered on MTV in March 1993, Mike Judge’s groundbreaking, edgy, and unsavory cartoon became a national sensation while following two objectively moronic teenagers barely navigating school, life, nachos, and a carousel of music video commentary. Video games, movies, tons of merchandising (both official and bootleg) flooded the market in the years that followed, and there's a reason revivals keep happening: it's a great show, dammit. Mm-heh-heh.

69. Schoolhouse Rock!

Schoolhouse Rock! is an animated gem that has been passed down from generation to generation for all the right reasons. Originally debuting on TV back in 1973, the show's approach to combining educational programming with toon-filled songs cemented it as a true classic with more lasting value than most. From grammar-focused tunes like “Conjunction Junction" to the iconic intro-to-governmental-processes track “I’m Just a Bill” to even its Preamble song, Schoolhouse Rock! has had a lasting cultural impact, influencing many other shows, and even inspiring some spoofs along the way to its permanent place within pop culture.

68. Static Shock

The DC Animated Universe got a true shock to its system when Denys Cowan's Static Shock zapped onto TV screens in the early 2000s as a Saturday morning offering on Kids’ WB. Viewers were treated to some truly exciting, funny and heartfelt episodes that tracked the heroic exploits of teenager Virgil Hawkins in Dakota City. Thanks to late series creator Dwayne McDuffie and his talented team, Static Shock remains a dynamic piece of comic book fun, serving up some serious action mixed in with thoughtful social commentary on occasion. In short, this is a super-powered gem that’s rightfully still revered to this day.

67. Dexter's Laboratory

What child hasn't wished they had a secret location in their house that provided the means to do the most fantastic things their heart desires? Dexter’s Laboratory helped many youngins live vicariously through its titular brainiac, and the general hilarity of his meddling sister Dee Dee derailing it all helped make this one a definitive Cartoon Network classic. From the brain of the similarly brainy Genndy Tartakovsky, Dexter also boasted other animated shorts like Dial M For Monkey and The Justice Friends, which were all equally as enjoyable. To this day, I bet there are many who owe their ability to say “cheese omelet” in French to this wonderful series.

66. Kim Possible

“Call me, beep me, if you want to reach me,” because it’s time to talk about Kim Possible. Mixing a high-stakes spy drama with high school shenanigans appropriate for Disney Channel-aged audiences, this show is an action-packed good time. Largely centered on Kim’s missions to take down Dr. Drakken and Shego with the help (or more like attempted help) of her bestie Ron Stoppable and his naked molerat Rufus, Kim Possible defined many childhoods and taught generations of kids, and specifically girls, that anything is possible with the right mindset and gadgets.

65. Muppet Babies (1984)

How amazing are Jim Henson’s Muppets? The list goes on, but one key factor would be that Kermit and the gang brought to life what remains one of pop culture’s only genuinely great examples of “Your favorite characters, but they’re babies.” Trading TV studios and New York City exteriors for a Nanny-run nursery where the power of make-believe knows no bounds, Muppet Babies showed viewers of all ages that imagination is powered best when one is surrounded by friends to the end. Unfortunately for avid fans, the show’s abundant use of licensed TV, film, and music clips will likely keep it from ever hitting home media.

64. Family Guy

For one reason or 69 others — get it, Peter? — certain TV shows are able to get away with wildly edgy content without getting “canceled," either literally or figuratively. Granted, Seth MacFarlane's long-running fave Family Guy actually did actually get canceled by Fox back in 2002, but the '80s-adoring comedy was able to return from its shallow grave just two years later due to extraordinary DVD sales, a hit syndicated run, and the embrace of Adult Swim. and high ratings from reruns in syndication. Ever since that 2004 revival, viewers have followed the antics of Peter, Lois, Chris, Meg, Stewie and Brian along with all the ridiculous and often offensive cutaway flashbacks that fill their lives.

63. Robot Chicken 

Watching Robot Chicken calls to mind many chldhood memories of inventing scenarios with action figures modeled after classic movie and TV characters. That's essentially what Seth Green and Matthew Senreich’s stop-motion animated Adult Swim hit is: people playing with their toys. But with a bigger budget and more talented voice actors than any kids I ever played with. With boundary-pushing and insightful humor in the mix, the Emmy-winning Robot Chicken is sketch comedy at its most refreshingly unique, rebelliously raw, and deliciously nostalgic, and is not bogged down by the limitations that might come with a live-action production.

62. The Flintstones

For many people, The Flintstones is one of the first cartoons we remember watching on TV. This classic Hanna-Barbera series about a lovable caveman and his family navigating a prehistoric world field with outrageous stone-age variations of modern-day appliances and tools, is just as funny and attention-grabbing as it was upon its release more than 60 years ago, which is really saying something about its quality. On top of such indelible characters like Fred Flinstone, Barney Rubble, and the Great Gazoo, the show also has one of the most iconic opening themes of all time.

61. Freakazoid!

Though not the most marquee-ready superhero, Freakazoid!’s titular protagonist is the creation of Batman: The Animated Series legends Bruce Timm and Paul Dini, with Steven Spielberg and Tiny Toons vet Paul Ruegger leading the charge. So yeah, it’s a perfectly bonkers mix of comic book mythos mixed with slapstick and fourth-wall-breaking comedy, complete with a mini-universe of B-tier heroes and villains such as Candle Jack (but don’t say his name). Lasting two seasons from 1995-1997, Freakazoid! ss a joy for viewers of all ages, anchored by the stellar voice work of stars Paul Rugg and Ed Asner.

60. Chip 'n' Dale: Rescue Rangers

Long before the series was reimagined as a hilarious Disney+ movie starring John Mulaney and Andy Sandberg, Chip 'n' Dale: Rescue Rangers started out as a tremendous and timeless action-adventure toon about a pair of chipmunks fronting a crew of anthropomorphic animals. Thanks in part to that earworm theme, it never gets old watching Chip, Dale, Gadget Hackwrench, Monterey Jack, and Zipper solve all manner of crimes (both big and small, really small) and save the day before the end of each episode, and the show can still hold the attention of our kids all these years later.

59. Teen Titans

Some viewers probably weren’t sure what to make of Teen Titans upon its debut, but the series eventually became a hit – and for good reason. The quirky superhero romp is the definition of cartoon greatness, as it skillfully blends action and comedy, ultimately using both to great effect. Yet, most importantly, so much heart is on display amidst the explosions and sheer wackiness as well. Because of that, Robin, Cyborg, Starfire, Beast Boy and Raven remain not only one of DC’s best TV super teams, but also one of its greatest familial units. And, yes, that theme song still slaps.

58. Gargoyles

The oft-underrated Saturday morning toon Gargoyles is one of those shows that manages to deliver more than the kind of action you’d expect from Disney's weekly animated fare. It’s a dark and complex drama series with dynamic characters, beautiful animation and stories that sometimes border on Greek tragedy. Many viewers understandably still have such reverence for the tales that EP Greg Weisman and his team told about the mighty Goliath and his clan of night guardians. It’s ironic that a group of beings that turn cold as stone are among some of the warmest heroes to ever grace a TV screen.

57. DuckTales

Having quite possibly the catchiest theme song on this list that's chock-full of them is probably enough reason to include DuckTales on this list, but of course, the show has so much more going for it. Scrooge McDuck and his nephews, previously only bit players in Disney cartoons, earned the star spotlight for a show that was about as close to an action/adventure cartoon as Disney had delivered at the time, making it something fresh new, and exciting. But it was still “Disney” and thus more accessible to younger viewers than other ‘80s cartoons looking to sell action figures, drawing from Carl Banks' timeless comic run.

56. Hey Arnold!

Amidst all of Nickelodeon's best chracters, perhaps no greater role model for younger viewers exists than the football-headed protagonist of Hey Arnold! In fact, Craig Bartlett’s series offered something very few animated programs have (then or since): a diverse ensemble whom kids could potentially relate to or aspire to be like. With a stunningly grounded urban aesthetic, even in its most peculiar momens, and a hefty set of valuable life lessons that often came out of dark situations, admittedly — not to mention an absolute banger of a jazz score — Hey Arnold! is a masterstroke for the medium.

55. The Real Ghostbusters

1984's Ghostbusters inspired an immediate sequel, but when live-action follow-ups stalled, Sony did the next best thing: created this magnificent riff on the beloved property. No, they couldn’t get BIll Murray and Dan Aykroyd together every three years, but they could animate Peter, Ray, Winston and Egon for a series of animated adventures around New York City, the world, and even realms beyond. The best part about The Real Ghostbusters is that it understood the irreverent tone of Ivan Reitman’s two movies, but split the difference to also appeal directly to kids who just wanted to see Slimer. When we really need a hit of that nostalgic rush, these are the Ghostbusters stories that most deserve revisiting.

54. Teen Titans Go

DC Comics adaptations often get knocked for being too serious, but that's not the case with Teen Titans Go, an effervescent, energetic, and rapid-fire funny series centered on Robin, Cyborg, Beast Boy, Raven, and Starfire. The show embraced irreverent humor, leaning hard into its heroes' stereotypical behaviors, from Robin’s crippling need to be a leader to Raven’s broody Goth Girl energy and beyond. Without hinging on continuity or major cameos from A-list DC heroes (at least, not until Teen Titans Go! To The Movies, which was equally excellent), this slap-happy toon basically gave young kids a comic book portal where they could enjoy “waffles, waffles, waffles” without having to brood over anyone's parents getting gunned down in an alley.

53. The Powerpuff Girls

Sugar, spice, and everything nice wasn’t even half of what we got with The Powerpuff Girls. Like many other animated classics, it was a show made for kids that adults could easily also enjoy. The superpowered Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup deal with typical childhood troubles like sibling rivalry and bed wetting while also saving their town from a truly ingenious rogue’s gallery. These endearing kindergartners, their friends and foes (like arch nemesis Mojo Jojo, and Powerpuff wanna-be Princess Morbucks) provide us with laughs, lessons and intrigue, all wrapped in a parody and pop-culture focused package that doles out plenty of surprises.

52. Tiny Toon Adventures

Following in the footsteps of the iconic Looney Tunes squad was always going to be a tall order, but the Stephen Spielbeg-produced Tiny Toon Adventures understood the assignment. While the characters may have been inspired by those that came before, each one from Babs and Buster to Plucky and Hampton, was given just as much freedom to be entirely new characters, not simply the “new versions” of the classics. The humor was always on point, with plenty of gags for younger viewers, alongside references only the older “kids” watching would get.

51. Courage the Cowardly Dog

Making a cartoon for children that's as creepy as it is funny is no easy task, but Courage the Cowardly Dog found a way to execute that balance quite beautifully, relying mostly on overtly bizarre and/or paranormal villains. Courage protecting his owners, Eustace and Muriel, against everything from a cursed mummy to a duck with a mallet never gets old. It’s the most deserving Cartoon Network original that needs a revival, which could potentially still happen someday, considering Courage was part of a Scooby-Doo crossover movie released in 2021. Until that day comes, fans can revisit the entire series with a Max subscription.

50. Adventure Time

Most classic adventure cartoons engage in storytelling in a more earnest manner, but only a few effectively capture the joys of make-believe like Adventure Time — which for many is the absolute cream of the crop for Cartoon Network’s original programming. Creator Pendleton Ward’s fantasy-comedy follows Finn the Human (Jeremy Shada) and Jake the Dog (John DiMaggio) as they navigate the weird and wonderful, post-apocalyptic Land of Ooo, having a mathematical time along the way. With its charming animation, ingenious creatures, clever world-building, and a lighthearted tone that never abandons spellbinding excitement, the fun truly never ends.

49. Big Mouth

It’s not every day that audiences get a hilariously offensive animated show that actually provides accurate representation of growing up LGBTQ+. On the surface, Netflix's Big Mouth, which rocks an all-star cast led by co-creator Nick Kroll and John Mulaney, simply shows the trouble and turmoil of puberty, sexuality, hormones, and the everyday struggle that we call “life.” Lucky for viewers, it is also much, much more than that. The show follows a group of young people who tend to be accompanied by “hormone monsters” (who now have their own wacky spinoff series) who help guide them through the changes and struggles that come with growing up.

48. Arthur

Kids owe PBS for so many great animated series, but Arthur might be its crown jewel. For over 20 years, Marc Brown’s storybook aardvark, along with his friends and family, endeared themselves to the public. The author and the show’s writing staff, through their efforts, taught youngsters firm lessons in responsibility, community, empathy and much more. What’s particularly impressive is that the grade-school comedy managed to remain consistent in conveying such morals during its lengthy run. Of course, when the program wasn’t dropping vital nuggets of knowledge, it was simply exuding pure, imaginative fun. What we have here is a truly timeless show, and one that’s sure to delight audiences for generations to come.

47. Pokémon

Part of the reason Pokémon remains one of the top franchises worldwide is because the series can have a different meaning for every generation that consumes it. The kids of 2024 can watch the same show O.G. viewers watched in the late '90s and appreciate those characters in new ways, given there have been plenty of successive projects that have come loaded with over a thousand different Pokémon for children to latch onto and make their favorite. The show's awesome battles haven't quite held up when it comes to the franchise's many video games, but perhaps someday, Game Freak will give the people what they want.

46. Spider-Man

Spider-Man fandom has been known to grow from many sources, including the comics and multiple generations of live-action blockbusters, but the Spider-Man animated series from 1994 holds a special place in the hearts of millennials – as it should, because it is amazing (pun totally intended). In retrospect, the content censorship is ridiculous (this is a show where Spidey wasn’t even allowed to punch people), but the filmmakers still found ways to deliver exciting adaptations of comic book stories, and some episodes are even better than the source material. We have yet to see a better version of the Venom origin story than what was created here.

45. Batman: The Brave and the Bold

Thanks in large part to the success of Tim Burton’s Batman from 1989, it was at one point decided that the best version of the Caped Crusader is the dark and brooding version. That has now been the go-to mode for the superhero for decades – but at the very least Batman: The Brave And The Bold reminded us for a time just how much fun the Dark Knight can be. The deep voice and silly sensibilities of Diedrich Bader make him one of the best to ever play the hero, and every episode delivers a fun team-up opportunity. Every DC character is represented with love, but there’s an argument to be made that John DiMaggio's Aquaman is the all-time best version of the Atlantean king.

44. Doug

The entire Nicktoons library was a big deal for '90s kids, and who was more relatable than Doug Funnie on Doug? Through his journal entries and soaring imagination, the preteen opened up about the seemingly everyday events of his life, from getting a haircut to trying liver and onions, and we totally felt that. We understood the middle school awkwardness, the anguish of his crush on Patti Mayonnaise and just how good it felt to rock out to your favorite band (The Beets, of course! “Aw-wee-oo! Killer tofuuuuu!”). We wanted Skeeter to be our best friend and a dog as cool as Porkchop. Not to mention, the opening credits and theme song are pretty iconic.

43. Pinky and the Brain

Let’s be honest here: Pinky and the Brain was repetitive. In every episode, the two main characters did “the same thing we do every night, Pinky… try to take over the world!” But it was the way that the odd couple mice played off of each other — with Pinky being the doofus assistant to the Orson Welles-inspired mastermind mouse that is The Brain — that allowed this Animaniacs episode segment to thrive as its own standalone series. It's one we still quote to this day, using many of the cast members’ favorite jokes. Like everything in Animaniacs, Pinky and the Brain benefitted from an “anything goes” approach to humor, meaning that stories would involve Brain’s archnemesis (a hamster named Snowball) or a bit where Pinky gets elected President of the United States. And it all worked because the creators understood how to be intelligent while also being goofy.

42. X-Men: The Animated Series

Before the Marvel Cinematic Universe revitalized how big and connected comic book adaptations could be, few film and TV examples truly brought to live what people loved about the medium. X-Men: The Animated Series was one of the first, giving audiences comic book-accurate versions of the beloved mutants that felt like they jumped right off the page. The show offered long-term serializing storytelling just like the source material, something that was essentially unheard of for a Saturday morning cartoon. But whether one was an avid reader or not, these were (and perhaps still are) the definitive versions of the X-Men. It’s no wonder that decades later, the series was revived as X-Men '97.

41. Infinity Train

Created by Regular Show writer/artist Owen Dennis, the Cartoon Network-turned-Max series Infinity Train is the crown jewel of overlooked and under-discussed animated series. A highly imaginative coming-of-age sci-fi fantasy,  not the most common sub-genre, the series centers on a different interconnected story and character set in each of its four seasons, with everything taking place on a mysterious and impossibly long train where most cars present challenges for the characters to figure out and overcome. It’s an emotionally gripping and exciting tale that never goes off the rails, with a stacked cast of familiar voices.

40. Futurama

The second mega-hit series created in part by Matt Groening, Futurama has always been far more than just The Future Simpsons, thanks to its unforgettable cast of meme-ready nutjobs, egomaniacs, and bending-proficient robots. From Fry’s dopey optimism to The Professor’s absent-minded genius to Hermes’ ability to drop everything if a limbo stick comes around, the series balances its strong personalities with tons of space-faring, paradox-thwarting, time-traveling mayhem that never stops being fun. Both one of the smartest and silliest animated series of all time, and filled with some of the nerdiest jokes possible, Futurama has remained a beloved small-screen entity in part because the Planet Express crew has managed to survive multiple cancellations at Fox and Comedy Central, reaching its third lifeform at Hulu, presumably because the Hypnotoad demanded it so.

39. Mickey Mouse (Classic Disney Shorts)

There are few animated characters more famous than Mickey Mouse, and it’s safe to say the House of Mouse wouldn’t be everything it is today without Disney’s classic Mickey Mouse animated shorts that debuted in the 1920s. Smartly written and brimming with slapstick comedy, these quick hits of quirky fun introduced us to the loveable mouse — who displayed courage and strength but in a way that was achievable for any of us — along with the equally iconic Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Pluto and Goofy. Included in this series is 1935’s “The Band Concert” — Disney’s first color cartoon, which quite literally paved the way for Disney animation for 100 years and counting. And while it may not be part of that exact era, give me Goofy bungling up ski lessons any day.

38. Dragon Ball Z

Though it wasn’t the first show in the franchise, Dragon Ball Z introduced countless kids and teenagers to iconic characters like Goku, Piccolo, Vegeta, and Gohan throughout the ‘90s, especially after the anime series became a mainstay in Cartoon Network’s Toonami afternoon block. This intense cartoon about a group known as the Z Fighters who attempt to protect Earth (and later, other planets) from diabolical forces was something many of us ran home from school or off the bus to catch each weekday. The introduction of increasingly dangerous and destructive villains like Frieza, Cell, and Boo (each had their own saga) continued to raise the bar as the series went on, and make this still a gem worth revisiting.

37. Rocko's Modern Life

Is there a classic Nickelodeon show from the ‘90s that captures the spirit of the era more than Rocko’s Modern Life? This zany, surreal, and extraordinary animated series debuted in 1993 and quickly found an audience thanks to its unique style of humor that appealed to both children and adults. With characters like the neurotic titular wallaby, his best friends Heffer Wolfe and Filburt, and the various members of the Bighead family, there was so much to love about the show. It pushed the envelope with its humor and art direction and had a lot to say about the modern world, hence its name. The mammalian gang even returned to fans in 2019 with the special Static Cling.

36. Animaniacs

We still have no idea how Animaniacs creator Tom Ruegger got the greenlight to make everyone's childhood better with this hilarious, clever, but extremely inside-baseball showbiz comedy aimed at mature kids. Yes, on the surface, the Animaniacs works as a variety show, an evolution off The Muppet Show during which the hosts – the Warner siblings, one with a Liverpool accent – would set up individual cartoons. But in between, the banter and humor offered up in Animaniacs consisted of some of the funniest, most outrageous, and unpredictable jokes that would spoof Dolly Parton, Marilyn Monroe, and the idea of fingering Prince, as it were. Sometimes the show managed to be educational, but mostly it was pure lunacy, and we loved every second of it.

35. Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!

Mysteries are the most entertaining genre of storytelling. What’s more satisfying than a tidy reveal at the end of a whodunit, and a villain exclaiming how they would have gotten away with it, if not for those meddling kids? Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? followed a very popular “monster of the week” format, but wasn’t afraid to push the envelope to freak out little kids who tuned into a cartoon and were terrified by haunted suits of armor, killer clowns, and more. From its unforgettable theme song to the vocal contributions of radio icon Casey Kasem as Shaggy, Scooby-Doo Where Are You? walked so that Goosebumps and Gravity Falls could run.

34. Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated

Scooby-Doo: Mystery Incorporated is a breath of fresh air within the long-running franchise birthed by Hanna-Barbera. For this particular production, the typical case-of-the-week format isn’t in play, as serialized storytelling is utilized. It’s a great approach that really fleshes out the meddling kids and the titular canine in a way that past incarnations don’t. The humor associated with this entertainment property is definitely employed in this iteration. However, what’s also exciting is how the writers and artists aim to deliver some truly scary monsters, all seemingly tied to the antagonist Mr. E. While it’s admirable that the show sticks to its predecessors’ roots in many ways, its goal to shake up the classic formula results in an overarching mystery that’s both compelling and creepy.

33. Archer

Creator Adam Reed’s singular vision and undying creativity turned Archer from a ribald spin on James Bond into one of the most well-rounded pieces of spy fiction in existence. H. Jon Benjamin’s unmistakable voice gives life to the booze-swilling agent’s snappy insults and TV-MA euphemisms alongside a downright stellar cast that also includes Aisha Tyler, Judy Greer, Jessica Walter, Chris Parnell and more. The series is a testament to the importance of characters compared to plot, with Archer’s core group shifting from years of traditional storytelling to multiple side-mission seasons such as the Miami-set Vice, the subconscious-set Dreamland, the jungle-filled Danger Island and others. On a jokes-per-minute basis, it stands next to comedy giants like The Simpsons and Airplane!, and can drink them both under the table.

32. Batman Beyond

Debuting in 1999, Batman Beyond jumps decades forward into the future and showcases the story of a now-retired Bruce Wayne who is acting as a mentor to the next generation Dark Knight, Terry McGinnis, as voiced by the legend himself, Kevin Conroy. The show earned multiple award nominations, winning two Daytime Emmy Awards. Bruce and Terry have just enough similarities and frustrating differences to keep their dynamic captivating while still wholesome, which makes this particular animated series one of the most enjoyable to watch in the franchise. Terry is forced to work twice as hard in order to balance out both his personal life and his crime-fighting side persona, as he both learns from and teaches his mentor as they both work to stand up for what they both clearly believe in.

31. Star Wars: The Clone Wars

While a lot is owed to Genndy Tartakovsky’s Star Wars: Clone Wars, the animated side of George Lucas’ sci-fi universe truly took off in 2008 with the launch of Cartoon Network's Star Wars: The Clone Wars. The series is, in large part, what it is due to franchise guru Dave Filoni, who thought his hiring was a prank. Filoni’s respect for Lucas’ work permeates the entire CGI show, but there are also some cool elements that he himself adds to the canon, including the now-beloved Jedi Ahsoka Tano. With incredible storylines, sweet animation and strong voice acting, this show works well on its own but also stands firmly alongside the films it builds upon.

30. Bob's Burgers

One of the many things to love about Bob’s Burgers is just how close, loving, and, well, lovingly strange the main characters at the center of the show are. The Belcher family is (mostly) committed to keeping their small, family-run burger shop up and running, but their kooky adventures usually take the whole family away from the restaurant. Exasperated pessimist Bob, his happy-go-lucky wife Linda and their kids, Tina, Gene and Louise get into a number of hilariously weird scrapes that, honestly, most of us only wish we could have to make life more intriguing. Add to that Louise’s near-constant scheming, Tina’s awkwardness, and how the whole family interacts with a town full of endearing oddballs, and you have yourself a wonderfully weird winner. Tell 'em Teddy sent ya.

29. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was the perfect show for a perfect moment in time. It combined outrageous and over the top late 80s imagery with some of the first mainstream depictions of skater culture and added ninjas, an outrageous backstory and a steady stream of cheesy catchphrases. Deep in the sewer of our hearts, amidst roundhouse kicks and impossibly yellow April O’Neil jumpsuits, they carved out a place for themselves, and more than thirty years later, their ooze still remains in the form of reimagined shows, new movies and billions of dollars worth of merchandise. And despite all the success, they're still just heroes in a half-shell, and they're green. (Hey, get a grip.)

28. SpongeBob SquarePants (1999-Present)

In 1999, if you told someone a silly gap-toothed sponge would one day be as recognizable to the children of the world as Mickey Mouse or Bugs Bunny, they would’ve laughed. And yet, SpongeBob SquarePants continues to entertain the children of today, and has been lovingly embraced by the Millenials and Gen-Z who grew up with it as well. The internet is loaded with memes dedicated to the franchise, and there’s still plenty of debate as to what is in a Krabby Patty. With plenty of episodes and even some spinoffs, it feels like SpongeBob and friends will be entertaining children for many years to come.

27. Rugrats (1991)

Rugrats premiered in 1991 on Nickelodeon as one of the first three Nicktoons, aimed at a younger audience than Doug and The Ren & Stimpy Show. It was a staple for kids throughout the ‘90s and into the early 2000s, with nine seasons about the adventures of babies Tommy, Chuckie, Phil, and Lil, with regular appearances from characters like the parents, Angelica, and (eventually) Dil. The show could swing from silly to serious, with memorable episodes that ranged from covering the grief of losing a parent to the spectacular Reptar On Ice, with a dinosaur love song that still rings in the hearts of plenty of ‘90s kids. There’s a reason why this Nicktoon show went on to inspire Rugrats movies and a 2021 reboot.

26. Harley Quinn

What happens when you blend DC Comics mythology with the kind of crass adult comedy you find in shows like Family Guy and South Park? You get Harley Quinn, which follows Kaley Cuoco’s version of The Joker’s former squeeze going on adventures with Lake Bell’s Poison Ivy, her best-friend-turned-girlfriend, and getting into hijinks with fellow supervillains and superheroes alike. One doesn’t need to be a hardcore DC fan to appreciate Harley Quinn, although that definitely helps with catching the deep-cut references and Easter eggs. As long as you're in the mood for clever writing and all the edgy, not-safe-for-kids humor you could ask for, Harley Quinn is a must-[censored]-watch.

25. Gravity Falls

With hands on our bible of beasts, baubles and bafflement — Journal 3, naturally — we can solemnly swear that Gravity Falls is the weirdest, wildest and gobblewonkiest project that’s ever come out of Disney, bursting through the castle doors like rainbows from a gnome’s mouth. Created by Alex Hirsch, the mystery-hinged funfest centers on a pair of siblings, Jason Ritter’s Dipper and Kristen Schaal’s Mabel, living with their kooky and perhaps unstable great uncle, Grunkle Stan (voiced by Hirsch). And for anyone who loves codes, hidden messages, deep lore, crytozoology, conspiracies, and everything sharing that fringe space, Gravity Falls is the holy grail of animated shows. (And that grail is filled with Pitt Cola.)

Despite nearly universal love and acclaim, Disney cut Gravity Falls’ run short at just two seasons, although the actual supplementary Journal 3 (which Hirsch co-wrote) is expansive and unique enough of an experience to at least count as a one-off special. There’s still hope that fans will one day go on more adventures in the Mystery Shack with Soos, assuming Bill Cipher doesn’t muck anything up, but even if these 40 episodes are all that ever get produced, it was perfection.

24. The Boondocks

Aaron McGruder’s adaptation of his own comic strip, The Boondocks, is a must-watch for those trying to better understand racial relations, culture, and racism in the United States. With the help of some voice acting from Regina King, Riley and his brother Huey navigate the Black experience of living in a predominantly white suburb.

The Boondocks thrived on taking hot-button issues and forcing the viewer to think about not just the issue but their own reaction and perspective of that issue. The Boondocks deserves applause for how it pushed the envelope in its four seasons and offered thoughtful commentary in a way few other animated shows can.

23. Justice League

Superheroes joining forces in the DC Animated Universe wasn’t anything new prior to 2001 thanks to special pairings in Superman: The Animated Series and Batman Beyond’s “The Call” two-parter, but Justice League placed teamwork front and center. Viewers watched Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter and Hawkgirl vanquish terrestrial, alien and magical threats together, and it was a blast.

Justice League continues to be appreciated for its crisp animation, mature storytelling and stellar character development, as well as for transforming John Stewart from a B-list character to the definitive Green Lantern for a generation. Justice League makes an effective crash course for those wanting to dive into DC lore without having read any of the comics.

22. Star Trek: Lower Decks

Being such a well known and praised franchise for decades, die-hard fans were quite surprised when it was announced back in 2019 that the Star Trek franchise would be taking a shot at an adult comedy with a brand new animated show, Star Trek: Lower Decks. Written by Rick and Morty’s Mike McMahan, the show takes place in the 24th century and instead of focusing on the high-ranking officers on the Bridge Crew, it gives viewers a glimpse into the “lower deck” officers with the more humble jobs that keep the ship running…smoothly? The show often references the rest of the Star Trek earlier entries and breaks down sci-fi tropes, often in a very NSFW way, and should delight both seasoned and new fans alike.

21. Sailor Moon

If you’re of a certain age, Sailor Moon may be the first anime you ever saw in your entire life. It’s one of those ‘90s anime that was sandwiched between Fist of the North Star in the ‘80s, and the explosion that was Dragon Ball Z, and Pokemon in the later ‘90s. Even so, Sailor Moon still managed to stand out, and it still stands out today. It may be because Serena (or Usagi, if you prefer sub over dub) is so dang loveable. As is her relationship with Darien (AKA, Tuxedo Mask).

And of course, we can’t forget the many other Sailor Scouts, as they all have their own unique personalities and inner worlds. In truth, Sailor Moon is the kind of cartoon that appeals to both young girls, but also grown men in their ‘30s and ‘40s, and really, we wouldn’t have it any other way.

20. One Piece

Shows like One Piece don’t come along often, and really, we’re not sure there is any other show on television that’s like it. It’s one thing to have an astronomically high episode count, but quite another for that story to be serialized and tell a great story of a pirate adventure that’s been wowing viewers for over two decades. The character development and growth of the Straw Hat Pirates and the world-building it boasts makes this an easy choice for top-tier anime, and it’s great that Netflix finally took notice and made an equally enjoyable live-action series.

It’s a modern-day epic story equatable to Gilgamesh or Beowulf, and feels like a lived-in universe more than any other anime out there. It’s totally worth the time investment for those who feel overwhelmed by tackling the 1000+ episodes of this ongoing series.

19. The Critic

The Critic, which revolves around New York film critic, Jay Sherman (voiced by A League of Their Own’s Jon Lovitz) sometimes hits way too close to home. What we mean is, with many of us being critics ourselves, a lot of Jay’s fussy qualms about movies seem super spot on, such as the eye roll he gave to the made-up movie, Beverly Hills RoboCanine Cop and a Half 2 (Starring Clint Eastwood!).

But that’s just the beauty of The Critic, because even though Jay was often fed up with having to review so many mediocre movies, he still loved his job, and stayed a movie fan to his core. Which, again, hits very close to home. Plus, it didn’t hurt that the series had The Simpsons writers, Al Jean and Mike Reiss as showrunners. It stinks!...that we don’t have any new episodes of The Critic to watch these days.

18. Daria

Daria once described herself to a therapist as actively working to make people dislike her. She’s not wrong. Daria's main character is, at times, deeply unlikeable. She speaks as if she’s a detached observer into her own life, making callous observations in a dry, dispassionate voice. She’s like a real life narrator, condescendingly commenting on the world around her as everyone else plays volleyball and talks about who they’re going to prom with.

Despite all her efforts, however, it’s impossible to hate Daria because she’s really funny and also not wrong most of the time. High school is often pretty stupid and populated with try-hards who don’t know themselves or have any idea where they’re going. Listening to Daria judge them feels like therapy, even if, deep down, we know she’s just as lost as they are.

17. Over The Garden Wall

What’s most impressive about Over The Garden Wall is just how effectively it slips under your skin and rattles you. The familiar sibling dynamic between Wirt (Elijah Wood) and his little brother Greg (Collin Dean) is disarming, as are the fantasy elements and talking animals… but never forgotten is the terror that comes from the show’s central premise: two boys getting lost in the woods and trying to find their way home. Each chapter starts with a light touch, but ends up gripping you by the throat and invading your nightmares.

The episodes brim with fantastic and horrific imagination - from the shadowy beasts that lead souls astray to the disturbing Auntie Whispers (voiced brilliantly by John Cleese). There are only 10 episodes and none of them run over 12 minutes, but Over The Wall leaves a deep impression, and it’s wonderful to revisit annually during Spooky Season.

16. King of the Hill

I tell you what, it’s hard to get better than King of the Hill. The long-running hit (which has a Mike Judge-led revival coming to Hulu soon), focused on Hank, Peggy and their son Bobby Hill, and their day to day life in the small town of Arlen, Texas. This slice-of-life animated show used something a lot of people probably take for granted - the absurdities of relationships, work, growing up, marriage and other aspects of daily life - turned them up to 11 and made every episode across 13 seasons feel like we were laughing at our own friends and family.

Don’t we all know at least one person obsessed with lawn care? Or one boy who ain’t right? If not, you’ll certainly wish you knew the residents of Rainey Street and could call them neighbors, because mundane, working class life has never looked like so much looney fun.

15. Mickey Mouse (2013 shorts)

Mickey Mouse is one of the most iconic characters in the history of animation. He’s been everywhere and done everything. What made the new series of shorts that began in 2013 and ended in 2023 special wasn’t that they did anything differently, (though certainly the visual style was completely new for the character) it was that they went back to the beginning and let Mickey be the Mickey he was always designed to be.

The modern run of shorts, simple called Mickey Mouse, let the big-eared protagonist be the hero, but they also let him be silly, angry, surprising, and ridiculous. They pack more gags into a five-minute short than would seem possible. The shorts were new, but also served as throwbacks to earlier Mickey eras when the character had more creative freedom before he became the icon we know. They were a breath of fresh air after decades of a stagnant and sterilized mouse.

14. The Legend Of Korra

There is sometimes debate on whether Avatar: The Last Airbender or its follow-up series, The Legend of Korra, is the better cartoon. But, when it comes to us, all we have to say is, why not both? Because honestly, you can’t lose with either series. That said, The Legend of Korra definitely is special in its own right. This is a more grown-up take on the world of Avatar, where each season introduces a new threat to our heroine, Korra (Voiced by the magnificent Janet Varney).

With each season, however, we see Korra adapt and change in ways that Aang never got to do, which is enhanced by Korra’s fantastic Team Avatar of Bolin, Mako, and of course, Asami. Oh, and speaking of Asami, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention how groundbreaking this show was, as Korrasami is still one of our favorite TV couples of all time.

13. South Park

Possibly the most controversial animated show of all time, South Park. With 26 seasons under their belt, Trey Parker and Matt Stones’ on Comedy Central follows the story of four young boys and the typically pop-culture chaos that surrounds them. The show’s intro blatantly states that the show “...should not be viewed by anyone.” South Park pulls no punches and gives no f’s. T

The creators have pulled some crazy stunts in the past, like attending the 2000 Oscars while being nominated, wearing dresses, and high on LSD. They have also attempted to get their own show canceled, been banned in China, as well as hitting a television milestone by going “bleep-free” with the use of the “f-bomb” live on air. It’s a show that could not be launched today, but since it has such huge weight in the zeitgeist, expect to see some more offensive Colorado antics for some time.

12. Star Wars Rebels

Star Wars Rebels picked up the action set in the galaxy far, far away after The Clone Wars ended, and the animated series ran from 2014-2018 on Disney XD to expand on the era ahead of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story with a found family of original characters. Not only did the show prove that Star Wars doesn’t need to rely on legacy characters like Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker to tell a fantastic story and deliver arguably one of the best deaths in the franchise’s history, but it set up some stellar stories that are being expanded in live-action with Ahsoka.

There was no certainty that Rebels would succeed back in the beginning despite the popularity of The Clone Wars, but the story was solid during its original run and stands the test of time for first-time watchers and re-watchers alike. And its characters, ships and plots have remained core to the universe even beyond its conclusion.

11. Invincible

Invincible was released for those with an Amazon Prime subscription during the height of superhero mania. Despite concerns about superhero fatigue, the animated series carved stands out within the genre. Namely by being the animated answer to The Boys, and being an R-rated and wildly violent cartoon show. Invincible focuses on the title character aka Mark Grayson who is a young person coming into his own as a wildly popular hero who boasts the same powers, if not the same prowess, as his father Omni- Man, who is revealed to be something quite a bit more dangerous than anyone readily expected.

Adapted rather faithfully from Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker's comic book, the story is emotional, the action sequences are bloody and brutal, and Invincible’s voice cast is led by A-list talent like Steven Yeun, J.K. Simmons, Sandra Oh, and more. And the show is so popular that Omni-Man spawned a character in Mortal Kombat 1.

10. Justice League Unlimited

Everything that was great about Justice League got ratcheted up a notch with Justice League Unlimited. Thanks to the team’s founding heroes expanding its ranks — minus Hawkgirl, who returned later in Season 1 — this continuation allowed the DC Animated Universe to shine the spotlight on even lesser-known heroes, from Green Arrow and The Question to Booster Gold and Huntress. Like its predecessor, the show wholeheartedly embraced its printed page while also putting unique spins on its starring protagonists and antagonists.

Although there were various standalone episodes peppered throughout Justice League Unlimited, the show was at its best when delving into its serialized stories that built off plot threads from the previous DC Animated Universe shows, namely the Cadmus and Secret Society arcs. That makes Unlimited arguably feel like the most comic book-y entry in this shared continuity. While the DCAU would be revisited a handful of other times following the show’s conclusion, Unlimited definitely marked the end of an era, and it stuck the landing wonderfully.

9. Phineas and Ferb

The concept of two brothers spending their summer vacation trying to figure out a way to spend it comes with endless possibilities, and Phineas and Ferb explored them creatively and expertly. Following a formula where every episode the titular characters are always finding an over-the-top thing to do or build. Meanwhile, their sister Candace tries to bust them while their pet platypus Perry goes on a mission to stop his nemesis Dr. Doofenshmirtz and his latest -enator.

Over the years, Phineas and Ferb mastered its formula and had a blast with it. Watching the brothers build a roller-coaster, create a backyard beach, get their parents' favorite band back together and oh so much more was not only fun but creatively invigorating. Not to mention, many episodes also featured incredible original music – like the Emmy-nominated song “Ain’t Got Rhythm” – meaning you’ll be humming along and thinking about this show long after the episode ends.

8. Looney Tunes

To describe Looney Tunes as a classic is completely appropriate, and yet, somehow not quite enough. This collection of animated shorts (produced from 1930 to 1969 and then revived in the late 1970s) has provided generations of audiences with wacky adventures featuring some of the most recognizable and quotable cartoon characters ever created. Even if you’ve only seen a handful of the many, many cartoons made by Warner Bros., you likely know that Bugs Bunny usually outsmarts everyone, Sylvester and Tweety are hilarious adversaries, Daffy Duck is at his funniest when he’s angry or on the losing end of anything, and that Roadrunner is way more trouble than it’s worth to Wile E. Coyote.

Looney Tunes is yet another example of how something could, technically, be pleasantly silly enough for kids, but just mature enough to get and keep the attention of adults. (Who doesn’t know what it’s like to repeatedly miss your target like Elmer Fudd?) When you watch one of these belly-laugh inducing entries, the only thing stopping you from watching another (and another) will be a power outage… That’s a joke, son!

7. Rick and Morty

A decade ago, if you asked us to name our Top Five most thoroughly inventive, consistently thrilling, amusingly thought-provoking, and deeply moving science-fiction series, we would have never guessed an Adult Swim original comedy would make the cut. Nevertheless, Rick and Morty — co-created by the now-fired Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon — has risen above its crude animation, and even cruder humor, to be widely remembered as, not just one of the funniest sci-fi TV shows, but among the genre’s all-time finest.

It is no surprise the series was bred from a Back to the Future parody short, as the pairing of alcoholic scientist Rick Sanchez with his grandson, Morty Smith, feels like a more volatile Marty and Doc situation, which is also just one of the many ways the series brilliantly pokes fun at and pays homage to pop culture. However, the best Rick and Morty episodes — in addition to introducing eye-popping, otherworldly, and downright absurd concepts — honor the series’ more relatable themes, such as family and existential dread, which cleverly sneak up on you while you experience the duo's latest crazy adventure through time and space.

6. Attack On Titan

There’s a lot of great anime out there, from wholesome shows like Spy X Family to much more action-heavy series like Demon Slayer and JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. But when it comes to anime that just generally rivals some of the greatest television shows of all-time, then look no further than Attack on Titan, which we once called the best under-the-radar show on television. Because no show swerved like Attack on Titan did, and it all falls upon its protagonist/antagonist, Eren Yeager, who the audience is firmly behind…until we aren’t.

That’s right, Attack on Titan initially seems very simple in premise — Titans bad, people good — but soon changes dramatically to the point where we wonder if we may have had it all wrong the entire time. Are the titans were the ones who were misunderstood, and the humans were the bad guys. Plus, this is the rare exception where the anime may be superior to the manga, and if you know anything about manga, that is no small feat. This is an anime for the ages.

5. Bluey

Bluey has simply become must-watch programming for families, and don’t be surprised when Mom and Dad find themselves just as entertained as the little ones. The infectious theme song ropes you in as it introduces Mum (Chilli), Dad (Bandit), little sister Bingo and big sister Bluey, but it’s the heart-filled interactions between the Blue Heelers that have kept people coming back. Some episodes are laugh-out-loud funny — “I slipped on my beans!” — and others will hit you right in the feels and cause tears to flow freely.

Parents have become endeared to Bluey because it inspires us to be better. It encourages us to play with our kids and gives us permission to act silly in public. Why care what strangers think if you can make your kids laugh, right? But Bluey also shows the harder moments. Sometimes Bandit and Chilli don’t have time to play. Sometimes they don’t know what to say or just need some peace and quiet after partying too hard on New Year’s Eve. We need permission to want those things in real life, too.

4. The Simpsons

The Simpsons is the most popular and successful animated show in history because it’s hilarious in so many different ways. No matter what your sense of humor is, there’s almost certainly a Simpsons character that’s funny in the exact way you’re looking for. From highbrow literary references thrown out as asides to people falling over and getting injured in embarrassing or gruesome ways, and everything in between, each episode is jam-packed with jokes intended to do very different things and to appeal to very different people.

If it happened in a lesser show, it might feel like pandering, but with The Simpsons, the "whatever sticks" approach always felt like layers and variance. That’s a testament to the quality of the writing. Most shows that try to do too much are overtly better at one of the things they’re trying to do, which makes the rest seem less than or out of place. Not The Simpsons. Thanks to fantastic, complicated leads and the funniest supporting network of side characters in TV history, the writers can be funny in so many unique, challenging, satirical, irreverent and sometimes prophetic ways, and they have for more than 750 delightful episodes.

3. Avatar: The Last Airbender

From scathing commentary about imperialism to discussions of spirituality, trauma and extinction, Nickelodeon's Avatar: The Last Airbender packs deep philosophical meaning into its animated stories. This universe, centered around people boasting the ability to bend elements, follows Avatar Aang on his journey to master the elements and defeat the Fire Lord. This series from Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko is a masterful classic, filled with fun side-quests like the trio’s journey to Omashu, as well as complex politics surrounding the Royal Fire Nation family, sassy characters (we’re of course talking about Sokka and Toph), insanely well-developed story arcs like Zuko’s, and it's all taied together with mind-boggling action,

Like the Avatar, ATLA gets stronger with time, and as Aang mastered the elements, the series grew with him. No matter how old you are, this series hits hard, and the more you watch it the better it gets. Avatar: The Last Airbender seems destined to always feel timeless, and like the Avatar’s powers, this show will likely continue to be passed down through generations for years to come.

2. BoJack Horseman

It’s understandable if you watch the first episode of BoJack Horseman and don’t quite click with it. It’s a show that throws you headfirst into its world  – providing a deep inside look at Hollywood and celebrity in a reality where humans coexist with humanoid animals. That being said, as one of the first Netflix original creations, it’s a series that greatly benefited from the streamer’s binge model, as to dig deeper into the show is to fall in love with it and everything it has to say.

All six seasons of BoJack Horseman are witty, clever, and hilarious, with countless background gags that make it incredibly rewarding on rewatch – but what makes it special is just how real it is. The aesthetic may be silly, but the characters are all ultimately broken people and there is an unflinching and powerful examination of their individual damage over the course of the show. The penultimate episode of every season manages to be as emotionally devastating as anything that Hollywood has ever produced for the small screen, and each one is both shocking and mesmerizing.

1. Batman: The Animated Series

Unquestionably one of the best examples of any animated TV show appealing to both kids and adults, Batman: The Animated Series continues to stand as perhaps the greatest triumph in the media history of DC Comics’ Caped Crusader. BTAS, and by extension The New Batman Adventures, followed in the footsteps of the Tim Burton Batman movies by bringing the character back to his darker roots and inserting viewers into an anachronistic Gotham City dripping with noir flavor. Here we have a Batman who strikes fear into the hearts of criminals just as easily as he inspires the innocent.

Anchored by the late Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne, Batman: The Animated Series effectively walked the line of honoring the source material while also putting unique spins on characters like The Joker, Mr. Freeze and Two-Face, while also launching neo-icons like Harley Quinn, Renee Montoya and a handful of others who’ve become mythos mainstays. Even ignoring that BTAS launched the beloved DC Animated Universe, Bruce Timm and Eric Radomski's show serves for many as the gold(black) standard by which all other Batman adaptations are judged. 1992 may be a long time ago, but BTAS still feels wonderfully timeless.

Hopefully the next 80 years of animated series can stand up to the classic eras that have already come and gone, as well as everything happening currently. But for anyone who hasn't yet watched everything listed above, now you know the assignment, mmk?

The 2024 TV schedule is in the early days of the always anticipated fall schedule, with a few months left to go in one of the most cancellation-heavy years in recent memory. Which means there's plenty of time for studios, networks and streaming platforms to pull the plug on even more favorites.

Here’s a rundown of all the big TV series that were suddenly canceled or ended their already doomed runs this year, as well as everything that came to more of an amicable and pre-planned conclusion. (This article will be updated regularly as announcements are made.)

That ‘90s Show (Netflix)

Fans were happy to start "hanging out down the street" with Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp's Red and Kitty Foreman for Netflix's sequel series That '90s Show, which brought back nearly all the '70s Show characters that made logical sense. But it seems as if not enough former generations were tuning in, as Netflix pulled the plug on the multicamera comedy in October 2024.

Final Episodes: Aired August 22, 2024

The Serpent Queen (Starz)

Starz's historical drama The Serpent Queen spent two seasons exploring the life and accomplishments of French Queen Catherine de' Medici during her 16th century reign. Though Season 3 was expected, with the cast options already locked down, the network canceled the show in October 2024. However, the creative team is developing a potential spinoff with Minnie Driver as Queen Elizabeth I.

Final Episode: Aired August 30

Parish (AMC)

Following Better Call Saul's ending, Giancarlo Esposito reteamed with AMC for the crime drama Parish, based on the UK series The Driver, about a former criminal who returns to the underworld after his son is brutally murdered. But while the star earned some priase for his performance, Parish itself was deemed to be middling, likely leading to its cancellation in October 2024.

Kaos (Netflix)

Initially making waves for being the show where Jeff Goldblum plays a Greek god, Kaos' wild plotting was enjoyed by enough people to keep the show in Netflix's Top 10 for a month or so. Unfortunately, the service made the call in October 2024 to cancel the big-budget project, spite the finale ending on a cliffhanger.

Final Episode: Aired August 29

Chucky (Syfy/USA)

Despite gaining mostly universal acclaim from horror fans of all ages, Don Mancini's gory small-screen horror Chucky was put back into the Good Guys Doll box and placed back on the shelf. At this point, it's unclear where Macini will attempt to produce Season 4, but he definitely seems keen on making it happen, based in part on the strength of fans' #RenewChucky social media campaign.

Final Episode: Aired May 1, 2024

Dead Boy Detectives (Netflix)

First developed for Max, Dead Boy Detectives was brought into the Netflix fold as part of a shared universe with Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman, and premiered to acclaim in April 2024, remaining in the streamer’s Top 10 list for a few weeks before falling out. Netflix dropped the bomb in August that the supernatural mystery series was canceled, with the slight chance for characters to pop back up in Sandman Season 2.

Final Episodes: Aired April 25, 2024

Pretty Little Liars (Max)

The fourth TV series adapting the world of author Sara Shepard’s hugely popular YA novel thrillers, Pretty Little Liars aired for two seasons on Max under the respective subtitles Original Sin and Summer School, with a couple of O.G. actors helping the familiarize audiences with the quasi-rebooted story. Though it wasn’t “A” who was to blame, the streaming spinoff was canceled in September 2024.

Final Episode: Aired June 20, 2024

Time Bandits (Apple TV+)

The TV show that paired up Friends vet Lisa Kudrow and What We Do in the Shadows’ co-conceivers Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement, Apple TV+’s episodic adaptation of Terry Gilliam’s ‘80s classic Time Bandits caused all kinds of timeline shenanigans in July and August 2024. Unfortunately, none of those actions secured the series a second season, and the streaming service confirmed its cancellation in September 2024.

Final Episode: Aired August 21, 2024

Velma (Max)

Despite initial excitement for Scooby-Doo entering the adult animation realm, Max's Velma went over with audiences about as well as monsters' scheme go when Mystery, Inc. is on the case. Mindy Kaling's creative path struck a raw nerve with many who just wanted to see Scooby-Doo, and following two seasons and a Halloween special, Velma was canceled in October 2024.

Final Episode: Aired October 3, 2024

The Boys (Prime Video)

Creator Eric Kripe’s initial goal of a five-season run is becoming a prophecy realized, as it was revealed ahead of the bonkers Season 4 finale that The Boys Season 5 will be the hilariously dark and twisted superhero hit’s final run. The showrunner told us it will be the “colliding between Butcher and Homelander” that fans have been waiting for.

Final Episodes: Airing TBA 2025

Unstable (Netflix)

Beacon 23 (MGM+)

Based on the short stories written by author Hugh Howey, Beacon 23 was in development for years ahead of its eventual 2023 streaming debut, where it impressed audiences with its imaginative scope, if not its characters. After two seasons, the Lena Heady-starring sci-fi drama was canceled by Amazon MGM Studios in September 2024.

Final Episode: Aired May 26, 2024

9-1-1: Lone Star (Fox)

When the Rob Lowe-fronted spinoff 9-1-1: Lone Star didn’t follow its predecessor to ABC, many fans suspected the worst, and reports about stalled contract negotiations only stoked those flames. Less than a month ahead of its Fall TV return, Fox confirmed that the Texas-set drama’s fifth season will be its final outing.

Final Episode: Airing February 3, 2025

Orphan Black: Echoes (AMC)

The fan-fave sci-fi series Orphan Black returned to the zeitgeist with the Krysten Ritter-led spinoff Orphan Black: Echoes, which dropped its entire season exclusively in Australia back in November 2023, seven months before it landed on AMC in June 2024. But for all that diehard fans were pumped to return to this clone-filled universe, the lone season was considered inferior to the O.G. series, and was canceled in September 2024.

Final Episode: Aired August 25, 2024

Wicked Tuna (NatGeo)

Since 2012, Wicked Tuna has given cable viewers an in-depth look at the trials, tribulations and financial windfalls of the fishing industry surrounding Gloucester, Massachusetts; even its Outer Banks spinoff aired for eight seasons. But the NatGeo series became a victim of parent company Disney’s stricter budgeting decisions for its linear TV networks, with the network announcing the cancellation in August 2024.

Final Episode: Aired May 26, 2024

Life & Beth (Hulu)

Amy Schumer’s first scripted TV creation following Inside Amy Schumer (and her stand-up specials, obviously) was Hulu’s introspective dramedy Life & Beth. Its first season was a hit with critics and with viewers upon its 2022 release, earning a second season from the streamer. That second effort, which dropped in February 2024, didn’t match the buzz of the first, and Hulu canceled several months later.

Final Episodes: Aired February 16, 2024

The Acolyte (Disney+)

Disney+ took Star Wars fans to the High Republic era with The Acolyte, which spent nearly its entire run on Disney+ caught between a fervent fandom and absolute vitriol. But despite all of the overtly strong opinions on both sides of the aisle, the overall viewership for the streaming original apparently didn’t justify its massive budget. Disney+ waited until after SDCC and D23 to announced The Acolyte’s cancellation in August 2024.

Final Episode: Aired July 16, 2024

The Conners (ABC)

While it technically wasn’t meant to last longer than a season, The Conners managed to join its predecessor Roseanne in making it beyond 100 episodes. The cast’s contracts are renewed each and every year, making renewals an annual concern for viewers, and it amicably agreed by all involved this time around that Season 7 would be the final run, with six “very big event” episodes set to debut in early 2025.

Final Episode: Airing TBA Early 2025

Power Book IV: Force (Starz)

Power’s third spinoff, Book IV: Force, furthered the criminal dealings of Joseph Sikora’s Tommy Egan, with a third season order coming from Starz in December 2023, around a month after the second season concluded. During the midst of its hiatus, Starz’s CEO Jeffrey Hirsch revealed the network’s cost-saving tactics included ordering more new shows instead of keeping expensive ones on the air. Three months later, in June 2024, the news dropped that Season 3 would be Force’s last one.

Final Episodes: Airing TBA 2024/2025

Station 19 (ABC)

Even after prior showrunner Krista Vernoff exited the role at the end of Season 6, Station 19’s fate didn’t seem to be in jeopardy. But after the firefighter drama returned to post-strike production in December 2023, ABC announced that the seventh season would be the final stretch for Jaina Lee Ortiz, Jason George and the rest of the actors comprising the firestation’s crew.

Final Episode: Aired May 30, 2024

Bosch: Legacy (Amazon Freevee)

Titus Welliver reprised the role of author Michael Connelly’s beloved investigator Harry Bosch for the Legacy spinoff, which was renewed for a third season ahead of its Season 2 debut in 2023. In September 2024, Amazon MGM Studios confirmed that this spinoff will be concluding following its Season 3 arrival in 2025. Fans can still look forward to the currently untitled spinoff starring Maggie Q, which is set to arrive in Fall 2025.

Final Episode: Airing TBA 2025

Walker (The CW)

Amid all the big cancellations that have gone down at The CW since it was bought out by Nexstar, Jared Padalecki’s Walker seemed to be a safe bet for renewals, but that streak of luck ended on May 21 when the network made it official that the western-tinged drama would be ending with its ongoing fourth season, a little over a year after its spinoff Walker: Independence was canceled after a single season.

Final Episode: Aired June 26, 2024

Arcane (Netflix)

Spinning out of League of Legends to become the first streaming series to win the Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program, Netflix’s Arcane instantly became a darling for both critics and fans with its nine-episode debut season. First renewed in November 2021, the highly anticipated second season is set to arrive in November 2024, but its creators shook the fanbase with the June 2024 reveal that Season 2 will conclude the Riot Games production.

Final Episodes: Airing November 2024

Tokyo Vice (Max)

First ordered to series in 2019, Max’s crime drama Tokyo Vice finally debuted in 2022, with Ansel Elgort portraying journalist Jake Adelstein (who wrote the memoir source material), and Ken Watanabe as his guiding light of a Toyko detective. The second season aired from February-April 2024, concluding its story with the finale “Endgame.” In June 2024, via THR, the show’s producers confirmed that the show would not be returning for Season 3, and that it was always envisioned for a two-season run, with Elgort only having signed on for two years.

Final Episode: Aired April 4, 2024

UnPrisoned (Hulu)

The stellar duo of Kerry Washington and Delroy Lindo headed up Hulu's UnPrisoned, which centered on the daughter-father relationship following the latter's release from prison, but remained a fun time despite the heavy issues. Washington herself revealed in September 2024 how "super duper disappointed" she is that Season 3 would not be happening, and that Hulu had canceled the Onyx Collective project.

Final Episodes: Aired July 17, 2024

Extended Family (NBC)

Despite having Mike O’Malley as a creator and a star trio in Jon Cryer, Donald Faison and Abigail Spencer, the NBC sitcom Extended Family was one of many shows whose production was sidelined right in the middle of production due to the Hollywood strikes, and though it was able to start filming again relatively quickly, the network gave it an arguably ill-timed pre-Christmas premiere, but that still ended up being its largest audience and demo rating, with neither rising to the same heights at any other point.

Final Episode: Aired March 26. 2024

The Winter King (MGM+)

The UK historical fiction adaptation The Winter King, based on Bernard Cornwell’s Warlord Chronicles novels, arrived on MGM+ in 2023 and won over critics and quite a few fans with its action-packed take on Arthurian legend, with Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. vet Iain De Caestecker as the fabled king. The long wait for any Season 2 updates wasn’t exactly a vote of confidence, and the decision was made to cancel it in September 2024, though being a co-production with ITV could mean a potential return if another studio steps in.

Final Episode: Aired November 5, 2023

The Brothers Sun (Netflix)

Fronted by Michelle Yoeh, Justin Chien, Sam Song Li and more, The Brothers Sun high-kicked its way onto Netflix with audience-pleasing verve, telling the story of a Taiwanese mobster attempting to keep his mother safe in the aftermath of his father’s assassination. Despite positive reviews from critics and fans, and despite having Ryan Murphy’s producer partner Brad Falchuk as co-creator, Netflix canceled The Brothers Sun and sent it into the sunset in early March 2024.

Final Episode: Aired January 4, 2024

The Witcher (Netflix)

In December 2022, Liam Hemsworth was announced to be replacing Henry Cavill in Netflix's fantasy adaptation The Witcher Season 4 and beyond. Then in April 2024, as the fourth season's production start was revealed, Netflix officially put in the order for a fifth and final season, confirming that the final three novels in the series will be brought to live-action in those seasons.

Final Episode: Airing TBA 2025/2026

The Big Door Prize (Apple TV+)

Based on M.O. Walsh’s novel of the same name, Apple TV+’s comedy The Big Door Prize charmed many viewers with its cozy tale of a small town turned upside down by a mysteriously prophetic machine. Its second season was ordered in April 2023 soon after the first premiered; on the opposite end of fortune, the streaming service canceled the Chris O’Dowd-starring show two weeks after its second season wrapped.

Final Episode: Aired June 12, 2024

Death and Other Details (Hulu)

Despite our efforts to not allow Death and Other Details to fall victim to Hulu’s cancellation spree, the streamer announced that the Mandy Patinkin-led murder mystery would not return for a second season, continuing the frustrating practice of canceling shows after just one season. This is especially upsetting, as creators Mike Weiss and Heidi Cole McAdams had originally hoped for five to seven seasons, and had built the potential for longevity into the show’s DNA.

Final Episode: Aired March 5, 2024

That Girl Lay Lay (Nickelodeon)

It’s been a rough time over at Nickelodeon with the airing of the docuseries Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV and amidst the fallout, the network has quietly canceled two series, including That Girl Lay Lay. The show, which ran for two seasons, featured Sadie getting into some pretty wild situations with Lay Lay, the AI avatar who Sadie wished to life.

Final Episode: Aired March 20, 2024

NCIS: Hawaii (CBS)

The fourth series in the NCIS franchise, NCIS: Hawai’i debuted in 2021 to decent numbers, and though the average stats dipped in Season 2, they rose back up for the strike-delayed third season. Unfortunately, those ten episodes now serve as the unplanned final season, as CBS canceled it weeks before the finale aired, much to the surprise and chagrin of the cast and crew. Making matters worse is the idea that CBS’ already filled schedule was more the cause than anything wrong with NCIS: Hawai’i itself.

Final Episode: Aired May 6, 2024

The Handmaid's Tale (Hulu)

Fans have had quite a while to anticipate Elisabeth Moss’ swan song as June Osborne in The Handmaid’s Tale. Hulu ordered up the sixth and final season of the popular dystopian drama back in September 2022, just ahead of the Season 5 premiere. Since then: a lot of waiting for more details.

Final Episode: Airing Spring 2025

American Rust (Prime Video)

Showtime originally ordered up American Rust, an adaptation of Philipp Meyer’s 2009 novel, with Jeff Daniels and Maura Tierney leading the cast during its Season 1 run in 2021. The network dropped the cancellation axe after Season 1 ended, though Amazon stepped in with a Season 2 order months later. Those episodes hit Prime Video starting in March 2024, but not long after Tierney joined Law & Order’s upcoming season, American Rust’s second cancellation was reported.

Final Episodes: Aired March 28, 2024

Renegade Nell (Disney+)

Veteran UK screenwriter Sally Wainwright created a fictional 18th-century England for the action-adventure fantasy Renegade Nell, centering on a highway bandit who is framed for murder and then teams with a magical sprite to save her future. However, it appears the impressively produced series did not move the viewership needle quite enough on Disney+ to convince execs to order a second season, per Deadline, and it was canceled in July 2024.

Final Episodes: Aired March 29, 2024

My Lady Jane (Prime Video)

Novelist Gemma Burgess adapted the Jodi Meadows alt-history romance My Lady Jane for Amazon MGM Studios, and viewers were eagerly transported to the 16th century across the eight-episode debut season. Unfortunately for the fanbase, the streaming service revealed My Lady Jane’s cancellation news just six weeks after it premiered, sparking the creator to set up a petition to save the show.

Final Episodes: Aired June 27, 2024

Black Cake (Hulu)

Having Oprah Winfrey as an executive producer helped bring eyeballs to Hulu’s adaptation of Charmaine Wilkerson’s same-named novel, and critics and fans alike appeared to adore it. Unfortunately, the streaming service offered zero updates for the show across much of 2024 before confirming its doomed fate in September, with Deadline reporting that Netflix was in contention to pick the drama up for second season and ultimately chose not to.

Final Episode: Aired December 6, 2023

Reginald The Vampire (Syfy)

Spider-Man trilogy and Tarot star Jacob Batalon brought his jovial talents to the small screen in 2022 to sink his fangs into the vampire horror-comedy Reginald the Vampire, an adaptation of Johnny B. Truant’s Fat Vampire book series.The second season arrived in May 2024, but sadly didn’t inspire a third season, with Syfy pulling the plug less than a week after its Season 2 finale.

Final Episode: Aired July 10, 2024

Erin & Aaron (Nickelodeon)

The second series that got the ax from the kids network was Erin & Aaron, a one-season show that starred Ava Ro and Jensen Gering as step-siblings with different personalities who bond over music after their parents get married. Its 12-episode season concluded last June.

Final Episode: Aired June 29, 2023

CSI: Vegas (CBS)

The CSI-verse was resurrected in 2021 for CBS' follow-up crime drama CSI: Vegas, with several O.G. actors (William Petersen, Jorja Fox, Marg Helgenberger) returning during the three-season run. The Season 3 viewership was notably higher than in the second, but the network backed itself into a cancellation over a reported lack of space in its upcoming primetime schedules.

Final Episode: Aired May 19, 2024

Obliterated (Netflix)

Amidst the streaming success of Cobra Kai, creators Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg co-created a completely different kind of action dramedy with Obliterated, in which Nick Zano, Shelley Hennig and more tried to stop a nuclear attack while under the influence of all manner of booze and drugs. Less than three months later, Netflix put a stop to the mission and canceled it.

Final Episode: Aired November 30, 2023

Our Flag Means Death (Max)

Max’s pirate-tastic original Our Flag Means Death debuted to much acclaim with both seasons, winning over fans with its mix of comedy, swashbuckling, and relationships between characters played by Taika Waititi, Rhys Darby and more. Max execs did not share any specific reasons for the early January cancellation news, but given all the critical attention, its fate likely came down to a limited audience.

Final Episode: Aired October 26, 2023

Uncoupled (Showtime)

After Showtime saved Neil Patrick Harris’ rom-com series Uncoupled from Netflix cancellation, that network too has decided not to go forward with a second season. It’s the latest example of a series getting canceled, uncanceled, then canceled again.

Final Episode: Aired July 29, 2022

What If...? (Disney+)

Though part of Marvel’s animated universe of alternate timelines and stories will continue with the upcoming series Marvel Zombies, What If…? proper is set to wrap up its run with the upcoming third season, which will reportedly feature an Agatha Harkness musical number and more. Executive producer Brad Winderbaum more or less confirmed the animated anthology’s fate in May 2024, referring to the third season as the culmination of a trilogy, with Jeffrey’s Wright’s The Watcher getting a suitable conclusion.

Final Episodes: Airing TBA

HouseBroken (Fox)

A more mature and nuanced take on the Secret Lives of Pets approach, HouseBroken followed a group of neighborhood animals who met for a therapy group, with Lisa Kudrow, Will Forte, Tony Hale and more TV vets in the voice cast. The show ran for two seasons, with the second ending in August 2023, and it wasn’t until May 2024 when Fox officially confirmed the animated comedy was canceled. According to Animation Magazine, network reps cited low ratings as the reason behind the ax dropping.

Final Episode: Aired August 6, 2023

La Brea (NBC)

Natalie Zea and Eoin Macken’s super-bonkers sci-fi drama La Brea has faced an uphill battle critically, but developed a fanbase with its unpredictable twists. Though NBC wasn’t willing to keep the show going for much longer, the network ordered a shortened third season in January 2023 that was revealed to be the final run.

Final Episode: Aired February 13, 2024

Scavengers Reign (Max)

Based on their 2016 short film Scavengers, Joseph Bennett and Charles Huettner’s adult-skewing animated sci-fi tale Scavengers Reign quickly won over fans and critics upon meeting its cargo ship crew in October 2023, and it continued gaining word of mouth in the months that followed. So it was somewhat surprising in May 2024 when Max suddenly canceled the series without a second season. There may be good news coming, however, as Netflix acquired the first season, and will choose whether or not to produce a second season after its debut.

Final Episode: Aired November 9, 2023

Squid Game (Netflix)

Netflix debuted its biggest series ever, the high-octane stressfest Squid Game, all the way back in September 2021, and it’s become both highly influential and highly merchandisable in the years since. Surprisingly, months ahead of the second season’s streaming premiere, the company revealed that Squid Game will end at a later date with Season 3. (The competition series Squid Game: The Challenge will be back for a second season as well.)

Final Episodes: Airing TBA 2025

Raven’s Home (Disney Channel)

In a rare case of a cancellation with good news attached, Disney Channel execs announced Raven-Symoné’s sitcom spinoff Raven’s Home would not be returning for Season 7, and the sixth season that ended in September 2023 would be its swan song. However, Disney also set up a new overall creative deal with Raven-Symoné that includes a pilot order for the new spinoff Alice in the Palace, with Mykal-Michelle Harris set to reprise the role.

Final Episode: Aired September 23, 2023

Hightown (Starz)

Starz’s crime drama Highland took Monica Raymund’s state trooper Jackie Quiñones to some dark places in its first two seasons, and she’ll have one more shot at bringing justice to Cape Cod’s endangered sex workers. The premium cabler ordered up a third season for Hightown in March 2022, and only revealed during the lead-up to its release that Season 3 will be the final one.

Final Episode: Aired March 8, 2024

Outer Range (Prime Video)

Josh Brolin and Imogen Poots won over viewers as Outer Range’s Royal and Autumn across two seasons of the oddball sci-fi mystery western. Despite any critical acclaimed earned by its two seasons, the Amazon-owned Prime Video canceled Outer Range in July 2024, two months after that second batch of episodes dropped all at once, unlike Season 1’s weekly releases.

Final Episodes: Aired May 16, 2024

Young Sheldon (CBS)

Though The Big Bang Theory lasted for 12 seasons on CBS, it wouldn’t have been so logical for its prequel Young Sheldon to match that span, given its ever-aging star Iain Armitage. So even though co-creators Chuck Lorre and Steve Molaro have stated the story could have gone on, CBS revealed the previously ordered seventh season would be the final one, and that its storyline would continue in a Georgie and Mandy spinoff.

Final Episode: Aired May 16, 2024

Pretty Freeking Scary (Disney Channel)

Disney went dark with the horror-tinged comedy Pretty Freeking Scary, which starred Eliana Su'a as a 14-year-old who died in a manhole accident and returned from the dead as the Grim Reaper’s second banana. Fans of the series, which was legitimately based on an American Greetings accessory line, had to wait nearly an entire year for the House of Mouse to confirm that Season 2 wasn’t coming back to life.

Final Episode: Aired August 18, 2023

Evil (Paramount+)

One of TV’s most unpredictable series, the supernatural genre-masher Evil majorly flourished upon moving from CBS to Paramount+, and was able to take its tag team of science and religion to some dark and bizarro places three seasons so far, with the upcoming fourth season set to serve as its final romp. The show was officially released canceled in mid-February, though with four additional episodes ordered to help close out the story, though Katja Herbers still jokingly attempted to get Netflix’s attention for a possible renewal, but nothing shook out from that.

Final Episode: Aired August 22, 2024

Star Wars: The Bad Batch (Disney+)

Though not the most vital of all the Star Wars shows on Disney+, the action-filled animated series Star Wars: The Bad Batch has still been a core part of the franchise’s small-screen success. And the Dave Filoni-created series will wrap up its clone-heavy story with a 15-episode third season.

Final Episode: Aired May 1, 2024

What We Do In The Shadows (FX)

Quite possibly one of the greatest movie-to-TV adaptations/spinoffs, FX’s gore-soaked and award-winning comedy What We Do in the Shadows was initially ordered for its fifth and sixth seasons back in June 2022. It was only in December 2023 that the network fully confirmed that Season 6 will be the last one, likely due in part to a steady decline in linear viewers.

Final Episode: Airing TBA 2024

The Good Doctor (ABC)

To the shock of TV viewers and industry insiders alike, 2024 was less than two weeks old when ABC canceled The Good Doctor, despite it being ratings-consistent, and despite the reported interest from cast members about continuing on. It’s unclear exactly what went into the decision, from strike delays to financial wariness, but fans will at least have the chance to say goodbye via the 10-episode Season 7.

Final Episode: Aired May 21 2024

Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO)

Larry David’s cringe-centric HBO comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm has been around since 2000, but with spaced-out seasons for the bulk of its run, based on when its creator was inspired enough to return to Faux Larry’s world. And after years of speculation about when the always hilarious series could actually end, David made the pretty-pretty-pretty good decision to make Season 14 the last one.

Final Episode: Aired April 7, 2024

My Dad The Bounty Hunter (Netflix)

Co-starring Laz Alonso, Yvonne Orji and Priah Ferguson, My Dad the Bounty Hunter gave viewers a lot to enjoy with its all-genre tale of a father and his kids who discover that he’s a bounty hunter of otherworldly entities. Both of its seasons debuted on Netflix in 2023, despite critical acclaim, its creator confirmed with WhatsOnNetflix in June 2024 that the streaming giant opted not to order a third season.

Final Episodes: Aired August 17, 2023

Halo (Paramount+)

After a long trip through development hell, the live-action video game adaptation Halo finally arrived on Paramount+ in 2022, earning much critical and viewer praise. The second season, which aired from February to March 2024, was generally perceived as being even more engaging and easy to follow. Shockingly to many, the streaming service canceled Halo in July 2024, four months after Season 2 ended, though producers were actively seeking out a new home in the aftermath.

Final Episode: Aired March 21, 2024

So Help Me Todd (CBS)

As one of the more unique original series in CBS' primetime lineup, So Help Me Todd won over audiences with its offbeat mother-son relationship and non-procedural storylines, and was drawing in 4+ million viewers with nightly episodes, with millions more watching in delayed viewing. But with its upcoming programming slate already filled to the brim, the network pulled the plug on the Wright family's investigations.

Final Episode: Aired May 16, 2024

Life & Beth (Hulu)

Amy Schumer’s first scripted TV creation following Inside Amy Schumer (and her stand-up specials, obviously) was Hulu’s introspective dramedy Life & Beth. Its first season was a hit with critics and with viewers upon its 2022 release, earning a second season from the streamer. That second effort, which dropped in February 2024, didn’t match the buzz of the first, and Hulu canceled several months later.

Final Episodes: Aired February 16, 2024

Clone High (Max)

First existing on MTV from 2002-03, Clone High was brought out of cryogenics by Max, which ordered up two follow-up seasons of the historical figure-filled comedy. Unfortunately, the creative team set up a similar cliffhanger situation as the O.G. series, and the streaming service confirmed it will remain unresolved by canceling the revival in July 2024.

Final Episodes: Aired February 1, 2024

Superman & Lois (The CW)

As the CW’s final DC Comics outing in the wake of the Arrowverse, Superman & Lois Season 4 will follow up on Season 3’s overarching clash between Tyler Hoechlin’s Clark and Michael Cudlitz’s Lex Luthor. The fourth season was ordered in June 2023, months after The CW was taken over by Nexstar, which jettisoned the majority of the network’s original series after the acquisition, with quite a few casting changes being necessary for the renewal.

Final Episode: Airing TBA 2025

This Fool (Hulu)

Spearheaded by Corporate’s trio of Matt Ingebretson, Jake Weisman and Pat Bishop, as well as stand-up comedian Chris Estrada, This Fool hilariously puts its spotlight on L.A.’s cholo culture, centering on Estrada’s goal-minded Julio and his just-out-of-prison cousin Luis (portrayed with A+ gusto by Frankie Quiñones). With Sopranos vet Michael Imperioli also co-starring, This Fool lasted two seasons before Hulu pulled the plug in Feb. 2024, seven months after Season 2 debuted.

Final Episode Aired July 28, 2023

Rap Sh*t (Max)

Issa Rae’s second series created for Max through her overall deal, which sparked by the success of HBO’s Insecure, Rap Sh*t followed the hilarious and often intense journey of Aida Osman and KaMillion’s Miami rappers Shawna and Mia. Its strike-delayed second season was released in November 2023 to widespread acclaim, though they couldn’t seduce and scheme their way into a third season, and Max canceled the series in January 2024.

Final Episode: Aired December 21, 2023

Blue Bloods (CBS)

One of TV’s most under-discussed and most-watched series, Blue Bloods was revealed by CBS to be ending with its 14th season, giving fans one more year of Reagan family dinners to appreciate. Unlike most series facing strike-hampered final seasons, Tom Selleck and Donnie Wahlberg’s legal-minded drama is in the midst of its 18-episode swan song that was split across 2024.

Final Episode: TBA

The Umbrella Academy (Netflix)

There are only so many times a group of powered-up misfits can save the planet for apocalyptic devastation, so perhaps it makes sense that The Umbrella Academy is capping its run on Netflix at four seasons, with the final year set to give the Hargreeves siblings their biggest challenges yet. Netflix revealed back in August 2022 that the show only had one batch of eps left to wrap things up. The Umbrella Academy Season 4 has yet to reveal any concrete info about what to expect.

Final Episode: Aired August 8, 2024

Dave (FXX)

Considering some of the ridiculously risqué moments that went down on FXX’s Dave, it’s kind of amazing we got three full seasons of the coming-of-race comedy centered on co-creator Dave Burd’s rapper persona Lil Dicky. And while the musician’s fictionalized universe could return in the future, Burd made the call in early February to step away from the series to focus on his music career and other opportunities.

Final Episode: Aired May 31, 2023

Secrets Of Sulphur Springs (Disney Channel)

Soap opera writers Tracey Thompson and Charles Pratt Jr. brought their talents to The Disney Channel for missing-person mysteries, ghosts and more paranormal fun in Secrets of Sulphur Springs. The show aired for three seasons, with its third suffering a fairly noteworthy drop in viewership, which is possibly what influenced execs to cancel the series in January 2024.

Final Episode: Aired on May 5, 2023

Chad (Roku Channel)

Created by Saturday Night Live vet Nasim Pedrard all the way back in 2016 for Fox, the high school comedy Chad later shifted to TBS, where its first season aired. Before the pandemic-stalled Season 2 could arrive, the cable channel axed most of its original content, Chad included. Months later, Roku Channel stepped up as the new home for the already filmed season, confirming no more were on the way.

Final Episode: Aired January 19, 2024

Star Trek: Lower Decks (Paramount+)

In its first three seasons, Star Trek: Lower Decks delivered more than enough canon-skewing sci-fi comedy to rank among the best animated series of all time, and it seemed like there was enough creative energy to keep the crew in space for many years. But it was when announcing Strange New World's Season 4 renewal that Paramount+ revealed Lower Decks' fifth season will be its last. No word on whether characters will make the jump to live-action.

Final Episode: Airing Late 2024

The Flight Attendant (Max)

Big Bang Theory vet Kaley Cuoco jumped from broadcast sitcoms to streaming thrillers with Max’s The Flight Attendant, whose first season garnered awards buzz. The second run seemingly wasn’t on the same level of popularity or success, and it took Max until January 2024 to confirm the show wouldn’t be back for Season 3. Kaley Cuoco’s response to the news drew attention to the fact that the show was envisioned as more of a limited series anyway.

Final Episode: Aired April 21, 2022

Wolf Pack (Paramount+)

It seemed like a dream pairing for Teen Wolf and Criminal Minds creator Jeff Davis to team with Buffy vet Sarah Michelle Gellar for a new drama about a town affected by werewolf attacks. Alas, its first and only season didn’t move the meter too drastically when it arrived on Paramount+ in 2023, and it wasn’t wildly surprising when Paramount+ revealed in January 2024 that the show wouldn’t return for Season 2.

Final Episode: Aired March 16, 2023

Bob Hearts Abishola (CBS)

After four steady seasons on CBS’ Monday night schedule, the network ordered up Season 5 in January 2023, with April bringing the surprising update that 11 of the sitcom’s 13 series regulars were being demoted to recurring roles, and that none of them would appear for more than 5 episodes each. Seven months later, in November, CBS made the call to cancel the show’s forward progress after Season 5.

Final Episode: Aired May 13, 2024

The Other Black Girl (Hulu)

Based on the 2021 novel by Sakiya Dalila Harris, who co-developed the show with Rashida Jones, The Other Black Girl starred Sinclair Daniel as a book editor caught up in a potential conspiracy involving her bosses and co-workers, including Ashleigh Murray, Bellamy Young and Eric McCormack. Hulu made the call in May 2024 to cancel the dramedy without a second season.

Final Episode: Aired September 13, 2023

Schmigadoon! (Apple TV+)

With Apple TV+’s Schmigadoon!, co-creators Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio checked all the right boxes for episodic musicals, even winning the 2022 Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics. But Season 2’s focus on Chicago didn’t create quite the same rhythmic buzz, and in January 2024, Paul shared on Instagram that despite Season 3 being written, with 25 songs planned out, the streaming service wouldn’t be going forward with it.

Final Episode: Aired May 3, 2023

Vikings: Valhalla (Netflix)

A sequel to Michael Hirst’s cable hit Vikings, Jeb Stuart’s streaming sequel Vikings: Valhalla was seemingly always destined for at least a three-season run, with reports of Netflix granting it a 24-episode order in November 2019. The final eight eps were filmed between May and October 2022, and it was only after they were filmed was it confirmed that they'd serve as the final season, which aired in Summer 2024.

Final Episode: Aired July 11, 2024

Minx (Starz)

As Jake Johnson and Ophelia Lovibond’s comedy about an erotic magazine, Minx, was in the final stages of finishing up Season 2, Max pulled the plug, with Starz stepping in to help pay for the production to be completed. Unfortunately, the premium cable channel made it clear in early January 2024 that a third season isn’t on the horizon.

Final Episode: Aired September 8, 2023

Constellation (Apple TV+

Apple TV+ is arguably the best streaming service for original sci-fi TV shows, even if promising projects such as Noomi Rapace and Jonathan Banks’ psychological thriller Constellation don’t always get to make it beyond a single season. The series, which followed the aftermath of a deadly collision involving the ISS, debuted to largely acclaim in February 2024, but it was quietly canceled by the streaming service just six weeks after the season concluded.

Final Episode: Aired March 27, 2024

Bunk'd (Disney Channel)

One of The Disney Channel’s longest-running live-action series, the Jessie spinoff Bunk’d has given viewers going on seven seasons of misadventures at Camp Kikiwaka (and later at Kikiwaka Ranch), with Miranda May and more. Following the first batch of strike-delayed episodes airing, Disney announced that Season 7 was being extended to 22 episodes, and that the series would wrap afterward.

Final Episode: Aired August 2, 2024

Primo (Freevee)

Co-executive produced by The Good Place and Parks and Rec creator Michael Schur, Primo was a coming-of-age comedy created by (and based on the Texas upbringing of) writer Shea Serrano, which was first pitched to ABC back in 2017. It took five years to get the Latino-fronted series into production — it eventually landed on Freevee — and the show earned widespread acclaim with its eight-episode season. Unfortunately, Freevee canceled the series in May 2024, though Serrano claimed at the time that the series would be shopped around at other studios.

Final Episode: Aired May 19, 2023

High School (Freevee)

Oddly enough, High School first arrived on Freevee back in October 2022, with Clea DuVall helping musician duo Tegan and Sara adapt their memoir of the same name for TV. Following its critically acclaimed eight-episode run, fans heard relatively zero news about the show’s future until May 2024, when THR reported its cancellation. At one point, the Amazon-owned network reportedly tasked DuVall with setting up a mini writers room for Season 2 scripts, which were reportedly finished at the time the cancellation was confirmed.

Final Episode: Aired October 28, 2022

Quantum Leap (NBC)

For two seasons, Quantum Leap fans watched the reboot's Ben and Addison play out their love story amidst jaunts across space and time. Their ability to start leaping together is perhaps the silver lining when it comes to NBC canceling the sci-fi drama in April 2024 without a third season.

Final Episode: Aired February 20, 2024

grown-ish (Freeform)

Freeform’s grown-ish didn’t quite make it to the eight-season mark set by its predecessor black-ish, but has still enjoyed a lengthy run for a network-shifted spinoff. The dramedy’s sixth season was ordered up in January 2023, with the news dropping two months later that those episodes would wrap up Zoey and Junior Johnson’s stories. The first half of the season aired in the summer months of 2023, with the back half closing out the show's run in Spring 2024.

Final Episode: Aired May 22, 2024

SEAL Team (Paramount+)

With the military drama having shifted to Paramount+ from CBS ahead of its fifth season, SEAL Team’s cast and crew first got the good news in January 2023 that Season 7 was ordered up, and then ten whole months later, the streaming service affirmed that those episodes would be SEAL Team’s final tour. The strike-delayed production kicked off in January 2024, so fans can expect it to be a late-year arrival.

Final Episode: Airing October 6, 2024

Tacoma FC (truTV)

Co-created by Broken Lizard troupe members Kevin Heffernan and Steve Lemme, Tacoma FD did for the firefighter profession what the sketch group’s Super Troopers films did for cops. Co-starring Hassie Harrison, Eugene Cordero, Marcus Henderson and Gabriel Hogan, the comedy mixed hilarious professional ineptitude with surreal and silly humor, and earned itself a four-season run in the process. Unfortunately, none of the show’s captains or commissioners could pull enough weight to make Season 5 happen, as truTV canceled it in February 2024.

Final Episode: Aired October 5, 2023

My Brilliant Friend (HBO)

One of HBO’s most acclaimed and under-discussed originals in recent years, the coming-of-age drama My Brilliant Friend was first developed in 2016 with the goal of adapting the popular Neapolitan Novels attributed to the writer pseudonym Elena Ferrante. With the first three season having aired in 2018, 2020, and 2022, the stage is set for the final eight episodes to take viewers to the last era in the lives of BFFs Elena and Raffaella.

Final Episode: Airing November 11, 2024.

Big Mouth (Netflix)

One of the relatively rare scripted Netflix Originals to extend all the way to eight seasons, the Nick Kroll-starring animated hit Big Mouth has presumably earned its consistent renewals, with seemingly no limit to the amount of pubescent and hyper-hormonal chaos in the teen characters’ lives. The streaming service revealed in April 2023 that Season 8 will cap off Nick and Andrew’s masturbatory adventures, which outlasted the two-season run of spinoff Human Resources.

Final Episode: Airing TBA 2025

Good Trouble (Freeform)

The spinoff of the fan-favorite drama The Fosters, Freeform’s Good Trouble made it through four-and-a-half ratings-challenged seasons so far. In December 2023, around seven months after the first half of Season 5 aired, the Disney-owned channel confirmed that Good Trouble would be done-zo after the back half of the fifth season dropped in early 2024. Freeform was reportedly interested in continuing the drama, but budget issues forced the execs’ hands.

Final Episode: Aired February 27, 2024

American Born Chinese (Disney+)

Based on the 2006 graphic novel of the same name, the fantastical action-comedy American Born Chinese won over audiences with its stacked cast (including Oscar winners Ke Huy Quan and Michelle Yeoh) and embrace of various cultures, albeit with some criticism sprinkled throughout. Despite its popularity, Disney canceled the show after the cast members’ contract options expired.

Final Episode: Aired May 24, 2023

Magnum P.I. (NBC)

Few TV dramas, network or otherwise, went through quite the same year that Magnum P.I.'s cast and crew did in 2002, when it was canceled by CBS and then subsequently saved with a 20-episode order from NBC. While that gave the Jay Hernandez character more time to build into a better close-out, the network didn’t take that long before dropping its own axe, canceling Magnum P.I. anew in June 2023.

Final Episode: Aired January 3, 2024

World On Fire (PBS)

Created for BBC One in the U.K., the war drama World on Fire made its way stateside as part of PBS’ Masterpiece, debuting its first WWII-set season back in 2019, nearly four years before the start of its second and final season. Despite a stacked cast that included Helen Hunt, Sean Bean and more, World on Fire’s numbers dropped in its second season, and it was canceled without fanfare in Feb. 2024, before creator Peter Bowker could deliver on a third season that depicted the U.S.’ entry into the war.

Final Episode: Aired November 19, 2023

Julia (Max)

Led in part by the stretch of star Sarah Lancashire as the titular culinary legend Julia Child, Max’s biographical dramedy Julia earned creator Daniel Goldfarb mostly compliments and lauding with its pair of eight-episode seasons. Max reps didn’t share any reasoning behind the show’s cancellation news that dropped in January 2024, but a smaller-than-desired viewership is likely a big factor.

Final Episode: Aired December 21, 2023

Still Up (Apple TV+)

Several top-notch UK comedy actors joined forces for the Apple TV+ dramedy Still Up, which followed the late-night bonding between The Good Doctor’s Antonia Thomas and Red Oaks’ Craig Roberts as Lisa and Danny, respectively. It debuted in September 2023 to largely positive reactions, if quiet ones, and all remained fairly quiet until May 2024, when the streaming service canceled the series without a second season.

Final Episode: Aired October 27, 2023

Bupkis (Peacock)

Pete Davidson’s semi-autobiographical dramedy Bupkis will not see a second season on Peacock after all. Despite the series receiving a new order and production set to begin this summer, the comedian appears to have put the kibosh on the project. In a statement, the former SNL cast member called the show the part of his career that he’s “most proud of,” however, he said, “I do also feel that this part of my life is finished.”

Final Episode: Aired May 4, 2023

LA Fire and Rescue (NBC)

Dick Wolf has found a lot of success with his fictional procedurals, but his unscripted offering for NBC, LA Fire and Rescue, didn’t have the longevity of some of his other projects. The reality series that showed the daily life of firefighters protecting their communities was canceled after a single eight-episode season.

Final Episode: Aired August 9, 2023

Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge (NBC)

Another single-season casualty over at NBC is Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge. This competition series pit its contestants against each other, tasking them with giving Hot Wheels-inspired makeovers to cars that held sentimental value in hopes of nabbing a $25,000 grand prize.

Final Episode: Aired August 8, 2023

The Upshaws (Netflix)

The family comedy from co-creators Wandy Sykes and Regina Y. Hicks has enjoyed a sporadic run on Netflix, with Mike Epps and Kim Fields leading the fray as the parental figures for the Upshaw clan. Ahead of the sitcom’s fourth season (which is being dubbed Part 6), the streaming service ordered a fifth and final season on June 7, 2024, which will run for 12 episodes.

Final Episode: Airing TBA Early 2025

All American: Homecoming (The CW)

The CW is down to just a single scripted original series leftover from the pre Nexstar buyout, All American, following the network’s execs making the call to end the follow-up drama All American: Homecoming after its third season, which is set to premiere on Monday, July 8. While the series is popular among younger demographics, that crowd wasn’t big enough to justify a new season as the network continues transitioning to content that draws in older viewers.

Final Episode: Airing September 30, 2024

The Girls On The Bus (Max)

Based on Amy Shozick’s 2018 memoir Chasing Hillary, with the author serving as co-creator alongside Julie Plec, the political drama The Girls on the Bus debuted on Max in March bolstered by talents such as Melissa Benoist (who also produced), Carla Gugino and Christina Elmore. Unfortunately, the 10-episode first season’s impact on critics and audiences wasn’t overwhelming enough to secure a second season, and Max’s execs canceled it outright in late May, just two weeks after the finale aired.

Final Episode: Aired May 9, 2024

Ratched (Netflix)

Sarah Paulson reteamed with her American Horror Story boss Ryan Murphy to take on the iconic literary character Nurse Ratched for a standalone Netflix series that predated Jack Nicholson'a flight over the cuckoo’s nest. Though it was given a two-season order from the start, and though its viewership numbers were nothing to sneeze at, Netflix quietly reversed plans for Season 2, and Paulson herself let the cat-ched out of the bag in early February 2024 (via X).

Final Episode: Aired September 18, 2020

We’re Here (HBO

Bob the Drag Queen, Eureka O’Hara and several other RuPaul’s Drag Race vets came together for the HBO reality TV series We’re Here, and spent four seasons spreading the good word about drag shows as entertainment in a variety of cities and small towns around the country. The Emmy-winning series wrapped its latest season in May, and the cable network revealed the cancellation news in September.

Final Episode: Aired May 31, 2024

The total number of projects facing their endgames in 2024 continues to grow from week to week, and will no doubt expand even more as the May finale season hits. Stay tuned for more updates.

For a few years, the future of Vincent D'Onofrio's Wilson Fisk a.k.a. Kingpin was up in the air... but now, it feels limitless. Three years after the cancellation of the Netflix series Daredevil in 2018, the actor returned to the role in with a surprise appearance in 2021's Hawkeye, and he most recently reprised the part in the Disney+ limited series Echo. We'll next get to see him square off with Charlie Cox's Matt Murdock in the series Daredevil: Born Again, but what will MCU fans get to see after that? If D'Onofrio has his druthers, one project would be an episode of What If...? where he gets to go to super dark places with the character.

During a recent interview with ComicBook.com, Vincent D'Onofrio shared his vision for a "What If...?" story – which is to say a standalone narrative about a non-canon version of Wilson Fisk from an alternate universe. Instead of the tale featuring him sparring with a character outside of those typically associated with Kingpin (Daredevil, Elektra, Spider-Man, etc.), he would love to see a more realistic take where there are no superheroes to get in Fisk's way. He explains,

If you've seen Daredevil, then you'll register that "10 times darker than anything we've done with him before" is quite a statement. When Wilson Fisk really gets going in that show, he turns into a violent, raging (non-literal) monster, and he is depicted committing some horrific acts (him using a car door to turn a guy's head into mush comes to mind). Even the origin is worthy of a few gasps, as the streaming series has a young Fisk murdering his abusive father with a hammer. How do you get much darker than that?

While it would be a challenge for a What If...? story to feature a more violent version of Kingpin, it definitely would be scary to see him operating in a world where there are no forces capable of stopping him. Both in the comics and in the established MCU canon, the character gets elbow deep into terrible crimes, and even with Daredevil and other vigilantes halting some of his most heinous acts, he is never out of commission for very long. Witnessing what he could achieve unfettered would certainly be disturbing.

What If? Season 2 unfurled for Disney+ subscribers with daily releases in the final week of 2023, but more adventures are indeed on the way, as Season 3 has been given the green light and is currently in development. As for Vincent D'Onofrio's Kingpin, Daredevil: Born Again has restarted production, and the premiere of the show is expected as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's 2025 slate. For more about what's on the way from the franchises, check out our Upcoming Marvel Movies and Upcoming Marvel TV guides.

What If…? Season 3 is happening – and this is what we know about it.

It feels like just yesterday we were watching the latest episodes of What If…? Season 2 and learning about all the scenarios and stories that the Watcher sees as he looks over the universe.

After Season 2, we can add What If…? Season 3 to our upcoming Marvel TV shows list because it's already confirmed. Here is what you need to know

What Is The What If…? Season 3 Release Date?

As of updating this in November 2024, What If…? Season 3 will be released on December 22, 2024, as part of the 2024 TV schedule, according to Marvel. It will also be releasing new episodes daily.

Check Out The Season 3 Trailer For What If…?

If you’re looking for a trailer, here you go! It features several of the characters that we all know and love in some of the craziest moments and– is that Storm holding Mjolnir??? Oh, now I have to see this season.

The What If…? Season 3 Cast

The thing with What If…? is that there are always new characters in each episode, which is awesome. That also means that some characters can come and go as time goes on.

However, we do know that Bucky Barnes (played by Sebastian Stan in the MCU) and a young Red Guardian (played by Dave Harbour in the MCU) appear in the special first look that came out for Season 3, and so does Dr. Bill Foster (Laurence Fishburne).

These are just a few of the characters that we can expect to see in Season 3 of What If…?:

Jeffrey Wright as The Watcher

Considering The Watcher is the main character of What If…? and is guiding us into these different scenarios, I’d say it’s safe to expect Jeffrey Wright to be back as The Watcher. Wright has voiced the character the last two seasons.

Wright is also a prominent actor who has appeared in several films, including the James Bond film franchise, The Hunger Games movies, and scored a nomination for Best Actor at the Academy Awards for American Fiction.

David Harbour as Red Guardian

David Harbour plays Red Guardian in the MCU, and I would expect that he’d most likely voice the character in What If…? Season 3. Harbour has appeared in several movies and TV shows but most prominently, people know him as Jim Hopper from the Netflix hit, Stranger Things.

Sebastian Stan as The Winter Soldier

It’s expected that Sebastian Stan will come back to voice The Winter Soldier as he has for the last two seasons of What If…? The character is seen in the first look for Season 3 so we’ll certainly be seeing him again. Stan, aside from his role as Bucky Barnes in the MCU, has appeared in various films such as I, Tonya, Fresh, Logan Lucky, The Martian and more.

Hayley Atwell as Captain Carter

Considering Captain Carter has appeared in several episodes across both seasons, it’s pretty much expected that Hayley Atwell will be back to voice the character in What If…? Season 3 to some extent. Atwell played Peggy Carter in the MCU and starred in her own show titled Agent Carter. Aside from that, she’s starred in Cinderella, The Pride, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 1 and more.

America Ferrera as Ranger Morales

It’s been confirmed that America Ferrera will join the MCU as the voice of Ranger Morales.

Ferrera has been in Hollywood for some time, gaining fame for her starring role in Ugly Betty (one of the best shows to binge watch on Netflix) and appearing in films like The Dry Land, End of Watch, and How to Train Your Dragon franchise. She also held a significant role in the Barbie cast, which scored her a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the 2024 Academy Awards.

Sam Wilson’s Captain America

Earlier in 2024, we got a first look via some screenshots that were shared on Marvel’s Twitter page – and guess what? Sam Wilson’s Captain America will be featured in the upcoming season, alongside Monica Rambeau:

It’s certainly going to be an entertaining third season – and I for one can’t wait to hear these actors in all their glory.

If you're curious about What If…? Season 3, be sure to check out the first look above, showing the Winter Soldier and a young Red Guardian getting into some trouble while out on the road – just an example of the action we are most likely getting ourselves into in the third installment.

What Is What If…? Season 3 Going To Be About?

If you’re wondering what the next season of What If…? will include, then this is the section for you. Here is what we’ve heard of so far:

Season 3 Of What If...? Will Dive Deeper Into The Watcher's Story

Aside from a few moments, the viewers of What If…? really haven't been able to dive super deep into the story of the Watcher, but in Season 3, we'll learn far more.

Brad Winderbaum, the head of streaming, television, and animation at Marvel Studios, spoke with The Direct in July 2022 and said that the third season is going to dig deeper into the story of the Watcher and how the viewers will get to explore "his humanity" in the third installment:

Season 3 Will Revisit Characters From Season 1

There are plenty of great characters in the world of What If…? to revisit, but we actually know that Season 3 of the show will be looking into the life of another character from the first season.

A director of the show, Bryan Andrews, confirmed in an interview with Marvel in January 2024 that Season 3’s episodes will feature one where audiences will get to revisit characters from the first season:

I’m so curious as to what characters could be looked at again that we didn’t see in Season 2 – but until then, I’ll just sit with my theories.

What If…? Season 3 Will Only Get “Wackier” With Its Plotlines

The stories in What If…? are some of the most creative ideas I've seen. One of them was so popular it's getting another animated show – the upcoming Marvel Zombies. And now, we know that Season 3 is about to get even "wackier," according to Bryan Andrews in an interview with Deadline in August 2022:

The Stories Are Something That People Won’t “Guess What’s Coming”

So if the stories are only going to get wackier, it makes me wonder what kind of episodes we are going to get. But in that interview with Marvel, Bryan Andrews says that these episodes are something fans will not expect.

Andrews commented that Season 3 will feature “a lot of surprises” and that there’s no way “people can guess what’s coming:”

Okay, the toy one had me curious, I’m not going to lie. Every little tease I get makes me want to experience Season 3 even more.

The X-Men Characters Are "Off The Table" Until They Make Their Live-Action MCU Debut

Something significant that has been an ongoing process in the MCU is the arrival of the X-Men characters, which 20th Century Studios have long held but, since the merger with Disney, will eventually make their debut in the MCU.

However, the usage of X-Men characters in What If…? storylines is "off the table" until they appear in the MCU, according to an interview with the creators of the show with ComicBook in January 2024, where Bryan Andrews said that there were still "limitations:"

We have technically seen the X-Men in Deadpool & Wolverine, so maybe we’ll be able to see them in What If…?

Season 3 Might Be The Last Season

I know, it’s sad to read, but according to an interview that Brad Winderbaum, the head of Marvel TV, did on The Official Marvel Podcast, he said that this season feels like the end of a “trilogy” for The Watcher:

Granted, this isn’t an official confirmation, but it certainly feels like a hint that What If…? might be ending after Season 3.

A.C Bradley Will Not Be Returning For Season 3

The last thing we know is that A.C. Bradley will not return for Season 3. Bradley was a head writer and executive producer on the series, but confirmed that the first look episode would be her last in a post on Twitter in December 2023:

Bradley wrote nine episodes for the series, including one of the most critically acclaimed, "What If…Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands?" She will be missed.

What If…? Season 3 is a little over a month away! Now how am I going to pass the time while I wait?

Disney and Marvel clearly have a good thing going by way of animated anthology series, with What If…? Season 3 getting confirmed the day after the Season 2 finale. Could it be so popular that the Star Wars universe could follow suit? That’s apparently something of a likelihood following a new report that indicates studio creatives are already bringing the alt-universe concept to galaxies far, far away. Whether it’s real or not, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes star Rachel Zegler already knows who she would play.

Of all the upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows that have been rumored and discussed over the years, a What If…?-esque concept sounds as wild as anything else available with a Disney+ subscription. But also completely understandable, since Lucasfilm tends to lean into projects that focus on already established characters. Weighing in excitedly on X, Zegler went so far as to pitch herself for a specific character who has yet to be introduced in live-action. In her words:

Shara Bey is/was a badass rebel fighter pilot who, as noted, also happens to be the mother of third trilogy hero Poe Dameron, as portrayed in live-action by Oscar Isaac. She was first conceived for the 2015 comic book miniseries Star Wars: Shattered Empire, written by Greg Rucka (who also crafted some of my all-time favorite Batman stories) and illustrated by Marco Checchetto, Emilio Laiso, and Angel Unzueta.

Beyond those origins, Shara has played most heavily in Charles Soule and Andrea Di Vito’s ongoing Star Wars coming line that debuted in 2020. Which obviously speaks to Zegler’s noted comic fandom, since presumably any actor unfamiliar with the aforementioned works likely would have pitched themselves to play characters already established on the live-action front. That alone is probably enough to warrant someone cobbling together outlines for a Shara Bey prequel. 

But while her overall story no doubt deserves to be told, we’re talking about a What If…? concept here, so arguably the most obvious go-to scenario would be “What if Shara Bey didn’t die of bloodburn when Poe was a child?” That kind of story could easily start off with some of the pilot’s most impressive accomplishments, and then break from canon around the point of her demise in 10 ABY. 

His mother having a larger presence throughout his life would no doubt have a major effect on Poe's choices going forward, to the point where he may not have been specifically inspired to become a pilot. Perhaps she would have led him into another professional field that would remove him from the entirety of J.J. Abrams and Rian Johnson’s Star Wars films. Which means those storylines likely would have gone very differently, with the butterfly effect continuing on.

The other alternative to that situation might be if Shara Bey died in battle before Poe was born, and how this universe’s future would have been affected. But then that wouldn’t leave very much room for Rachel Zegler’s vocal duties, so that’s far less desirable. 

Speaking of far less desirable, the live-action Snow White star tweeted quite the cheeky Star Wars remark with her initial reaction to the potential for a "what if" anthology tied to this franchise. 

Heaven and Hollywood forbid. Zegler, who shared with a fan that she’d she’d hang out for a day with “probably Chewbacca” of any Star Wars characters, will be a huge member of the Disney family before and after Snow White's arrival. Which theoretically means it'll be that much easier to enter any Shara Bey conversations for any future projects, even if the What If...? idea doesn't pan out. 

But if this was really all just a joke about her initials being the same as the RZ-1, what are we even doing here? 

Marvel’s What If…? which recently dropped its second season on Disney+ is a fun animated series that reimagines elements from the MCU in creative new ways. We get to see Nebula become a member of the Nova Corps and Happy Hogan transform into the Hulk to see how stories like that could play out. But while the show gets to be creative with what stories it tells, it turns off some material is off limits, at least right now.

Season 2 sees a return episode that imagines Peggy Carter taking the super soldier serum and becoming her universe’s version of a very English Captain America. However, the current MCU’s Captain America, Sam Wilson, is nowhere to be found. What If…? writer A.C. Bradley recently told the Phase Zero podcast that Sam Wilson as Captain America was off limits because one rule the show has is that it isn’t allowed to introduce new characters itself, and must wait for upcoming Marvel TV series or movies to do that work first. She explained…

Since Season 2 of What If…? was being written during the pandemic, everything was in flux. There was the possibility, however remote, that The Falcon and the Winter Soldier could end up airing after Season 2, or that rewrites would end up changing the story, and that Sam Wilson would not become the new Captain America. This meant the animated series couldn’t use that idea, because they can’t introduce characters before live action.

The same was true of the X-Men. While we’ve now seen a couple of “official” MCU mutants via The Marvels mid-credits scene, and we know they will become a big part of the MCU down the road, we haven’t been introduced to the X-Men as a team yet, and until we are, What If…? can’t do anything with them. As What If…? co-creator Bryan Andrews told Comicbook.com...  

It certainly makes sense. There has to be an initial “take” on a character before What If…? can come along and do something different with that character. If you introduce the X-Men in the series one way, you are essentially taking anything they do off the table when it comes to the “official” characters. We know that What If…? Season Three is on the way. While the X-Men will likely still be off-limits, there will be many more characters they can now use. 

The first two seasons of What If...? is available with a Disney+ subscription. Check out the TV premiere list to plan your next binge watch. 

Arguably one of the best Marvel TV shows ever made, What If…? has a lot to celebrate in the coming year. The recently wrapped Season 2 is just as exciting to fans as its predecessor was, and with that beautiful tease for Season 3 in the air, hopes couldn’t be higher. Alas, this news comes with bittersweet conditions, as a big behind-the-scenes change has just been revealed in the wake of this happy news. 

While What If…? Season 3 will be "streaming soon," head writer and EP A.C. Bradley has officially announced that she is departing the Disney+ subscription driver. Taking a moment to commemorate the recently aired Season 2 finale, “What If... Strange Supreme Intervened?”, Bradley signed off of the MCU with this fond farewell, via Twitter: 

It’s a move that wasn’t totally anticipated, but at the same time feels like it’s arrived in the proper window. Over two batches of animated glory exploring the Multiverse, A.C. Bradley and her team gave Marvel fans some amazing alternate scenarios. Looping together into one big picture that saw The Watcher (Jeffrey Wright) showing us shadows of worlds beyond, the results have constantly been thrilling.

What we knew about What If…? Season 2 before its premiere couldn’t have prepared us for this huge shake up. And that’s even after our own Erik Swann spoke with Bradley in a recent press day, which revealed things like why Cate Blanchett wasn’t in What If…? Season 1, as previously planned. Something that A.C. Bradley was able to correct thanks to Season 2’s compelling stories of alternative Asgardian history. 

Being a person who has suffered from quite a bit of Marvel Cinematic Universe fatigue as of late, I’ve been unsure about catching up with Marvel’s Disney+ series. At the same time, the two series that have given me the best reasons to continue moving forward are Loki and What If…? 

Between the wild stories both shows have told, and the unique realms that offer the setting to do so, it’s been a lot more fun to see Captain Carter back in beautifully animated action than it was to see The Marvels. Looking back on those feelings, I’m left a little nervous about A.C. Bradley leaving her head writer/EP position for this series. 

Which is probably why the end of Season 2 came with a look at how Season 3 promises the world she helped form will be just as awesome as it always has been. Take a look at this brief, but fantastic glimpse into the future of What If…

I’m sorry, I think I need to be somewhere right now. And that’s sitting on the couch, binging What If…? Season 2, if only so I can be even more pumped about the return of David Harbour’s Red Guardian! Not to mention it now seems proper to review those first two seasons together, trying to piece together all of the threads that A.C. may have left behind for her successor to weave into fantastic journeys beyond our very universe.

If this idea is something that appeals to you too, True Believer, then pull up your Disney+ portal of choice, and raise a glass to these two seasons of A.C. Bradley’s stewardship in the MCU. It may be sad that it’s come to an end, but to borrow a popular phrase, it’s marvelous that it even happened in the first place.

Spoilers for the seventh episode of Marvel’s What If…? Season 2, “What If… Hela Found The Ten Rings?” lie ahead.

The latest season of What If…? – the animated anthology series that provides alternate takes on pivotal moments in the Marvel Cinematic Universe – has been firing on all cylinders. Head writer A.C. Bradley and her colleagues have simply been knocking it out of the park when it comes to telling entertaining stories from the multiverse. While just about all of the installments have been well received by fans, one of the latest to be praised is the Hela-centric story. The episode, which sees Cate Blanchett reprise her role as the Asgardian Goddess of Death, marks the character’s first appearance since 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok but, interestingly, Bradley just revealed that Hela could’ve appeared in Season 1 of the series.

The Thor franchise has been well-represented throughout the first two seasons of the animated show, which is available to Disney+ subscribers. One of the most prominent instances of that was in “What If... Thor Were an Only Child?” The madcap adventure centered on a somewhat more irresponsible variant of the God of Thunder. As is, the story is wild enough but, after Hela’s episode of the show, A.C. Bradley revealed that she and her team wanted the villainess to appear. Bradley, while hyping up Season 2's Hela story, also explained why it didn’t happen:

It would’ve been so much fun to see the clean-shaven Thor and the Frost Giant Loki mix it up with a version of their sister. I’d imagine that the antagonist would’ve shaken up the proceedings had she been a part of them. However, the EP’s comments on X (formerly Twitter) seem to suggest that it was simply too challenging to fit her into the narrative in an organic way. Considering everything that goes down in the installment, I can certainly understand that.

While some may dwell on what might’ve been, it’s fair to say that Hela’s recent debut on the show – “What If… Hela Found the Ten Rings?” – more than makes up for it. The story incorporates plenty of elements from 2021’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, as it sees the Goddess being ousted from Asgard and landing in China, where she encounters Wenwu – the leader of the eponymous organization. That encounter sets Odin’s oldest child on a journey that takes her to Ta Lo, where she not only learns new fighting skills but realizes her purpose in life. By the end, Cate Blanchett’s protagonist not only regains her abilities and receives the throne of Asgard, but she also sets out (with Wenwu) to ensure that others across the Nine Realms have freedom as well. 

This is definitely a far cry from the version of the character that audiences saw smash Thor’s hammer during the events of Ragnarok. However, it was refreshing nonetheless to see the character in this light (and in a new costume to boot). Cate Blanchett also more than brought her A-game to the proceedings, providing just the right amount of soulfulness and camp. This also served as a solid refresher on Shang-Chi’s corner of the MCU, which is much appreciated since Simu Liu provided a disappointing update on the sequel. 

A.C. Bradley has been dropping some sweet BTS nuggets throughout What If…? Season 2’s run, and they are very much appreciated. (This week, she also explained why the Wasp was part of the Avengers roster in the Hydra Stomper episode.) I’d expect Bradley to share more details as the season comes to a close and, hopefully, they’re just as, if not more intriguing than what she spilled about the always dramatic Hela.

The season finale of What If…? is set to drop tomorrow, December 30, on Disney+ as part of the 2023 TV schedule. With the season almost over, be sure to read up on the upcoming Marvel shows that are on the docket.

We’re in the midst of What If… ? Season 2, and while the first four of these new episodes explored new universes never visited in the Marvel multiverse, the fifth episode, titled “What If... Captain Carter Fought the Hydra Stomper?”, reunited us with the superheroic version of Hayley Atwell’s Peggy Carter we met in Season 1 (not to be confused with the Captain Carter who died in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness). By this point, Captain Carter has helped found her universe’s version of The Avengers, but in addition to her obviously taking Steve Rogers’ spot as one of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, we also saw The Wasp in the lineup rather than Hulk. What If… ? Head writer A.C. Bradley has now revealed how Hope van Dyne became one of the first Avengers in this reality.

After noticing fan inquiries, Bradley went on X to confirm that this was indeed Hope at the Battle of New York in Captain Carter’s universe, with the two of them fighting alongside Black Widow, Iron Man, Thor and Hawkeye. The writer started off by saying that because Captain Carter ended World War II earlier in this universe, “the feminist movement occurred immediately after the war.” This produced a “ripple effect” that led to “more female SHIELD agents, heroes, & women in positions of authority.” Bradley continued:

Within the main MCU continuity, Peggy Carter, Howard Stark and Colonel Chester Phillips founded S.H.I.E.L.D shortly after World War II. So because Hank Pym, and presumably Janet van Dyne, didn’t get involved with the agency until the late 1960s in the cornerstone universe, I suspect means that the S.H.I.E.L.D. of Captain Carter’s universe didn’t get started until a few decades later, assuming they were still born on the same dates. 

Whether that’s the case or not, the combination of Hank and Janet’s holding more important positions in S.H.I.E.L.D., along with this universe’s Janet likely not gettin trapped in the Quantum Realm, resulted in Hope van Dyne becoming Wasp earlier on in Captain Carter’s universe. Conversely, the main version of Evangeline Lilly’s character didn’t inherit the mantle until Ant-Man’s post-credits scene. You can get the quick taste of Wasp in action during "What If... Captain Carter Fought the Hydra Stomper?” below:

Given that Wasp took Hulk’s spot in the original Avengers lineup in Captain Carter’s universe, it’s unclear if this means this Bruce Banner was never bombarded with gamma radiation. However, A.C. Bradley did share that Bruce is still affiliated with the superhero team, as well provided additional information about this corner of the multiverse:

We do briefly see the elderly Bucky Barnes in “What If... Captain Carter Fought the Hydra Stomper?”, but I won’t go into detail about how his involvement in the story, nor how this episode ends given that it just came out. While it remains to be seen if we’ll ever cross paths with this version of Wasp again, given that they’re three episodes of What If… ? left to be delivered before the 2023 TV schedule is wrapped up, plus a third season of this animated series greenlit for the upcoming Marvel TV shows lineup, it stands to reason we’ll see Hope van Dyne again in one form or another again on the show.

Stream What If… ? with your Disney+ subscription, which you can also use to view nearly all the Marvel movies in order and the MCU’s live-action TV shows. Don’t forget that the What If… ? spinoff Marvel Zombies will hit the 2024 TV schedule at a yet-to-be-revealed date.

The holiday week is here and while that may mean you’ll be doing a lot of traveling to see family and friends, it may also mean that you have a lot of downtime to catch up on all those TV shows and Christmas movies you missed. Unfortunately, it’s going to be tough to catch up as a lot of brand new stuff is hitting all the various streaming services this week that you also won’t want to miss. 

The beginning of a new era in the 60-year history of Doctor Who begins on Disney+ Hulu drops the final season of one of the most popular comedies of the streaming era. Star Trek comes to those who have waited with a Netflix subscription in a big way, with Prodigy streaming. But that's not all. Here’s a look at the biggest shows and movies coming to streaming this week.

What’s On Netflix

Star Trek: Prodigy: Season 1 - December 25

Star Trek has had an incredible run in the era of streaming over on Paramount+. Unfortunately, one show didn’t catch on quite as well as the others. An animated series aimed at a younger audience, Star Trek: Prodigy had been canceled at Paramount+, with the first season even being removed from the platform. However, the show has been given new life over at Netflix.

Season 2 is set for release in 2024. Before that, Season 1 is dropping on Netflix so audiences not familiar with the show can get caught up, and fans who have been without the show for months can finally rewatch it. 

Pokémon Concierge - December 28

Pokémon is an incredibly popular IP that has had a presence as an animated series for more than 25 years. However, Pokémon Concierge is something very different. This Netflix original focuses on Haru, who gets a job at the Pokémon Resort, a place where the pocket monsters apparently go to relax and recharge in between being involved in fights to the death. The show looks quite adorable, with a stop-motion art style, and a focus on something other than action that may attract a new audience to the popular franchise. 

What’s On Disney+

Doctor Who: The Church On Ruby Road - December 25

The final Doctor Who 60th anniversary special officially introduced us to the 15th Doctor, played by Ncuti Gatwa. The 2023 Christmas Special, The Church on Ruby Road will be his first solo adventure, and also introduce fans to his first companion, Ruby Sunday, played by Millie Gibson. A new Doctor is always a fun experience as we begin to learn more about what this version of the character will bring to the table. Expectations are certainly high. 

What If...? Season 2 - December 25-30

What If...? Season 2 is trying a different release strategy, by dropping new episodes of the series every day, rather than weekly or all at once. For fans, it will be like getting a Christmas present every morning. Episodes dropping this week include a follow-up to a Season 1 episode called “What if Captain Carter Fought the Hydra Stomper” and an adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s popular Marvel graphic novel 1602 called “What if the Avengers Assembled in 1602?” We’ll also see the introduction of a completely original Marvel character, a Mohawk woman named Kahhori in an episode titled “What if Hahhori Reshaped the World?”

Percy Jackson And The Olympians - Episode 3 - December 26

Disney+ users got an early Christmas present last week when instead of seeing the first episodes of Percy Jackson and the Olympians arrive in the middle of the night, it was released at 6 PM PT the previous evening. We now know that will be the case with all new episodes, and based on the first two that came out last week, those with a Disney+ subscription can’t wait for Episode 3, which will see Percy and his friends begin their quest for the Master Bolt.  

What’s On Hulu

Letterkenny Season 12 - December 26

Canadian sitcom Letterkenny has been a highlight for many fans since its debut. Over the last 11 seasons, they have enjoyed the hilarious look at a small Canadian town and its eccentric residents. Whether the Letterkenny pop culture references are your favorite part of the series, or there's something else that draws you in, if you haven't watched Letterkenny before, the good news is there's a lot to enjoy. The bad news is that the popular show is coming to an end. The final season will arrive on Hulu for fans to enjoy the day after Christmas.  

What’s On Max

Oprah and The Color Purple Journey - December 28

For many people, Steven Spielberg’s The Color Purple was their introduction to Oprah Winfrey, a woman who would become one of the biggest names in entertainment. Decades later Oprah and Spielberg have produced a new film version of The Color Purple, which adapts the popular stage musical version of the story. The movie hits theaters on Christmas Day, and fans will then be able to follow that with Oprah and the Color Purple Journey, a documentary look at the new film’s production, which, in the trailer for the doc, Oprah calls the “greatest desire” of her life.

What’s New On Prime Video

Reacher Episode 5 - December 29

Reacher’s second season continues this week with its fourth episode. The first three dropped as a block and instantly became some of the most popular content on the entire platform. It looks like there will be a lot of fans interested in the next episode of the series. And with Reacher Season 3 already given the green light, we know this won’t be the end of things. 

While these are For a complete look at what came out on streaming platforms this month, be sure to check out what’s new on Netflix, as well as everything new on Disney+ in December. January is right around the corner, which means a massive influx of new content on all streamers. We already know a few of the highlights for January including Marvel Studios' first mature-rated Disney+ series, Echo.  

It's not hard to see how an actor might find a special challenge in playing Marvel's The Watcher a.k.a. Uatu. After all, the character is an otherworldly being who, with a mandate to stay neutral, is able to peer through the multiverse and witness the miracles of infinity. That's a lot for an actor to wrap their mind around, but Jeffrey Wright did a phenomenal job with the role in season one of the Disney+ original series What If...?, and following that experience, he has brought what he describes as new dimensions to Uatu for What If...? Season 2.

Wright has been having an excellent 2023, earning acclaim for his work in movies like American Fiction, Rustin and Asteroid City, and last week, I had the pleasure of chatting with him about his latest contribution to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Reflecting on everything that The Watcher went through in Season 1, I asked the actor how he perceives change in the character compared to who he was when we were first introduced to him in "What If... Captain Carter Were the First Avenger?" and he explained how he sees the evolution in Uatu and how it changed his approach:

For those who don't recall, the "Rubicon" to which Jeffrey Wright is referring is Uatu's battle  in What If...? Season 1 with the villain who has been dubbed Infinity Ultron. In the eighth episode of the premiere run ("What If... Ultron Won?"), the sentient A.I. designed by Tony Stark becomes so powerful that it is actually able to perceive the presence of The Watcher and defeats him in battle. Managing to escape, the multiversal entity then made the decision in the show's finale to break his oath of non-interference and recruit heroes to destroy Infinity Ultron. This was accomplished, and as such, The Watcher can no longer be seen as just an observer, but also a defender of existence.

Thus far in What If...? Season 2, we've seen Uatu back in spectator mode, watching the events that transpire in "What If... Nebula Joined the Nova Corps?" "What If... Peter Quill Attacked Earth's Mightiest Heroes?" and "What If... Happy Hogan Saved Christmas?" but there are surprises on the way, and they are coming very soon. The run is premiering daily for Disney+ subscribers (the new episodes streaming starting this past Friday), and six more episodes are set to roll out between now and the start of 2024. Keep checking out the streaming service regularly for new adventures, and as always, you can learn everything you need to know about the MCU's developing slate of projects with our Upcoming Marvel Movies and Upcoming Marvel TV guides.

If you’re looking for something to watch to celebrate a holiday, Marvel Studios has you covered on a couple fronts. For Halloween, there is the spooky Werewolf By Night special that premiered on Disney+ in 2022, and if you’re looking for some Christmas viewing, you have a few options. Iron Man 3 (in classic Shane Black style) is set around the end-of-year holiday, and the miniseries Hawkeye also has the Christmas spirit. Soon, fans will also be able to add an episode of What If…?, as previewed in the exclusive clip above.

The first two episodes of What If…? Season 2 are now available to stream with a Disney+ subscription, but the show has a treat lined up to debut on Christmas Eve. The clip above comes from the opening scene of “What If… Happy Hogan Saved Christmas?” and in addition to featuring a special version of “Twas The Night Before Christmas” from Jeffrey Wright’s The Watcher, it features the members of the Avengers in full holiday mode… well, with the exception of Thor, who is missing amid a big monster battle.

While the episodes in Season 1 of What If…? were designed to each reflect a specific existing Marvel Cinematic Universe title, Season 2 is freestyling a bit more and not letting the canon handcuff creative opportunities. This in part allows for homage to titles outside of the MCU, and after seeing the Blade Runner-esque “What If… Nebula Joined The Nova Corps?” it shouldn’t be too surprising to learn that the Christmas episode is a spin on Die Hard.

I won’t give away too much about the story in order to maintain surprises (that includes characters who appear outside of those who are featured in the clip above), but as the title implies, it’s Happy Hogan who is pulling John McClane duties, and it’s Jon Favreau voicing the character. It also gives us Captain America and Black Widow dressed as an elf and in a tiara, respectively, which is delightful.

What If…? Season 2 will be three deep after tomorrow, but there is plenty more to come, and it’s all coming quickly. Matching Season 1, it’s a nine episode run, and new episodes are premiering every day between now and December 30. The full season includes a great number of MCU stars voicing their alternate universe counterparts on beyond Jon Favreau as Happy Hogan, with other exciting examples including Josh Brolin as Thanos, Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange, Kat Dennings as Darcy Lewis, Michael Douglas as Hank Pym, Jeff Goldblum as The Grandmaster, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, and many more.

Stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for more about What If…? Season 2 – including stories from my interview with series star Jeffrey Wright, and you can keep track of everything that’s going on with the MCU in the months and years ahead with our Upcoming Marvel Movies and Upcoming Marvel TV guides.

‘Tis the season for friendship, family, merriment – and for one of the upcoming Marvel TV shows to finally grace our screens. Season two of What If…?, which we know a bit about, is nearly here to provide fans with more animated stories that take place across the multiverse. The first trailer for the new episodes dropped weeks ago and teased that this season would even include a fun-looking Christmas episode (complete with a Die Hard reference). On that note, the latest batch of footage to be shared features a festive reference to the second season of Loki. It’s a wonderful sight, and it has me in my feelings all over again. 

Loki Season 2 had an emotional finale, as the titular antihero managed to stop the destruction of the multiverse and save his friends at the Time Variance Authority in the process. Disney+ subscription holders saw the Norse god take control of the various timelines and take his seat on the throne as the God of Stories. In the process of managing the branches, he rearranged them in such a way that they now collectively resemble Yggdrasil, which in Norse mythology is known as the Tree of Life. 

The beautiful-looking structure popped up again in the latest What If…? Season 2 trailer (which can be viewed above), but there was a holiday twist. During a scene that shows The Watcher conversing with Captain Carter, the two end up viewing the multiversal tree. However, as part of the season, it’s been decked with Christmas tree lights and ornaments. Check it out: 

“O, Yggdrasil, O Yggdrasil…” Alright, so maybe those lyrics won’t catch on, but the sentiment still rings true. That’s an excellent nod to the events of Loki Season 2, which was also one of the biggest titles on the 2023 TV schedule. And of course, it makes for a perfect way to further signify to viewers that this new batch of animated episodes is being released over the holiday season. Quite frankly, you love to see such Marvel Cinematic Universe goodness mixed with holiday cheer.

As much as I love it though, I’m still getting some serious feels for another reason. That’s because it’s a bittersweet reminder of the Tom Hiddleston-led series’ second-season capper. It brought the former God of Mischief’s journey full circle in a truly perfect way. However, given his new post, it seems that the character is all alone. I had the opportunity to speak to Hiddleston following that defining episode, “Glorious Purpose,” and he even confirmed that the creative team compared his character to Atlas, “holding up the world” and doing so “without witness.” That may sound sad to those who’ve come to love the cheeky Asgardian. However, if it’s any consolation, the actor also believes his all-seeing god is holding Thor and his family close as he continues his duties.

Now, fans seem excited to see just what’s occurring across the various realities that make up Yggdrasil. The first trailer for What If…? Season 2 teased a lot of shenanigans across the multiverse, including a quasi-Avengers team facing a young Peter Quill and familiar faces participating in a deadly race on Sakaar. Also, as was the case with this latest footage compilation, there were also teases of Kahhori, an original character created for the MCU. The yuletide vibes were also more than present, and the latest trailer perfectly expands on that by parodying “"The Twelve Days of Christmas.”

The new season looks exciting, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store this time around. I’m also happy that when it comes to promotion, the marketing team is fully embracing the holiday season and decided to make Loki a part of that. 

What If…? will return on December 22 and, from there, a new installment of the nine-episode season will be released daily. In the meantime, you can stream both seasons of Loki to get you warmed up.

2023 has been a pretty good year for Disney+, even while the studio has struggled at the box office. But what's been clear is that when audiences don't go to the theaters, they are still interested in the major tentpole releases when they arrive on Disney+. This makes the first day of December potentially quite big, as Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny debuts.

The last Indiana Jones movie did not set the box office on fire the way Lucasfilm likely hoped, but it could still find an audience on Disney+. If pulp adventure on earth is not your thing, then perhaps science fiction will be more your speed. The second and third Doctor Who specials will also arrive in early December, as will the season finale of Tim Allen's The Santa Clauses, and the final episodes of the current season of Dancing with the Stars. 

Friday, December 1

• Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
• The Shepherd
• Timeless Heroes: Indiana Jones & Harrison Ford

Saturday, December 2

• Doctor Who: Wild Blue Yonder

Tuesday, December 5

• Dancing with the Stars (Semi-Finals)
• Isabel Preysler, My Christmas (Spanish Original) Two-Part Special

Wednesday, December 6

• The Ghost and Molly McGee: White Christmess/Perfect Day (S2, 1 episode)
• SuperKitties (S1, 3 episodes)
• Villains of Valley View: A Very Villain Christmas  (S2, 1 episode)
• The Santa Clauses (Season 2) Season Finale
• Soundtrack #2 (Korean Original) Two Episode Premiere

Friday, December 8

• The Mission
• Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever

Saturday, December 9

• Doctor Who: The Giggle

Monday, December 11

• Science Fair: The Series (Complete Season 1)

Tuesday, December 12

• Dancing with the Stars (Season 32) Finale

Wednesday, December 13

• The Curse of Oak Island (S2, 10 episodes)
• Dance Moms (Complete Seasons 3-6 and 8)
• Kiff (S1, 3 episodes) 
• Mickey Mouse Funhouse (S3, 4 episodes)
• PJ Masks: Power Heroes Music Videos (Shorts) (S1, 5 episodes)
• PJ Masks: Power Heroes (S1, 5 episodes)
• Soundtrack #2 (Korean Original) Episodes 3 and 4

Friday, December 15

• CMA Country Christmas Special

The latter half of December will continue to have audiences gathered around the TV set. The long-awaited series adaptation of Percy Jackson and the Olympians will debut on December 20. Following that, we'll see the second season of Marvel's What If...? arrive. The new season is trying a unique release strategy. Rather than releasing weekly, or seeing all episodes drop at once What If...? will release one episode a day between December 22 and December 30. 

Then, finally, the big one for Doctor Who fans, Christmas Day will be the official debut of a new Doctor, when the Doctor Who Holiday Special: The Church on Ruby Road introduces Ncuti Gatwa in the iconic role.

Wednesday, December 20

• Hailey's On It!: We Wish You a Merry Chaos-mas (S1, 1 episode)
• Pupstruction (S1, 4 episodes)
• Percy Jackson and the Olympians - Two Episode Premiere
• Soundtrack #2 (Korean Original) Episodes 5 and 6
• Chip 'n' Dale: Park Life (Season 2) (UK Original) - Special Christmas Episode

Friday, December 22

• Marvel Studios’ “What If...?" Season 2 - Premiere 

Saturday, December 23

• Marvel Studios’ “What If...?" Season 2 - Episode 2

Sunday, December 24

• Marvel Studios’ “What If…?” Season 2 - Episode 3

Monday, December 25

• Doctor Who Holiday Special: The Church on Ruby Road
• Marvel Studios’ “What If...?" Season 2 - Episode 4

Tuesday, December 26

• Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade
• Marvel Studios’ “What If...?" Season 2 - Episode 5

Wednesday, December 27

• Me & Winnie the Pooh (S1, 9 episodes)
• Playdate with Winnie the Pooh (Shorts) (S1, 11 episodes)
• Rewind the '90s (S1, 10 episodes)
• Percy Jackson and the Olympians - Episode 3
• Marvel Studios’ “What If...?" Season 2 - Episode 6

Thursday, December 28

• Marvel Studios’ “What If...?" Season 2 - Episode 7

Friday, December 29

• Marvel Studios’ “What If...?" Season 2 - Episode 8

Saturday, December 30

• Marvel Studios’ “What If...?" Season 2 - Episode 9

We know that 2024 will start off strong on Disney+ with the release of Echo, the first mature-rated D+ original series from Marvel. We'll also see new Star Wars series like The Acolyte and Skeleton Crew. It should be an exciting year. 

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is only a fraction of the age of the James Bond franchise, and yet it has already produced more hours of story than just about any series that came before. If you wanted to watch the Marvel movies in order, it would take you an extremely long timr. The franchise is now moving in so many different directions that while fans used to be excited for whatever the next Marvel thing was, it’s easier now to just focus on whatever corner of the MCU is your personal jam.

There are lots of upcoming Marvel movies and upcoming Marvel TV shows on the way, and while I certainly plan to watch them all, I’d be lying if I said that I was equally excited for all of them. While I hope every one of these becomes one of the best Marvel movies or TV shows, that does seem unlikely. Here’s a look at everything that has been officially announced as being part of the future Marvel Cinematic Universe, ranked by my personal excitement level.

 12. What If…? (Season 2)

What…If…? Season One was excellent. It was cool to see Captain Carter before we saw her in live-action, or to see an alternate take on Black Panther’s history. I’m certainly looking forward to the next season of What If…?, but I’m not sure how “excited” I am. Some of the forthcoming episodes, like an adaptation of Nei Gaiman’s 1602, are sure to be amazing, but the episodic nature of the show would almost guarantee there will be misses as well as hits. 

11. Blade  

I was as excited as anybody when Kevin Feige took the Hall H stage at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019 and announced that an MCU Blade movie was coming, and that Mahershala Ali would play the role, but it’s been a long time since then. Blade is clearly having script issues, and four years and several release date changes later, I’m far from confident this one is in a good place right now.

10. Agatha: Darkhold Diaries  

Kathryn Hahn’s Agatha Harness was the highlight of WandaVision, one of the best Marvel Disney+ series made so far, so of course I’m excited by the possibility of an Agatha series. But like Blade, this one looks like maybe it’s having issues because a great idea, by itself, doesn’t make a great series. They can't even settle on a title for the Agatha series, which feels like a bad sign.

9. Daredevil: Born Again 

It’s difficult to not get hyped over a new Daredevil series. The Netflix series with Charlie Cox was excellent overall, and so I will always be excited by the idea of more from this character. However, Daredevil: Born Again is having its own production issues, so I’m trying to keep my excitement in check. 

8. Captain America: Brave New World  

This one would be higher on the list if we had more details about Captain America: Brave New World and what it is really going to be. Overall, I am really excited by the movie, as it will be the first time that a legacy MCU title is being carried by a new actor and character. I love that we’re getting a new Captain America in the MCU, and I can’t wait to see what he does. 

7.Ironheart 

This one would likely be lower on the list simply because we know next to nothing about it. However, I haven’t been as excited by anything in the MCU in a while as I was about the ending of The Marvels, teasing a Young Avengers team-up, and it seems likely that Ironheart the character will be part of that team. So now I’m more excited for Ironheart the show.  

 6. Thunderbolts  

Thunderbolts is described as Marvel’s version of The Suicide Squad, and what is there to not get excited about when it comes to that? It’s a collection of characters who, generally speaking, stole the show in their various movies and TV shows where they were supporting characters, so I can’t wait to see what they do when they’re given center stage.

5. Avengers: The Kang Dynasty  

It’s a movie with Avengers in the title, so it’s impossible to not be excited by it. Having said that, the fact that it’s years away, that we have no idea who the Avengers even are anymore, and the fact that (maybe) the Kang movie is going to get significantly retooled tempers that excitement a bit. 

4. Fantastic Four 

More than 10 years in, it feels like the Marvel Cinematic Universe must be running out of characters to introduce but we know there’s at least one more team coming, and it’s one of the biggest that there could possibly be. The First Family of Marvel Comics has had a tough time at the movies, but they are some of the most important comic book characters to ever exist, so their MCU debut is going to be a big deal when it finally happens. 

3. Avengers: Secret Wars  

The Avengers are Marvel’s greatest team. Secret Wars is one of Marvel Comics' most iconic storylines. Bring these two things together, and even though we know literally nothing else, it’s impossible to avoid getting pumped up. The expectations on this one are going to be huge. Whether it’s the end of one MCU arc, or the beginning of another, it’s going to be big.

 2. Echo  

Echo isn’t the biggest name on this list. In fact, it is absolutely the smallest, but Echo has a leg up in the hype department because we’ve actually seen an Echo trailer, and it looks amazing. When the trailer tells you to make sure your parental controls are properly set, it’s warning you this one is going to be brutal in a way the MCU has not been before. That doesn’t mean it will be great, but it does mean it will be different, and that’s exciting. 

1. Deadpool 3 

What is there to say? More Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool. The return of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. And also it’s in the MCU and is probably going to include cameos from every actor to ever wear a set of tights, and maybe also Taylor Swift. This sounds insane but in only the best way. If the MCU is going to let Deadpool be Deadpool, and it seems like it is, we’re in for a treat. 

And this is just the list of MCU projects that we know for sure is happening. There are countless more that have been rumored and reported. The Marvel Cinematic Universe is not going anywhere, and even after all these years, I’m still excited about it. 

A lot of superhero devotees just witnessed Loki Season 2’s wacky and emotional finale and, already the mighty machine at Disney is already toting the next entry on the schedule of upcoming Marvel shows. As has been reported over the past few weeks, Disney+ subscribers are now about to dive back into the multiverse by way of What If…? Season 2. The animated series made a major impression when it debuted in 2021 and, based on the first trailer for the new season, it’ll expand on the lore in kooky and fun ways. In this footage alone, we get a glimpse of a new hero and a taste of a pitch-perfect Die Hard joke I need more of. On top of that, the show’s sweet release schedule has also been revealed. 

What If…? follows Uatu – a.k.a The Watcher – who presides over the multiverse and tells stories of the happenings in the various universes and timelines. So in this trailer, you can see a reality in which Hank Pym, the Winter Soldier, T’Chaka and others team up to stop a boy that appears to be young Peter Quill. There also seems to be a world in which the Ten Rings organization goes to war with the forces of Asgard. I’m also stuck on that Christmas episode, which sees Kat Dennings’ Darcy Lewis name-dropping Con Air and Under Siege before Jon Favreau’s Happy Hogan references John McClane. (I really hope there’s more to that bit.)

As previously mentioned though, this season will also introduce a totally new superhero to the Marvel Cinematic Universe – Kahhori. The character will be established as a young Mohawk woman, who encounters the Tesseract after it falls to Earth ahead of American colonization. Per the studio, she’ll then use the cosmic object to discover her abilities. It’s unclear as to whether the character will make the jump to the live-action realm after her debut but, if she proves popular, that may be a possibility. 

We also have to point out the release strategy that the House of Mouse is using for these nine installments. Per the trailer, after Season 2’s debut on December 22, a new episode will be released every day. That’s certainly a sweet holiday gift for the fans, and it’s somewhat reminiscent of the days when cartoons dropped new episodes weekly Monday through Friday. It’s a unique way to handle this MCU release, and I’m so here for it.

When it comes to narrative threads, there are few things that have been known about What If…? Season 2. It was confirmed last year at San Diego Comic-Con that Captain Carter would return and team up with Black Widow to take down Steve Rogers (a.k.a. the HYDRA Stomper). There were also rumors that Cate Blanchett’s Hela would be back in the fold, and she’s certainly visible in the clip show above. 

Something that’s particularly exciting to me is that the series is now employing storylines related to MCU Phase Four productions. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is clearly represented, based on that aforementioned Ten Rings timeline. Also, the Wanda Maximoff that's shown appears to be similar to the one fans saw in WandaVision and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

The Marvel show’s Season 1 episodes (which we ranked) were a lot of fun, as the stories drew inspiration from different genres and tackled fan-favorite characters in eclectic ways. I’m excited to see that the new episodes will seemingly build on that approach. With multiversal mayhem, MCU action and references to beloved action flicks in tow, I can’t imagine not enjoying this. So you better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout, I’m telling you why. Because the Watcher is coming to town, and he’s bringing plenty of stories with him this year!

While you wait for What If…? Season 2 to debut on December 9 as part of the 2023 TV schedule, binge the first season on Disney+.

The multiverse is a major element in the current story arc being presented in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But while many characters seem to be aware of the multiverse as a concept, that doesn’t mean that everybody knows everything about it. Loki’s experience with the TVA is a key example of an aspect of the multiverse that nobody seems quite aware of, and Loki director Dan Deleeuw says that he doesn’t think anybody outside the TVA in the MCU is aware of its existence, outside of the characters who see literally everything.

While the multiverse is a well-understood concept in Marvel Comics, what it is in the MCU is a bit less clear. We know from movies like Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness that there are those within the MCU who are, at the very least aware of the multiverse as a concept. But is anybody aware of an organization that, until recently, had actually been preventing the existence of the multiverse altogether? CinemaBlend had a chance to chat with Dan Deleeuw, director of Loki and we asked him who else in the MCU is aware of the TVA’s existence. He believes that nobody outside the organization is aware of it, except of course Watchers, because they see everything. He explained…

The Watchers were first spied in a scene in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, but that was mostly done for a gag. One Watcher played a much more important role in the What If…? animated series and that series was all about the multiverse and seeing alternative realities. So clearly the Watcher really does see everything, not just in one reality, but in all of them.

While it seems all but certain that the events of Loki are going to be key to the larger Multiverse Saga, what’s less clear is how important the TVA will be specifically. We’re led to believe that, technically speaking, the multiverse did not exist prior to the death of He Who Remains, because the TVA specifically prevented it from existing. There are still a lot of questions to be answered.

While I wouldn’t expect a Watcher to appear in Loki Season 2, it’s more likely that we could see a live-action Watcher at some point during the Multiverse Saga. Because of their ability to see everything their knowledge could certainly prove useful, assuming they’re willing to get involved. Perhaps What If...? Season 2 will tell us more about the Watcher and his place in the multiverse.

Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe are more than accustomed to the handful of streaming series that have built out the library of titles in that franchise. Since 2021’s WandaVision, what some consider to be the best Marvel TV shows have connected to the lore of MCU past and introduced arcs and characters of future importance. 

For a little while, I was on the same train as everyone else, but eventually, I fell behind on these Disney+ shows. To be totally honest, I honestly don’t know how, or if, I’ll ever catch up. So as we prepare for the return of Marvel to the 2023 TV schedule, here's my tale about where I stand with the Marvel multiverse.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe Of Television, In A Nutshell

To really understand the struggle, one needs to stop and take in the full catalogue of Marvel shows that have streamed to this point. While anyone can sign up for a Disney+ subscription, not everyone has the time or interest to dive into the total package that consists of nine series to date, which have yielded 63 episodes worth of story. Here’s what that world consists of, at the time of this writing:

• WandaVision
• The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
• Loki
• What If...?
• Hawkeye
• Moon Knight
• Ms. Marvel
• She-Hulk: Attorney at Law
• Secret Invasion

We’re on the cusp of Loki Season 2 premiering on Disney+ in a matter of days, so that total will change in the coming weeks. As that’s the first show from this universe to return for a second season, catching up for the next chapter of Tom Hiddleston’s adventures is easy enough. As for climbing back onto the MCU horse in general, that’s a larger saddle that would take some time to return to.

Why, And Where, I Fell Off Of The MCU’s Disney+ Series Train

Despite being severely disappointed with the ending of WandaVision, I kept up with the Disney+ MCU for a fair amount of time. In addition to devouring Loki, I was also a fan of what was done with The Falcon and the Winter Solider. But by the time What If…? and Hawkeye started to air, I found myself falling behind due to other obligations. I can’t remember what those commitments happened to be, but once I was knocked off the rails, it was hard to get back on them.

My most recent attempts to try and get back into the Marvel TV series happened to be the first episodes of both She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and Secret Invasion. Both series had concepts that sounded interesting and out of the box, but upon viewing both of their pilots, I wasn’t invested in the slightest. Nowhere did this hurt more than with Samuel L. Jackson’s return as Nick Fury, as that show was teasing a massive spy thriller vibe, which as a James Bond movie fan is right up my alley. 

When that first chapter wrapped, I couldn’t have been less interested in catching up. And yes, that was despite an all-star cast of actors like Kingsley Ben-Adir, Emilia Clarke and Academy Award winner Olivia Colman being present. Yet for as much as I’ve laid out my complaints pertaining to the MCU’s TV branch, there are still pockets of the overall experience I’m glad to keep myself up to date on.

The Marvel Series That Still Have Me Invested

While I’ve fallen off of the MCU’s TV train in the greater picture, there are still a couple of shows that I’m a devoted fan of. As far as what’s aired, I’m not only primed and ready to revisit Loki for Season 2, I’m also extremely excited to see what the next raft of What If…? stories have to offer as well. In my mind, there’s still some exciting potential in the multiverse being played out in Disney+'s streaming playground.

When it comes to following those threads, I’m totally there, which admittedly leaves me periodically with my jaw on the floor; like when Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’s post-credits scenes dropped that wonderful tease for Loki Season 2. Also, the upcoming Marvel Zombies animated series technically counts as an entry on this list as well. 

I’ve been stumping for why Marvel Zombies needs to happen for some time, so there’s no way I’m not at least starting to check that out. As for the rest of the MCU TV offerings, it’s all a mix of shows I wasn’t a huge fan of and series that I’m not sure I need to prioritize in the name of keeping myself in play on this particular playground.

Will I Ever Catch Up With The Marvel Disney+ Shows?

Admittedly one of the advantages that Marvel has over other franchises, like say the Star Wars universe, is that you can sort of pick and choose what you’re invested in. While you might need to have watched Ms. Marvel to totally get the story of The Marvels, you don’t need to have seen it to watch Loki. 

Not to mention, unless I missed something between the release of Moon Knight and the Marvel movies that hit theaters in its wake, that’s one of the series that doesn’t seem to have any overall impact on the MCU. So with that in mind, there might not be a time when I’m totally caught up with Marvel’s Disney+ shows. 

In an ecosystem where “It's All Connected” used to be a slogan of importance, the question of whether that’s ever been true at any given point is something that recurs. Sure, I’m more inclined to watch Ms. Marvel now that I’ve seen Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) being comically adorable in the first trailer for The Marvels, but if it wasn’t for that connection, I’m not sure I’d have put any level of importance on doing just that. 

Maybe it’s my Marvel movie fatigue that’s put me into a position such as this, as I’ve even found myself questioning which MCU entries to attend and which ones to skip in theaters. Perhaps if the next few movies pull the saga out of the seemingly aimless arc it’s currently engaging in, I’ll find myself digging deeper into the past. While I weigh this matter out in my own mind, the clock is ticking and the stack gets ever higher. 

So for now, I’m going to enjoy those pockets of the Marvel continuum that I’ve really dug, and I’ll tackle anything else that’s present when, and if, I have the time. But you can be sure that I’ll be revisiting Loki Season 1, as Season 2 premieres on Disney+ October 5th. 

One could argue that the Mission: Impossible movies are a franchise that keeps improving upon itself with each installment on just about every level — from Tom Cruise’s latest high wire stunt to its ever-growing, talented ensemble. I personally believe that the latter is a definite plus, especially with the most recent casting of Hayley Atwell as thief-turned-reluctant-IMF-ally, Grace, in the new 2023 movie, Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One.

Of course, this is not the first time that the American-born, London-raised actor has played a spy. In fact, espionage is in the job description of her most iconic role to date (at least the best-known variation of her, I should say). There are plenty of other great characters that we intend to cover below as we explore our picks for the best Hayley Atwell movies and TV shows so far, but where you have seen her star as Agent Margaret “Pegg” Carter is where we shall start.

Hayley Atwell's Marvel Movies (2011-2022)

A British military agent (Atwell) helps a small man with a big heart (Chris Evans) become the world’s first supersoldier during World War II, which turns out to be only her first of many marvelous adventures as a member of an organization that comes to be known as S.H.I.E.L.D.

Why they are some of Hayley Atwell’s best movies: Atwell debuted as Peggy Carter in Captain America: The First Avenger and would reprise the role in four more of the best Marvel movies (2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers: Age of Ultron and Ant-Man from 2015, and 2019’s Avengers: Endgame) before playing an alternate version of the character, Captain Carter, in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness in 2022.

Stream Hayley Atwell's Marvel Movies on Disney+.

Agent Carter (2015-2016)

Demoted to doing only secretarial duties, a skilled spy (Atwell) is given the chance to get back into the fight when her wealthy former colleague (Dominic Cooper) asks her to help clear his name when he is accused of treason in the post-World War II 1940s.

Why it is one Hayley Atwell’s best TV shows: Directly following the events of Captain America: The First Avenger, creators Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely’s Agent Carter sees Atwell reprising the title role and taking center stage in this thrilling, fun, and unfortunately short-lived series that stands out as one of the more unique, let alone best, Marvel TV shows for its espionage themes and historical production design.

Stream Agent Carter on Disney+.
Buy Agent Carter on Amazon.

Marvel's What If...? (2021-Present)

T’Challa becoming Star-Lord instead of Black Panther, Ultron defeating the Avengers, and flesh-eating corpses overrunning the Earth are just some of the scenarios introduced in this anthology series that reimagines the most significant events from the Marvel movies in order so far.

Why it is one Hayley Atwell’s best TV shows: Atwell first played Peggy’s alternate, super soldier alter ego, Captain Carter, when she appeared in the What If…? voice cast for this inventive animated show that explores different corners of the Marvel Multiverse and has a second season coming to Disney+ at some point.

Stream Marvel's What If...? on Disney+.

Cassandra's Dream (2007)

A compulsive gambler (Academy Award nominee Colin Farrell) and his aspiring businessman brother (Emmy winner Ewan McGregor) seek help from their restauranteur father (Academy Award nominee Tom Wilkinson), who asks them to commit an unspeakable act in return.

Why it is one Hayley Atwell’s best movies: Atwell made her theatrical film debut as Angela (an actress whom McGregor’s character, Ian, falls in love with) in Cassandra’s Dream — an intense, high-stakes noir thriller from writer and director Woody Allen. 

Stream Cassandra's Dream on Freevee through Amazon.

Brideshead Revisited (2008)

The friendship between a British Army officer (Matthew Goode) and his close friend (Ben Whishsaw) changes when one falls for the other’s sister (Atwell) while meeting his family at their grand London estate.

Why it is one Hayley Atwell’s best movies: Atwell earned raves for her role as Lady Julia Flyte — who becomes entangled in a bizarre love triangle involving her brother and his best friend — in director Julian Jarrold’s adaptation of Evelyn Waugh’s seminal novel, Brideshead Revisited.

Rent or buy Brideshead Revisited on Amazon.

The Prisoner (2009)

A man (Jim Caviezel) finds himself unable to remember his name and trapped in a seemingly idyllic remote island village with a charismatic, but shady leader (Sir Ian McKellan).

Why it is one Hayley Atwell’s best TV shows: This AMC original update of the cult favorite 1960s sci-fi series, The Prisoner, stars Atwell as a woman linked to Caviezel’s character’s past — if only she could remember her own.

Stream The Prisoner on AMC+ through Amazon.

The Pillars Of The Earth (2010)

Families and lives become tarnished in the wake of violent conflict, greed, and religious autocracy in 12th Century England.

Why it is one Hayley Atwell’s best TV shows: Atwell starred as Aliena in an acclaimed limited series for Starz called The Pillars of the Earth — an Emmy-winning, eight-part adaptation of the romantic period thriller novel by Ken Follett — which predates Game of Thones’ themes of war, power, and forbidden romance by a year.

Buy or rent The Pillars Of The Earth on Amazon.

Jimi: All Is By My Side (2013)

A talented, but widely unknown, American guitarist (André Benjamin) leaves New York City and travels to London, where his distinct sound defines a generation and makes him a legend in the late 1960s.

Why it is one Hayley Atwell’s best movies: Real-life rap star “André 3000” Benjamin embodies rock ’n roll revolutionary Jimi Hendrix in writer and director John Ridley’s unauthorized biopic — which featured none of the musician’s catalog — Jimi: All is By My Side, alongside Atwell as the the guitarist’s lover, English writer Kathy Etchingham.

Rent or buy Jimi: All Is By My Side on Amazon.

The Duchess (2008)

An Englishwoman (Keira Knightley) becomes royalty when she marries a duke (Ralph Fiennes), only to find the experience disappointing and oppressive, in 18th century Devonshire, England.

Why it is one Hayley Atwell’s best movies: Another notable biopic on Atwell’s resume is one of Keira Knightley’s best movies — director Saul Dibb’s retelling of Georgiana Spencer’s life, The Duchess, in which she stars as Lady Bess, who serves not only as Georgiana’s friend, but also the romantic liaison of her husband, the Duke.

Rent or buy The Duchess on Amazon.

Cinderella (2015)

A chance meeting with a charming prince (Game of Thrones cast member Richard Madden) inspires a shy, young woman (Lily James, in one of her own best movies) to overcome the cruelty of her stepmother (Cate Blanchett) and go to a ball, with a little help from her fairy godmother (Helena Bonham Carter).

Why it is one Hayley Atwell’s best movies: Atwell was a much more positive presence (albeit a brief one) in another legendary, but fictional, tale of becoming royalty, director Kenneth Branagh’s Cinderella — Disney’s live-action remake of the animated classic in which the actor appears at the beginning as the title character’s biological mother.

Rent or buy Cinderella on Amazon.

Christopher Robin (2018)

A straight-laced, workaholic family man (Ewan McGregor) gets a chance to rediscover life’s joys when the sentient stuffed animals he grew up with pay him an unexpected visit.

Why it is one Hayley Atwell’s best movies: In addition to reuniting with McGregor more than a decade after Cassandra’s Dream, Atwell would go on to star in another live-action reimagining of a classic Disney property (in this case, Winnie the Pooh) with director Marc Forster’s Christopher Robin, in the role Evelyn, who is shocked to discovery her husband’s childhood friends are not so imaginary after all.

Stream Christopher Robin on Disney+.
Rent or buy Christopher Robin title on Amazon.

Testament Of Youth (2014)

After her lover (Kit Harrington) enlists in the Army, an upper class woman (Alicia Vikander, in one her best movies) sees the perils of World War I for herself while serving as a nurse for the British Army.

Why it is one Hayley Atwell’s best movies: Another acclaimed biopic on Atwell’s resume is director James Kent’s Testament of Youth — a romantic adaptation of the memoir by famous socialist, pacifist, and feminist figure Vera Brittain — in which she appears in the smaller role of a woman named Hope which, itself, is a profound theme of the story.

Rent or buy Testament Of Youth on Amazon.

Black Mirror: Be Right Back (2013)

A woman (Atwell) mourning the loss of her boyfriend (Domhnall Gleeson) discovers that she can reconnect with him from beyond the grave with the use of an AI that mimics his personality.

Why it is one Hayley Atwell’s best TV shows: We may not believe that its second run of episodes is the very best Black Mirror season yet, but Season 2’s first episode, “Be Right Back,” does see Atwell give one of the best performances of the entire acclaimed anthology series as a woman wrestling with her longing for her tragically killed beau while trying to keep her grip on reality.

Stream Black Mirror: Be Right Back on Netflix.

Atwell is set to return as Grace in the second half of Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning (one of the most anticipated upcoming 2024 moves) and is set to voice Lara Croft in an upcoming animated series adaptation of the Tomb Raider video games. So, needless to say, there are going to be plenty more great movies and TV shows starring the actress where these came from.

Back in 2021, it felt like Marvel kept releasing show after show. From the mega-hit that became WandaVision to Loki (which is getting a second season in 2023) to everything else, it truly was a big year for Marvel on Disney+. One show that many genuinely enjoyed was What If…?, an animated series that documents tales from alternate universes about our favorite Marvel Cinematic Universe characters in different ‘what if?’ scenarios, all watched over by someone called “The Watcher.”

The series featured some pretty awesome ideas, like Peggy Carter getting the Super Soldier serum instead of Steve Rogers, or if T’Challa was the one kidnapped into space instead of Peter Quill. Of course, the show ended up getting renewed for a second season, and will continue to take us on an adventure into different worlds and universes for us to enjoy. 

But, when exactly is What If…? Season 2? How long are we going to have to wait for it to come out? Who is going to be back? If you have questions just like we do, here is what we know so far about the upcoming second season of What If…? 

What Is The What If…? Season 2 Premiere Date?

At the time of updating this in December 2023, What If...? Season 2 will release on December 22nd, 2023, according to an announcement from the Marvel Twitter page. 

It took some time for this to be announced, and I could see why for a few reasons. 

This year, in of itself, isn’t a super great one for Marvel television. While there’ve been some movies, including Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 (and its great reviews), Marvel series have been pretty few and far between since last year. The only shows that have come out in 2023 so far have been Loki and Secret Invasion, with Echo slated to release later this year.

Originally, the animated series was set to release in “early 2023,” which was announced back at 2022’s San Diego Comic-Con (via Variety). There was even a sneak-peak of what kind of stories we might be expecting in Season 2 from the presentation. 

But, clearly, we are way past early 2023 at this point, and in March 2023, it was confirmed on its Disney+ page that the title was “Coming Soon” instead of in “Early 2023” like it used to (via ComicBook). But thankfully, we know now it will be a part of our 2023 TV release schedule. Something else that was confirmed is that there will be nine episodes, premiering each day after the first day on the 22nd.

Cate Blanchett And Laurence Fishburne Are Joining The Voice Cast

We can confirm that there are some new cast members who are going to be hopping on for their own respective roles. During the LightBox Expo (via Laughing Place) the director of What If…? revealed that Cate Blanchett will be in Season 2 to voice the animated version of Hela, Thor’s sister in Thor: Ragnarok. 

Also confirmed for Season 2 is Laurence Fishburne. In an interview with Brandon Pope TV featured on Twitter while promoting John Wick 4, Fishburne confirmed he would be back voicing Bill Foster, otherwise known as Giant Man, in What If…? Season 2. This would be the first time the actor has come back to the role since Ant-Man and the Wasp. 

From a Variety article regarding the Season 2 premiere date, it was also confirmed that Hayley Atwell, Lake Bell, Josh Keaton, Jeffrey Wright and more would return to reprise their roles in the series. 

Check Out The Trailer For What If...? Season 2

If you're like me and you're just waiting for the opportunity to view these stories, you can get your first look with the What If...? Season 2 trailer. We get to see some familiar characters that we all know and love, and just a hint of the crazy stories we are going to dive into. 

The Second Season Will Feature Several New Stories For Characters We’ve Seen Before

Featured in the preview at San Diego Comic-Con in 2022, as mentioned above, we got a hint at what Season 2 might be about – or, at the very least, the first few episodes. The trailer shown at the event detailed several new storylines. 

Some of which will be the characters from Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings fighting against Odin and the Asgardians, a racing episode featuring Valkyra and Iron Man, a time-travel episode, and more. 

Already, these sound like crazy storylines, and it makes sense, because now it’s Season 2 and there’s so much more to explore. Andrews spoke to Deadline back in 2022 about what we'll see in the second season, and said:

I’m already super excited for this – are you? 

The First Episode Will Be Called “What If Captain Carter Fought the Hydra Stomper?”

Get excited, because we actually know what the first episode is going to be called. At San Diego Comic-Con 2022 (via Slash Film), it was announced that the premiere is going to be called “What If Captain Carter Fought the Hydra Stomper?”

For those who need a refresher, the Hydra Stomper was featured in three episodes of What If….? and was operated by Steve Rogers in this alternate universe as a way for him to join the war efforts against HYDRA. Judging from this title, it makes me wonder if Steve has somehow turned into a villain, so I can’t wait to see what this first episode has to show me. 

Season 3 Is Already In Development

Last piece of news, but get excited, because Season 3 is already in development. Also announced at Comic-Con in 2022 (via Variety), it was confirmed that the third installment is ordered and in the works. 

With Season 2 not that far away now, it's the best time to rewatch the first. I think we're ready to dive back into the world of the MCU. 

The beautiful thing about art is that it makes people eternal. So, when Chadwick Boseman died in 2020, I, like many others, was notably devastated, and you can read as such in my tribute to him in my Chadwick Boseman best performances article.  At the time, I lamented all the excellent future projects we would never get to see from the talented performer. I also wondered how there could even be a sequel to Black Panther when its leading man – its T’Challa – was no longer with us. It didn’t seem possible. Or right.   

Well, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is upon us, and our very own Eric Eisenberg wrote a very favorable review of the film, calling it a “remarkable work." And, with time, I have learned to not be so sad anymore about the loss of such a gifted brother. Instead, I look back fondly upon all of the great work he did in his short lifetime, most notably his five performances as Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. So, without further ado, here is every Marvel appearance of Black Panther, ranked. Chadwick Boseman forever.   

5. Avengers: Endgame (2019) 

Formerly the highest-grossing movie of all time, Avengers: Endgame, which is the last cinematic appearance of T'Challa as Black Panther, is actually not the greatest, unfortunately. But, this is only because he was Thanos-snapped out of existence in the previous film.   

In fact, Black Panther isn’t even in most of this movie, as the original Avengers, Hawkeye, Cap, Iron Man, Hulk, Black Widow, and Thor were the ones who were left behind, while the newer Avengers, like Black Panther and Spider-Man, were the ones who had to sit out most of the movie. Still, when Black Panther DOES appear toward the end, it’s one of the greatest highlights of the entire film. We missed you, Black Panther! Still do, unfortunately.  

4. What-If…? (2021) 

When I ranked all of the Disney+ MCU shows up to Hawkeye, I put What-If…? smack dab at the bottom. I don’t know, the show just didn’t do it for me with its assortment of episodes surrounding the characters we’d been introduced to in the live-action MCU. I thought all of the episodes ranged from mediocre to pretty bad. Except for one episode, and that’s the one that wondered what would have happened if T’Challa had become Star Lord. 

The great thing about this episode is that it leaned heavily into the fact that everybody – like, in the entire galaxy – loves T’Challa, and if he became Star Lord instead of Peter Quill, well, then things would be a whole lot different (With Thanos not being such a genocidal prick, for one thing). It was a fun concept, and I just wish the rest of the series lived up to it. Oh, well. 

3. Avengers: Infinity War (2018) 

Now we’re talking. Whereas Avengers: Endgame was mostly T’Challa-less, Avengers: Infinity War was… also mostly T’Challa-less. That said, when he WAS in the film, they really made it count. In fact, the final fight is the “Battle of Wakanda," where our king is leading the charge into a horde of baddies.  

What makes the moment so impactful, though, is that this is basically the world’s –the universe’s! -- last stand, and Black Panther is the one who is at the very front of the pack, ready for action. There are many great moments in the film, most notably all the fights leading up to the harrowing climax, but out of all of the moments in this movie, T’Challa screaming his battle cry is the one that will always stick out the most to me.  

Well, that and of course everybody turning to dust (Including Aunt May!). But, it’s hard to forget something as traumatic as that.    

2. Captain America: Civil War (2016) 

Black Panther’s very first appearance in the MCU, Captain America: Civil War, was a seismic debut. And, you wouldn’t think it would have been given that this film was also the first appearance of Spider-Man in the MCU, but somehow, Black Panther managed to stand out in such a crowded movie. It might be because he was integral to the overall plot, while Spider-Man was kind of just a nice little addition to the film. 

Whatever the reason, Black Panther is seriously badass in this movie. Especially when he’s chasing after Bucky for what he thinks is the murder of his father. That motorcycle scene where Black Panther is keeping up ON FOOT is just one of the greatest moments in the entire MCU. And, we even got a chance to see that his vibranium suit was bulletproof when he was fired at, and he just stood there, like what? Go ahead. Shoot at me all you want. That’s not gonna hurt me! I mean, damn! You don’t get much cooler than that.  

1. Black Panther (2018) 

Last, but certainly not least (I mean, duh, it’s first) is 2018’s Black Panther, which is the only solo effort for the character in the MCU. It can’t be stated highly enough just what a cultural phenomenon this movie was. In fact, it was more than a movie. It was an event! Schools went to see it, and hell, it’s the very first superhero movie to EVER be nominated for a Best Picture Oscar.   

But, you don’t need me to remind you of just how big it was. You were there. You remember it. You SAW it. Possibly multiple times. But, besides being such a mega-hit for Marvel/Disney, the film itself is an astounding feat of cinema, where T’Challa goes through a number of emotions, first defending Wakanda, and then, learning that maybe they need to open up Wakanda more to the rest of the world. 

Plus, every great superhero movie needs an excellent villain, and Black Panther had it with Michael B. Jordan’s, Killmonger, which people really latched onto. But, in the end, it was Chadwick Boseman’s film, and Black Panther stood tall in this amazing movie, making it the best appearance of Black Panther in the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe.   

But, what do you think? What’s your favorite appearance of Black Panther in the MCU? For more news on everything Marvel, make sure to swing by here often. 

The timelines of the Star Wars and Star Trek franchises in film and television are fairly complex, but they don’t really hold a candle to the Marvel Cinematic Universe at this point. There are not only dozens of blockbusters and multiple streaming shows, but even multiple realities to keep track of. And did we mention that there are always more upcoming Marvel movies and upcoming Marvel TV shows on the way? We sympathize with anyone trying to keep track of it all, and we put together this feature to help you in that endeavor – whether you want to watch everything in Chronological Order or in Release Order.

If You’ve Never Seen The Marvel Movies Before

If you’re a complete newbie when it comes to the goings-on in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there’s no real reason to be cute about picking a specific entry point: you should stick with the Release Order route. You can start getting creative after you’ve watched everything and you start doing rewatches, but when you’re just getting into the MCU, your best path to take is the same path that all existing fans took into the comic book franchise.

If You’ve Seen The Marvel Movies Before

Are you a Marvel Cinematic Universe fan who remembers seeing Jon Favreau’s Iron Man on the big screen in 2008 and have seen everything else on opening weekend ever since? Rewatching all of the films and TV shows in release order may be too basic for you, so allow us to recommend giving Chronological Order a whack. You’ll be able to properly witness the full scope of the timeline going back to the first half of the 20th century and may pick up on things that you didn’t notice or understand during previous viewings.

Marvel Movies In Chronological Order

The filmmakers at Marvel Studios like to play around with time – and I don’t just mean via time travel (though that is certainly a part of it). The effort to construct a cohesive universe means crafting a firm and verbose timeline, and that has been accomplished with movies and TV shows set in the past, present, and future. Want to start a new MCU rewatch by witnessing the true launch of the Age of Heroes in the canon? This is the order you should follow.

Captain America: The First Avenger (Set In 1940s)

The full story set furthest into the past in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is Captain America: The First Avenger – an adventure that entirely takes place towards the end of World War II. Spanning about two years (1943-1945), the story takes us from the transformation of Steve Rogers into Captain America, to his bold sacrificial move in the Arctic Circle that led him to being frozen in ice for decades. It’s in this film that we are introduced to not only the incredibly important titular hero, but also key supporting characters like James Buchanan “Bucky” Barnes, Peggy Carter, Howard Stark, Johann Schmidt a.k.a. Red Skull, and Arnim Zola, all of whom have key roles to play in later movies. It's also the first of many stories to involve the Tesseract a.k.a. The Space Stone.

Captain Marvel (Set In 1990s)

There are flashbacks in Ant-Man, Ant-Man And The Wasp, Captain America: Civil War, and Black Panther that give audiences a peek into events that occurred after World War II in the MCU timeline, but the truth is that most of the 20th century remains open for exploration in future movies. The one part of the period that is an exception to this is the mid-1990s, which is when the events of Captain Marvel take place (specifically 1995). Naturally, this is where audiences get to meet Carol Danvers for the first time, and it’s also the introduction of the shape-shifting Skrull Talos, but from a chronological perspective, this also marks the debut of Phil Coulson and Nick Fury.

Iron Man (Set In 2010)

The opening scene of Iron Man 3 shows what it was like for the Marvel Cinematic Universe to experience the 2000 New Year’s celebration, but the timeline zooms ahead to 2010ish for the next big arc, and that’s the movie that started it all: Iron Man. It’s in this story that we get to watch Tony Stark transform into an armor-clad superhero, but also get to know James “Rhodey” Rhodes, Pepper Potts, and Happy Hogan. Plus it’s an opportunity to check in with Nick Fury and Phil Coulson more than 15 years after Captain Marvel.

Iron Man 2 (Set In 2010)

The reason why the setting of Iron Man is a couple of years after its release date is because the story directly dovetails with the events of Iron Man 2, which is set in 2010. The film begins with the same scene that ended the previous movie – Tony Stark declaring to the world that he is Iron Man – and gives fans a chance to catch up with James “Rhodey” Rhodes (who becomes War Machine), Pepper Potts, Happy Hogan, Nick Fury, and Phil Coulson. This is the movie that also marks the first appearance of Natasha Romanoff a.k.a. Black Widow, who is operating as an undercover S.H.I.E.L.D. agent spying on Tony as he struggles with a life-threatening illness, confronts the possibility of his technology being proliferated, and weighs entrance to the Avengers.

Thor (Set In 2010)

In Iron Man 2 we see Phil Coulson leave his assignment babysitting Tony Stark for a developing situation in New Mexico, and it winds up being revealed that the situation in question is the arrival of Thor on Earth a.k.a. Midgard (which means that it too is set in 2010ish). The first Thor movie is big on introductions, as we get to meet not only key Asgardians like the God of Thunder himself, Loki, Odin, Frigga, Heimdall, Sif, and the Warriors Three, but also notable humans such as Jane Foster, Darcy Lewis, Erik Selvig, S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Jasper Sitwell, and Clint Barton a.k.a. Hawkeye.

The Incredible Hulk (Set In 2010)

If you are paying attention during the second to last scene in Iron Man 2, you’ll notice a familiar broadcast playing on one of the monitors – specifically a news report about a rampage by the Hulk at a college. This is because The Incredible Hulk is yet another story that takes place around 2010. It’s not the most significant movie on the MCU timeline, as it only features two characters who go on to be really important (not counting the Tony Stark cameo), but it is noteworthy that those two individuals are Bruce Banner a.k.a. Hulk and future Secretary of State Thaddeus E. "Thunderbolt" Ross, who is on a global hunt for the green monster.

The Avengers (Set In 2012)

Following the Iron Man 2/Thor/Incredible Hulk cluster, there is a small gap in the timeline, but things pick back up with The Avengers, which is set in 2012. This particular adventure was obviously notable for bringing Marvel’s established ensemble of characters together, with an alien invasion bringing together Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Hawkeye, Black Widow, Nick Fury, Loki, Erik Selvig, Pepper Potts, and Phil Coulson in the same story, but the movie also marks the arrival of both Maria Hill and Thanos to the live-action canon.

Iron Man 3 (Set In 2012)

Immediately post-Avengers, both the chronological and release date timelines sync up for the most part. Iron Man 3 was the first movie to come out after the 2012 blockbuster, and it’s also the first story in-universe to follow it – taking place around Christmas of that year. Given that it is a more introspective story, with Tony Stark gaining a larger understanding of what it means to be Iron Man, the only important new character we meet is The Mandarin… who turns out to be a fake anyway. That being said, the film does also bring James “Rhodey” Rhodes, Pepper Potts, Happy Hogan and Howard Stark (albeit in video form) back into the action.

Thor: The Dark World (Set In 2013)

Thor: The Dark World is set during an unspecified season of 2013, and while it doesn’t expand the Marvel Cinematic Universe at all with new characters, it does update audiences on what has been happening with almost the entire ensemble that was featured in the first movie, including Thor, Loki, Jane Foster, Odin, Frigga, Heimdall, Sif, the Warriors Three, Darcy Lewis, and Erik Selvig. Plus it has an adventure that centers around one of the most significant elements in the canon: the Reality Stone.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (Set In 2014)

It’s in the calendar year of 2014 that the events of Captain America: The Winter Soldier play out, as audiences primarily catch up with Captain America and Black Widow as they sniff out a conspiracy within the goings-on at S.H.I.E.L.D. The blockbuster notably also brings back Bucky Barnes (now the Winter Soldier), Nick Fury, Maria Hill, Jasper Sitwell, Peggy Carter (now in her 90s), and Arnim Zola (now a computer), but also has fans get to know Sam Wilson a.k.a. Falcon, Sharon Carter a.k.a. Agent 13, S.H.I.E.L.D. Secretary Alexander Pierce, and strike team operative Brock Rumlow a.k.a. Crossbones.

Guardians Of The Galaxy (Set In 2014)

Thanks to particular title cards in the beginning of the movie, we know for a fact that Guardians of the Galaxy takes place in the year 2014, though the narrative that unfolds in the movie couldn’t be set further away from the main action in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This is, of course, the story that brought the likes of Peter Quill a.k.a. Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket, Groot, Nebula, Yondu, and Kraglin into the live-action canon, while also seeing Thanos conspire with Ronan The Accuser to find The Power Stone.

Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 (Set In 2014)

Because of the release schedule, most Marvel Cinematic Universe sequels are set at least a couple years after their predecessor, but that’s not the case with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, which is set just a few months after the first movie – letting it come directly after it in chronological order. This adventure is very different than the last, centering on the titular group as they meet a being who claims to be Peter Quill’s father, and a great new addition is made to the team with the arrival of Mantis.

Avengers: Age Of Ultron (Set In 2015)

Back on Earth in the year 2015, the Avengers reunited for a world-threatening crisis of their very own making – namely Tony Stark’s creation of the deadly artificial intelligence known as Ultron. Avengers: Age Of Ultron not only brings back together Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Hawkeye, Black Widow, Falcon, War Machine, Nick Fury, and Erik Selvig for the first time since 2012, but also has a huge impact on the future of the franchise. This is the movie that initially put Scarlet Witch in action (not counting her Captain America: The Winter Soldier post-credits cameo), features the creation of Vision, has a role for Ulysses Klaue, and also involves two Infinity Stones: the Mind Stone and the Space Stone.

Ant-Man (Set In 2015)

Thanks to a particular line about the Avengers dropping cities out of the sky, we know that Ant-Man is set after the events of Avengers: Age Of Ultron, and as a result it’s pretty easy to pin it to its release year: 2015. It’s an important chapter for the MCU, as while the story about the heist of top secret technology doesn’t have much of an impact on the larger continuity of the franchise, it is the first movie for a lot of recurring characters, including Scott Lang a.k.a. Ant-Man, Hope van Dyne (pre-Wasp), Hank Pym, Luis, Kurt, Dave, Paxton, and Cassie and Maggie Lang. It also has cameos from Falcon, Howard Stark, and Peggy Carter.

Captain America: Civil War (Set In 2016)

It’s in the year 2016 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe that a monumental change begins to take effect in regards to the way in which people of the world view superheroes. Understanding that there’s a serious risk in having costumed vigilantes operating without oversight, the Sokovia Accords are ratified globally, and it’s an issue that causes a great divide between members of the Avengers. This is obviously one of the most significant stories in the franchise timeline, both bringing together the likes of Iron Man, Captain America, Hawkeye, Black Widow, Scarlet Witch, War Machine, Falcon, Vision, Winter Soldier, Agent 13, Ant-Man, Thaddeus E. “Thunderbolt” Ross, Crossbones, and Howard Stark, while introducing T’Challa a.k.a. Black Panther, Peter Parker a.k.a. Spider-Man, Helmut Zemo, May Parker, the Dora Milaje’s Ayo, and Everett Ross.

Black Panther (Set In 2016)

While there were four Marvel movies released between Captain America: Civil War and Black Panther, the latter is much closer on the timeline to the former than any other feature. With the 2016 blockbuster featuring the death of the Wakandan ruler T’Chaka, Black Panther is a film set in the aftermath as T’Challa returns home. While dealing with a challenge to the titular hero’s throne from a previously-unknown cousin, the new film brings in a couple of familiar faces with Everett Ross, Ayo, and Ulysses Klaue, but mostly features new characters, including Ramonda , Shuri , Okoye, M'Baku, Nakia, W'Kabi, and Ayo.

Spider-Man: Homecoming (Set In 2016)

Like Black Panther, Spider-Man: Homecoming is also very much set in the aftermath of Captain America: Civil War, but a little more time has passed in between the stories. While the plot has Peter Parker struggling to be the best Spider-Man he can be while operating under certain restrictions from Iron Man, the film also introduces audiences to all of the important people in the hero’s life, including his classmates Ned Leeds, Flash Thompson, Michelle, a.k.a. M.J., Betty Brant, and teachers like Mr. Harrington. May Parker also makes her second MCU appearance, while there is also a part to play for Happy Hogan and a cameo from Pepper Potts.

Black Widow (Set In 2016)

Cate Shortland's Black Widow may have been released as the first title in the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Phase Four, but it's a chapter that is still embedded amidst the various events that comprised the latter years of the Infinity Saga. While the blockbuster isn't set as close to the events of Captain America: Civil War as either Black Panther or Spider-Man: Homecoming, the plot is very much tied to that period – specifically in the sense that it picks up with the titular heroine on the run due to her disobeying the orders in the Sokovia Accords.

Doctor Strange (Set In 2016)

Dr. Stephen Strange gets specifically name dropped in Captain America: Civil War, but evidence suggests it’s because of his advanced skills as a brain surgeon – not because he eventually becomes one of the most magically gifted individuals on Earth. On the Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline, Doctor Strange doesn’t actually go through his whole origin story until after the events of both Black Panther and Spider-Man: Homecoming - which pins the start of his journey in late 2016.

Thor: Ragnarok (Set In 2018)

Where Thor: Ragnarok sits on the Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline is most easily perceived by its proximity to Avengers: Infinity War – which is evident from the post-credits scene that directly ties into the massive blockbuster. Without any specific dates available, the best guess is that the bulk of the movie takes place in the year 2018, with the God of Thunder going on a wild adventure that sees him travel to a garbage planet while his sister, Hela, takes over Asgard. This movie is important to the canon in that it refreshes audiences on the whereabouts of Hulk, Loki, and Heimdall, while also showing the fates of the Warriors Three and Odin. There's also a fun supporting role played by Doctor Strange, who is shown to possess very skilled control over magiks, and the introduction of fun new players including Valkyrie, Korg, Meik, and The Grandmaster.

Ant-Man And The Wasp (Set In 2018)

Like Thor: Ragnarok, we know that Ant-Man And The Wasp takes place very close to the events of Avengers: Infinity War because of what is shown during the end credits (namely the effects of The Blip). However, because the story plays out over less time, and goes further into the future than the third God of Thunder film, we’re putting it next chronologically. While tracing a plot that finds its main characters working to rescue the long-missing Janet van Dyne, this movie catches fans up with all the key Ant-Man players, including Scott Lang, Hope Van Dyne (who finally becomes Wasp), Hank Pym, Luis, Kurt, Dave, Paxton, and Cassie and Maggie Lang.

Avengers: Infinity War (Set In 2018)

Taking place in the spring of 2018, Avengers: Infinity War plays out the first chapter in a two-part saga that Marvel Studios planned over the course of more than a decade. Following Thanos’ journey to collect all six of the Infinity Stones, the film features far too many characters to list here… and at the end of the day winds up killing approximately half of them.

Avengers: Endgame (Set In 2023)

As for Avengers: Endgame, the most significant events of the blockbuster take place in the year 2023, five years after the devastating ending of Avengers: Infinity War… but it’s also a hard title to specifically put on a timeline specifically because of the time travel antics that are featured. To get into all of the details here would be a touch too confusing, not to mention the crazy number of heroes and villains who appear, but the fact that the movie jumps the MCU canon into the near future is really the big takeaway from a timeline perspective.

WandaVision (Set In 2023)

The Marvel Cinematic Universe entered a new era with the release of WandaVision, not only because it's the first title in Phase 4, but also because it's the franchise's first Disney+ series. It's also an interesting story to consider in the Marvel timeline, as it's actually set between the events of Avengers: Endgame and Spider-Man: Far From Home. It's specifically said in dialogue on the show that the plot really begins about three weeks after the final battle against Thanos, and head writer Jac Schaeffer has confirmed that the events that play out happen over the course of about a week.

The Falcon And The Winter Soldier (Set In 2024)

Beyond being clearly set in the aftermath of Avengers: Endgame, The Falcon And The Winter Soldier Disney+ series doesn't really provide too many anchors regarding where it sits in the timeline, but given the featured animosity regarding political restructuring after The Blip, it seems fair to say that a few months have past, putting it after the events of WandaVision.

Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings (Set In Spring 2024)

Thanks to its central antagonist having lived for a millennia Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings is a movie that features scenes that go way back in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe – but the vast majority is set in the “present”. It's not easy to pinpoint exactly when the events of the film occur in relation to Avengers: Endgame, but there is a moment when Wenwu says that the portal to the mystical world of Ta Lo will be open during the Chinese holiday Qingming Jie, which is celebrated in the spring.

Eternals (Set In 2024)

While many Marvel movies have featured flashbacks that are set centuries in the past, Eternals is a special case in that it goes back a remarkable 7,000 years in history, chronicling its characters' journey shepherding human society. That being said, the bulk of the action takes place in the post-Blip "present," and while there aren't really any specific seasonal markers, it feels safe to line it up in release order and say that events transpire around the time or after what happens in Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings.

Spider-Man: Far From Home (Set In Summer 2024)

Although Spider-Man: Far From Home was the first MCU film released in the aftermath of Avengers: Endgame – evidence suggests that it takes place after a number of the films and shows that followed it. The set up of the story suggests it takes place in the summer of 2024. The fact that Tony Stark is dead still weighs heavily on the minds of characters in this story, but once again we get to reconnect with the important people in Peter Parker’s circle, including Ned Leeds, Flash Thompson, M.J., Betty Brant, Mr. Harrington, May Parker, and Happy Hogan.

Spider-Man: No Way Home (Set In Fall 2024)

Given the cliffhanger ending of Spider-Man: Far From Home, with J. Jonah Jameson and Mysterio revealing the web-slinger's secret identity to the world, Spider-Man: No Way Home had to be set in the immediate aftermath – and it delivers. It's made clear that the story is set in the immediate aftermath of Halloween (given that MJ's boss at the coffee shop requesting that decorations be taken down), and the narrative doesn't unfold over a great deal of time.

Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness (Set In Fall 2024)

A considerable percentage of Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness takes place outside of the normal MCU timeline, but there is still plenty of action set in the 616 Universe (which the movie designates). There aren't many details revealed within the film itself regarding when it is set – other than it being after the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home – but thanks to the timeline order featured on Disney+, we know that it takes place between the events of the webslinger blockbuster and...

Hawkeye (Set In December 2024)

If you look closely in Spider-Man: No Way Home, you can see billboards for Rogers: The Musical, a fictional Broadway production that is more prominently featured in Hawkeye. With the blockbuster ending in November 2024, it's logical then that the Disney+ series is set in December of the same year – and specifically around Christmas.

Moon Knight (Set In 2025)

The Disney+ series Moon Knight in general has very few connections to the larger happenings of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it most definitely is set within the canon, and we do have a general idea of when it's set thanks to the aforementioned official timeline on the streaming service. According to Disney, the events on the show take place after the events of Hawkeye – and given that Hawkeye is set in December 2024, it's fair that we pin the events to taking place sometime in 2025.

She-Hulk: Attorney At Law (Set In 2025)

Notable mention of Wong's battle with Abomination featured in Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings gives us at least one standout way in which to pinpoint She-Hulk: Attorney At Law's exact place on the MCU timeline, but still we're mostly relying on info from Disney+ here. The streaming service puts the show's events after those that take place in Moon Knight, but notably it is set before the events of the Marvel show that directly preceded it...

Ms. Marvel (Set In Fall 2025)

The Ms. Marvel series was released prior to She-Hulk: Attorney At Law, but the streaming service that debuted it says that they didn't come out in chronological order where the MCU is concerned. We don't know what exact month the events take place during, but it's worth noting that Kamala Khan is depicted as starting her junior year of high school, which means that it takes place in the fall.

Thor: Love And Thunder (Set In Late 2025/Early 2026)

Although we know that Thor: Love And Thunder takes place a fair amount of time after the events of Avengers: Endgame, it isn't perfectly clear exactly how far. The best guess we have to the setting comes from Thor telling Mighty Thor that it's been eight years, seven months, and six days since he last saw her... but that only gets us so far considering we don't know exactly when they broke up. We know that happened before the events of Captain America: Civil War, but details are vague, leaving us to pin the movie to 2025/2026.

Werewolf By Night (Set In Late 2025/Early 2026)

The Special Presentation Werewolf By Night opens up a new monster-filled corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, though in doing so it doesn't get too specific regarding when it takes place in relation to other events that are happening in the canon. Disney+'s timeline says that it takes place after Thor: Love And Thunder, but because we don't really know when that blockbuster is set, it's hard to get an exact read on the timeline spot for the MCU's first full-on horror project.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Set In Late 2025/Early 2026)

In the case of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, fans will have to suss out the specifics when it comes to months/seasons, but at the very least we do know its position on the Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline thanks to producer Nate Moore. The filmmaker confirmed to CinemaBlend that the blockbuster's setting is "potentially concurrent" with both the events in Thor: Love And Thunder and Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania.

The Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special (Set In December 2025)

Marvel Studios celebrated Christmas 2024 in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with the adventure in Hawkeye, and set one year later is the shenanigan-filled Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special. There isn't a specific mention of the year that things are happening, but it's clearly set after the events in Thor: Love And Thunder.

Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania (Set In Late 2025/Early 2026)

Because the film is primarily set in the time-warping Quantum Realm, Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania is not the easiest blockbuster to place on the Marvel timeline, but Nate Moore's comment about it being concurrent with Thor: Love And Thunder and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever gives us the confidence to at least pin it to late 2025/early 2026.

Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 (2026)

As noted, the adventures in Guardians of the Galaxy and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 happened very close together on the MCU timeline, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 has a similar relationship with the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. It's not made explicitly clear when the movie is set, but references are made to that Disney+ adventure, pinning the blockbuster to the early months of 2026.

Secret Invasion (2026)

The Disney+ original series Secret Invasion is heavy on flashbacks, dipping into many different eras of the MCU, but it's mostly set post-Blip. There aren’t any specific dates mentioned that specifically tell us whether or not the events are happening before or after the story in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (a tricky thing to pin down since so much of that film is set away from Earth), but we're going to stick by the rule of thumb and put it after.

The Marvels (2026)

Unlike Captain Marvel, which took audiences back to the 1990s in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Marvels is set in the contemporary era as to unite Carol Danvers with a post-Ms. Marvel Kamala Khan and a post-WandaVision Monica Rambeau. Even though it also features the return of Nick Fury, we're left to only assume that the events take place after Secret Invasion.

In Canon/Outside Of The Timeline

Clearly there is a lot going on in the Marvel Cinematic Universe… but you also have to remember that it is one of an infinite number of realities included in the multiverse. As the franchise has dug further into this idea, it has resulted in some projects being produced with stories that take place outside the MCU canon as it is generally recognized. We’ve included this special section in our feature to highlight these titles.

Loki

Technically a spin-off from Avengers: Endgame, Loki chronicles the version of the titular God of Mischief who managed to escape from the grasp of the Avengers thanks to a misplaced Tesseract. Having messed with the time stream, he is arrested as a Variant by the Time Variance Authority – and when he is brought to their headquarters, he finds himself in a location that exists outside of normal time and space. The series, which ran for two seasons on Disney+, doesn't really fit on the chronological timeline as a result, but it is at the very least best watched only after the aforementioned 2019 blockbuster.

What If

Debuting on Disney+ in summer 2021, What If is a series that is developed by Marvel Studios that exclusively focuses on stories that play out on alternate timelines that are similar to the events featured in the Marvel Cinematic Universe... but with special changes altering everything. What if Peggy Carter had gotten the super soldier serum instead of Steve Rogers? What if the Ravagers kidnapped T'Challa instead of Peter Quill? What if Ant-Man and Wasp accidentally unleashed a zombie plague from the Quantum Realm? All those stories and more are told in this multiverse-centric animated series, and following the release of Season 2 at the end of 2023, a Season 3 is in the works that will spin even more of these kinds of tales.

Deadpool & Wolverine

Deadpool & Wolverine was heralded prior to release as the arrival of X-Men characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe... but that's not really what ends up playing out in the 2024 blockbuster. While there is an early scene set in the MCU and plenty of discussion about it between characters, the film mostly takes place in the Time Variance Authority, the universe from the X-Men franchise, and The Void at the end of time.  

Marvel Movies In Release Date Order

The construction of the Marvel Cinematic Universe wasn’t an accident. Executives and filmmakers didn’t simply put a bunch of project titles on slips of paper in a hat and pick them out at random to create a release schedule. While not all of the stories unfold in chronological order, there is a design behind the introductions of specific heroes and villains in the construction of the franchise. To best appreciate this fact, your ideal way of watching and/or rewatching the canon is in Release Order.

• Iron Man (2008)
• The Incredible Hulk (2008)
• Iron Man 2 (2010)
• Thor (2011)
• Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
• The Avengers (2012)
• Iron Man 3 (2013)
• Thor: The Dark World (2013)
• Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
• Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014)
• Avengers: Age Of Ultron (2015)
• Ant-Man (2015)
• Captain America: Civil War (2016)
• Doctor Strange (2016)
• Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
• Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
• Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
• Black Panther (2018)
• Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
• Ant-Man And The Wasp (2018)
• Captain Marvel (2019)
• Avengers: Endgame (2019)
• Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
• WandaVision (2021)
• The Falcon And The Winter Soldier (2021)
• Loki (2021)
• Black Widow (2021)
• What If (2021)
• Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings (2021)
• Eternals (2021)
• Spider-Man: Far From Home (2021)
• Moon Knight (2022)
• Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness (2022)
• Ms. Marvel (2022)
• Thor: Love And Thunder (2022)
• She-Hulk: Attorney At Law (2022)
• Werewolf By Night (2022)
• Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
• The Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special (2022)
• Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
• Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
• Secret Invasion (2023)
• The Marvels (2023)
• Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)

That covers all of the existing films and TV shows in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (the vast majority of the MCU can be streamed with a Disney+ subscription), but it’s a franchise that is constantly expanding, and with each new addition to the canon, we will continue to update this timeline. For more MCU-related reading, check out our ranking of all the Marvel Movies so far.

The world still mourns the untimely passing of Chadwick Boseman, which partially includes the work that lied ahead in his tenure for Marvel movies like the Black Panther franchise. Boseman’s brief but luminary career has seen some prestigious awards posthumously nominate him for major praise, throughout various major voting bodies. Two years after leaving this world, Chadwick Boseman has won a Creative Arts Emmy, as recently shown off by his family. 

Using Boseman’s official legacy Instagram account, the announcement was made that the actor had won Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance at this year’s Creative Arts Emmys. The award recognized his work on the Disney+ series What If…?, as Chadwick Boseman had recorded T’Challa’s lines for the first season’s storyline before passing in August of 2020. Below are photos of the actual award, as well as the envelope that held the news: 

Introduced in the Season 1 episode “What If…T’Challa Became Star Lord?,” the What If…? variant of the character has been noted as more lighthearted and looser than the one we met in Ryan Coogler’s 2018 MCU film. Joining the Guardians of the Galaxy team as its substitute leader in the Multiverse, this version of Chadwick Boseman’s character was considered a great touchstone for how Chadwick Boseman’s character could have changed in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

To see Boseman’s voice work recognized so greatly is a bittersweet reminder of his range, even in the context of one character. It's work like that which also saw him score a nomination for Best Actor at 2021's Academy Awards, for his role in Netflix's film adaptation of Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. For a career tragically cut short, there are truly many different to remember Chadwick Boseman's gifts as a performer. 

It's a legacy felt deeply enough that Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is still playing its cards close to the chest. While we do know that Boseman's T'Challa has died in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the cause and the successor to the Black Panther mantle are still a mystery. One that will undoubtedly unfold with many tears of joy and sadness when the MCU returns to theaters this fall.

As the world waits to see how exactly Black Panther: Wakanda Forever handles Chadwick Boseman’s death through the loss of T’Challa in the MCU, moments like this are a reminder that we won’t forget the late actor’s work any time soon. Thankfully, we have performances like the What If…? variant of the character to look back on, whenever we want to relive his entertainment legacy. 

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever premieres in movie theaters on November 11, as part of the 2022 movie releases left in this year’s calendar of wonder. Fans looking to revisit Black Panther, What If…?, or the rest of the MCU can catch almost all of those projects as a Disney+ subscriber. 

As Marvel Cinematic Universe stories continue to permeate cinemas, the franchise is also still spreading its wings within the realm of TV. The last few years have seen fans treated to great shows set within the MCU proper, like Daredevil: Born Again and Wonder Man, as well as some set outside it, such as X-Men ‘97 and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. And, luckily for fans, there’s more TV content to come in addition to those upcoming Marvel movies!

Marvel Studios cranked out a plethora of offerings during its first several years in the TV game, but the company has since pulled back a bit. Although the brand is now being a bit more judicious about what it produces, Disney+ subscription holders still have a mixture of new and returning shows to look forward to in the near future. So let’s run through those forthcoming titles, shall we?

X-Men '97 Season 2 (Mid 2026)

X-Men '97 was critically acclaimed, with many considering it to be the best adaptation of the superheroic mutants to ever reach a screen. So it wasn’t all that surprising when it was confirmed that a second season had been greenlit. Production on those episodes began in 2022 ahead of the first season’s premiere in 2024. .

The creative team is somewhat different this time around, though, as series creator and showrunner Beau DeMayo was fired by Marvel in early 2024 and ultimately replaced with What If…? alum Matthew Chauncey. While his credits were removed, DeMayo did write a lot of the season before his exit. Exact plot details are currently being kept under wraps, but the Season 1 finale teased the return of En Sabah Nur (a.k.a. Apocalypse).

Also, as announced at New York Comic Con 2025, Eric and Julia Lewald – who wrote for X-Men: The Animated Series and Larry Houston – a director on that OG series – are all returning as executive producers for ‘97. And, on top of all that, a third season is in the works now as well.

X-Men ‘97 Season 2 is set to premiere sometime in mid-2026.

VisionQuest (October 14, 2026)

The last time audiences saw Vision was during the events of 2021’s WandaVision, which introduced a white incarnation of the fan-favorite android. In the series finale, that robot fled, with his fate being left unknown. However, it's now known that the character’s story will continue in a new MCU show called VisionQuest, with Paul Bettany reprising his role as the titular character.

VisionQuest took a major step forward in 2024 when Terry Matalas, of Star Trek: Picard fame, was brought on as showrunner and director. The show was officially announced at NYCC 2025 (years after it was initially reported to be in the works). Bettany teased during the convention that the show would see White Vision trying to piece together the memories transferred to him by the OG Vision. The series will effectively conclude the TV "trilogy" that was started by WandaVision and continued in Agatha All Along.

Bettany is also joined by an excellent cast, which includes James Spader returning as Ultron, fellow MCU OG James D’Arcy playing J.A.R.V.I.S. Also, Henry Lewis plays D.U.M.-E, Jonathan Sayer portrays U, Orla Brady plays F.R.I.D.A.Y. and Emily Hampshire as E.D.I.T.H. What’s also particularly exciting is that Ruaridh Mollica has been confirmed in the role of Thomas Shepherd, the reincarnated version of Vision and Wanda Maximoff’s son, Tommy.

As confirmed during the 2026 Disney Upfront presentation, VisionQuest is set to grace Disney+ with its technological presence on October 14, 2026.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Season 2 (Late 2026)

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man was praised ahead of its debut in January 2025, and Marvel TV clearly felt good about this new take on Peter Parker's high school years from the jump. That's because the show was already renewed for a second season way back in 2022 while Season 1 was still in development.

As fans would expect, plot details on the new episodes are scarce at the moment. It seems likely, though, that series creator Jeff Trammell and co. will pick up the plot threads left dangling after the first season's finale. That includes the surprise appearance of Richard Parker, Peter's jailed father, during that defining installment. Something Trammell also confirmed was that Season 2 would introduce Gwen Stacy to shake up Peter's world just a bit, and footage shown at NYCC teased Peter once again doing battle with the symbiote.

Jeff Trammell also provided an ominous promise about Season 2 in 2025. According to the EP, this next batch of episodes will be “more and more grand, more tragic” and "more funny.”

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Season 2 swings onto Disney+. sometime in late 2026.

Daredevil: Born Again Season 3 (March 2027)

Even before Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 premiered to positive reviews, the show had already been renewed for a third season. That renewal was confirmed in September 2025 and, by October, series showrunner Dario Scardapane provided an update in the form of a photo taken from the writers’ room.

Not too many plot details have been divulged about the upcoming season as of right now, though Scardapane has been dropping some hints following the Season 2 finale. That massive episode sees Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock revealing his identity as Daredevil to the general public and later being arrested for his vigilantism. Also, Vincent D’Onofrio’s Wilson Fisk (a.k.a. the Kingpin) is finally ousted from his post as the mayor of New York City, and he relocates. Though the imposing villain will return for the new season.

Filming for Season 3 began around March 2026 and, amid production, Scardapane has been teasing that the season will take inspiration from several comic book storylines. Given Matt’s current position, one of those arcs will be “The Devil in Cell-Block D.” The EP has also confirmed that psychiatrist Heather Glenn will become the next Muse. Also, the second-season finale marks the return of Luke Cage (played by Mike Colter), and set photos have teased that he’ll return alongside Jessica Jones and Danny Rand in Season 3.

Daredevil: Born Again is expected to be released on Disney+ in March 2027.

Marvel Zombies Season 2 (TBA)

It’s not often that MCU fans receive horror-tinged or gory fare from the franchise, and that’s exactly what they received when Marvel Zombies debuted in September 2025. While it was initially reported that the four-episode show would be a miniseries, it was confirmed around April 2026 that a second season was in production.

A spinoff of Marvel’s What If…?, Zombies takes place in an alternate continuity in which the world has been ravaged by a virus that’s transformed people into undead creatures. Kamala Khan (who’s once again played by Iman Vellani) leads a ragtag group of characters who believe they have the key to saving humanity. The first season sees a number of fan-favorite MCU characters die and, ultimately, it ends with Kamala awaking in what appears to be a renewed world.

The last few moments of the finale, however, suggest that Kamala is only experiencing a false reality set forth by Wanda Maximoff, the leader of the zombies. Although Season 2’s story has not been revealed, it feels like a given that it’ll pick up from the finale.

A release window has yet to be announced for Marvel Zombies Season 2 though, when it comes out, it’ll be released on Disney+.

Wonder Man Season 2 (TBA)

Some fans might argue that Wonder Man has proven to be a pleasant surprise, as critics have praised the MCU series as a fresh addition to the canon. Marvel seemingly took notice of the positive buzz that ensued after the Destin Daniel Cretton-created show premiered in January 2026. That assertion is based on the fact that the show has since been renewed for a second season.

The show follows aspiring actor Simon Williams (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), who tries to navigate the industry while hiding the fact that he has ionic-based super powers. Simon’s world is shaken up after he meets fellow actor (and ex-Mandarin portrayer) Trevor Slattery and he lands an audition for the remake of Wonder Man, the superhero movie he loved during his youth.

By the end of the season, Simon is a bonafide star and the lead of the aforementioned film. However, in the closing moments of the finale, Williams breaks into the Department of Damage Control to rescue Trevor after he reprises the Mandarin to cover for Simon’s actions. From there, it remains to be seen what lies ahead for Simon and Trevor and, hopefully, we’ll find out sooner rather than later.

It’s currently unknown when Wonder Man will ultimately return to Disney+ for its second season.

The future seems bright for the TV branch of Marvel Studios and filled with varied stories about complex characters looking to navigate extraordinary situations. As a fan, there’s honestly not much more to ask for. Here’s to even more hype-inducing superhero titles being added to this lineup in the future!

Before you know it, the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony will be here (September 12th to be exact), and we’ll all be glued to our TV sets once more as we wait to see which of our favorite shows will take home top honors. Although some of us have watched all or at least most of the great dramas, comedies, and limited series nominated for an Emmy, there are just as many who need to play a serious game of catch-up before the big show.

So, with not that much time before the big awards show takes the airwaves (and streams on Peacock), now seems like a good time to share all the ways you can watch the 2022 Emmy nominated TV shows streaming. Let’s break it down…

Outstanding Drama Series

Eight shows will be vying for the Emmy award for Outstanding Drama Series. If you’re not all caught up, below you will find everything you need to know to rectify that.

Better Call Saul

The Breaking Bad prequel series, Better Call Saul, is in the middle of its final run and has earned seven nominations at the upcoming ceremony, including Lead Actor (Bob Odenkirk) and Supporting Actress (Rhea Seehorn).

Stream Better Call Saul on AMC+.
Buy Better Call Saul on Amazon.

Euphoria

The popular and controversial drug and sex-fueled high school HBO drama, Euphoria, is up for 16 Emmy awards, including Zendaya, who previously won the award for her portrayal of the tortured Rue Bennett.

Stream Euphoria on HBO Max.
Buy Euphoria on Amazon.

Ozark

Several months after the four-season crime saga ended for the Byrde family on Netflix’s Ozark, the popular series is up for 13 Emmys, including four different acting categories.

Stream Ozark on Netflix.

Severance

Ben Stiller’s mind-bending workplace drama, Severance, is up for 14 Emmys, including several acting categories, proving it’s not only one of the best Apple TV+ shows but also one of the best on TV right now.

Stream Severance on Apple TV+.

Squid Game

The Korean psychological thriller series, Squid Game, became a surprise hit in 2021 with its simple yet effect premise about indebted people playing dangerous games, and it should come as no surprise that it’s nominated for 14 Emmys.

Stream Squid Game on Netflix.

Stranger Things

Stranger Things took audiences back to the Upside Down for the show’s penultimate season in the summer of 2022, and now those same fans are trying to figure out why the show's cast isn't included in its 14 nominations.

Stream Stranger Things on Netflix.

Succession

The HBO drama series, Succession, has long been regarded as one of the best shows on TV with its chaotic and engrossing story about the family behind a major media conglomerate jockeying for position, and its 25 Emmy nominations only helps its case.

Stream Succession on HBO Max.
Buy Succession on Amazon.

Yellowjackets

The Showtime original series, Yellowjackets, is nominated for seven Emmys, including Outstanding Lead Actress (Melanie Lynskey) and Outstanding Supporting Actress (Christina Ricci), for its story about a group of teenagers involved in a plane crash.

Stream Yellowjackets on Prime Video (with Showtime).
Buy Yellowjackets on Amazon.

Outstanding Comedy Series

Eight of TV’s best comedies are all up for top honors at 2022 Primetime Emmy Awards. Here’s how you can catch each of those outstanding shows.

Abbott Elementary

ABC’s smash hit comedy series about a Philadelphia grade school, Abbott Elementary, warmed its way into audiences’ hearts with its first season, as well as seven Emmy nominations.

Stream Abbott Elementary on Hulu.
Buy Abbott Elementary on Amazon.

Barry

The HBO dark comedy series, Barry, is up for 14 Emmys this year, including Outstanding Lead Actor, which has been won by star Bill Hader the previous two seasons.

Stream Barry on HBO Max.
Buy Barry on Amazon.

Curb Your Enthusiasm

Larry David’s long-running comedy series, Curb Your Enthusiasm, is up for four Emmys this year, including Bill Hader’s guest appearance in the show’s 11th season.

Stream Curb Your Enthusiasm on HBO Max.
Buy Curb Your Enthusiasm on Amazon.

Hacks

The HBO Max original comedy, Hacks, which centers on Jean Smart’s Las Vegas comedian as she becomes an unintentional mentor, is up for 17 Emmys this year, including multiple acting categories.

Stream Hacks on HBO Max.

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Prime Video’s fan-favorite comedy, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, is up for 12 Emmys this year, including another nod for lead Rachel Brosnahan, who previously took home an award for her portrayal of the foul-mouthed comedian in 2018.

Stream The Marvelous Mrs. Masiel on Prime Video.

Only Murders in the Building

One of the best Hulu shows of 2021, Only Murders in the Building is nominated for 17 Emmys this year, including Lead Actor nods for Steve Martin and Martin Short, who portray the hosts of a true crime podcast.

Stream Only Murders in the Building on Hulu.

Ted Lasso

Apple TV+’s Ted Lasso has wracked up a staggering 20 nominations this year, which equals the number Jason Sudeikis’ soccer comedy took home for its first season.

Stream Ted Lasso on Apple TV+.

What We Do in the Shadows

Nominated for a total of seven Emmys this year, the FX vampire mockumentary series, What We Do in the Shadows, is mostly up for awards in the writing and production design categories. 

Stream What We Do in the Shadows on Hulu.
Buy What We Do in the Shadows on Amazon.

Outstanding Limited Or Anthology Series

The limited/anthology series category continued be a highlight of TV the past year. Here are the top shows.

Dopesick

Thanks in part to the outstanding Dopesick cast, the Hulu limited series about the damage Purdue Pharma inflicted on millions of people has been nominated for 14 Emmys this year, including an Outstanding Lead Actor nod for Michael Keaton.

Stream Dopesick on Hulu.

The Dropout

The Dropout, the Hulu series chronicling the rise and fall of entrepreneur Elizabeth Holmes, has been nominated for six Emmys, including an Outstanding Lead Actress nod for Amanda Seyfried in her portrayal of the embattled Theranos founder.

Stream The Dropout on Hulu.

Inventing Anna

The Netflix true crime show, Inventing Anna, has received three nominations for its adaptation of the story of professional swindler Anna Delvey, who was portrayed by Emmy nominee Julia Garner.

Stream Inventing Anna on Netflix.

Pam & Tommy

Hulu’s over-the-top limited series, Pam & Tommy, tells the story behind the release of the infamous Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson sex tape, and has earned 10 nominations in the process.

Stream Pam & Tommy on Hulu.

The White Lotus

The first season of the HBO anthology series, The White Lotus, has earned 20 Emmy nominations, including nods for a large portion of its talented ensemble cast.

Stream The White Lotus on Hulu.

Animated Series

And then there are the various animated series going for the gold at this year’s Primetime Emmys ceremony.

Arcane

The animated series, Arcane, which is based on popular video game League of Legends, became pretty legendary among Netflix subscribers and critics alike, earning three Emmy nominations in the process.

Stream Arcane on Netflix.

Bob's Burgers

Bob’s Burgers could have a banner year, as the Fox animated comedy not only released a successful feature-length film but also earned another Emmy nomination.

Stream Bob’s Burgers on Hulu.
Buy Bob’s Burgers on Amazon.

Rick and Morty

The Adult Swim animated comedy, Rick and Morty will go for a three-peat in the Outstanding Animated Program category, having already taken the gold in 2018 and 2020.

Stream Rick and Morty on HBO Max.
Buy Rick and Morty on Amazon.

The Simpsons

The long-running animated comedy, The Simpsons will look to add to its massive collection of Emmys (138 and counting) at the upcoming ceremony.

Stream The Simpsons on Disney+.
Buy The Simpson on Amazon.

What If...?

The Disney+ animated series What If…?, with its alternate takes on the MCU’s biggest moments, is up for three awards, including a voice-acting Emmy nomination for the late Chadwick Boseman is his final performance.

Stream What If…? on Disney+.

The 74th Primetime Emmy Awards air live Monday, September 12, 2022 on NBC, as well as streaming on Peacock Premium.

If you followed the first season of What If…? last summer, you’ll likely remember one great highlight of the animated series – there was a story set in a universe where a zombie apocalypse infects the Avengers. Following that episode, Marvel announced they’d be exploring this idea further on Disney+ with the series Marvel Zombies. At Friday’s San Diego Comic-Con panel about all things Marvel Animation, attendees got a closer look at this upcoming show, and there are a ton of MCU favorites coming to the show. 

When CinemaBlend was in attendance at the first-ever SDCC Marvel Animation panel, the creators of the series announced the following Avengers will appear in Marvel Zombies in zombie form: cut-in-half Captain America, Abomination, Ghost from Ant-Man and the Wasp, Captain Marvel, Scarlet Witch, Okoye, and Ikaris from Eternals. Fighting these zombies will be Black Widow’s Yelena Belova and Red Guardian, Shang-Chi, Awkwafina’s Katy and Death Dealer (both also from Shang-Chi), Hawkeye’s Kate Bishop, WandaVision’s Jimmy Woo and the MCU's latest hero, Ms. Marvel.

In the zombies episode from What If…?, the animated series teamed up Spider-Man, Wasp, Okoye, Hulk, Vision among other heroes in the alternate universe’s zombie apocalypse, which infected all kinds of enhanced characters. We had an elevation of zombie genre past the typical zombie, because these were super-powered zombies! Marvel Zombies is based on a comic series started in 2005 by The Walking Dead co-creator Robert Kirkman. 

Zombie Ikaris in particular looks like he’ll be a problem for these MCU characters to take on given he apparently cannot become a full zombie, per the creators. Ikaris debuted in the MCU this past November in Eternals, where the Superman-like being became the main villain of the movie. Additionally, the panelists shared a team of Widows and biker gang of Skrulls would be in Marvel Zombies as well. 

During the panel, it was also announced that Marvel Zombies would be the first Disney+ Marvel series to be rated TV-MA for all the extra blood and gore it will include. The series will premiere in 2024, alongside another upcoming Marvel series, Spider-Man: Freshman Year, which was also talked about during the panel, with word that Charlie Cox will reprise Daredevil for the series following his tenure in live-action in Netflix’s Daredevil (now on Disney+) and more recently made a cameo in Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Marvel Zombies is even more exciting now that we know so many MCU favorites, especially those introduced more recently in Marvel's Phase 4, will be fighting zombies in the series as we also follow their live-action arcs in Marvel movies thus far and coming in the future. It wasn’t specified how much of these characters will be voiced by their live-action actors, but the series is in early development. As we learn more about upcoming Marvel projects we’ll keep you updated here on CinemaBlend. 

As Marvel continues to expand its universe over on Disney+ with a massive lineup of shows, last summer the studio released its first animated series with What If…? The series saw the return of fan-favorite characters such as Black Panther and Doctor Strange into circumstances that didn’t happen in the movies, but what if they did? On Friday afternoon, San Diego Comic-Con hosted Marvel Animation’s first panel, and among the many announcements, including more details on Spider-Man: Freshman Year, the animators unveiled a first look at What If…? Season 2. On that note, get ready for more of Hayley Atwell’s Captain Carter!

We've known that What If…? would return for a while, but at the SDCC panel, the creators behind the streaming series shared with us the first episode of Season 2, and it’s called “What If... Captain Carter Fought The HYDRA Stomper?” Don’t worry, we’ll leave out the major spoilers of the episode out so you can enjoy it when it is released in early 2023, but in some poetic symmetry, it involves Captain Carter meeting Steve Rogers in the present day. 

Much like the journey of Steve Rogers in the core MCU story starring Chris Evans, Hayley Atwell’s What If…? Captain Carter makes it to modern times and befriends Black Widow in what looks to be the same year as 2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier judging by her blunt copper hairstyle from that movie. In the Season 2 episode, Peggy and Natasha work together to take down a threat called the HYDRA Stomper, which happens to be Steve Rogers. Except, as you can imagine, Peggy doesn’t want to lose Steve. 

In the upcoming What If…? episode, it’s awesome to see Peggy Carter’s arc as Captain Carter continue to develop in this debut Season 2 episode. And as the panelists playfully confirmed ahead of the surprise episode premiere, no, this is not the same Captain Carter who got annihilated by Scarlet Witch in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. 

If you may recall, What If…? Itself began with Captain Carter with the show's first episode, which was called “What If... Captain Carter Were the First Avenger?” With that in mind, I can’t think of a better way for Marvel Animation to continue to tell What If…? stories. Additionally, the episode features a familiar voice and character in the form of Rachel Weisz’s Melina, who was introduced in 2021’s Black Widow, so look out for her among other cameos! 

Along with seeing the first episode of What If…? at the first ever Marvel Animation San Diego Comic-Con panel, the panelists also showed an early look at Season 2 with a trailer of the coming season. The sneak peek featured Hela from Thor: Ragnarok and Valkyrie and Korg from the Thor movies, as well as the tease that one episode is based on Neil Gaiman’s alternative universe limited series 1602. 

We’ll keep you updated here on CinemaBlend about more upcoming Marvel as it is announced, especially with more San Diego Comic-Con announcements. 

In the Multiverse, you have to be ready for anyone and everyone to show up. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is about to dive headlong into that very lesson, as we’ve already seen in the marketing for the latest in the line of upcoming Marvel movies. Thanks to the TV spots that have recently been making it out into the world, we now have evidence that a fan favorite character from What If…? is about to make her debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe proper.

Captain Carter, the alternate universe version of Peggy Carter debuted in the Disney+ animated series, can now be confirmed as being a part of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. To see the proof, you’re going to want to jump into this TV spot that recently arrived on Marvel's YouTube. Just be ready to have your finger on the pause button roughly nine seconds in:  

Back when What If…? was set to premiere on Disney+, our own Eric Eisenberg had asked producer Brad Winderbaum about the possibility of live-action crossovers into the MCU. While Winderbaum’s answer was suitably vague, the door wasn’t closed on that concept. The reasons seem pretty obvious now, especially since not only is Captain Carter now in  Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but so is Doctor Stephen Strange’s chilling Variant from the episode “What If... Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands?”

Right from the first trailer for the Doctor Strange sequel, Multiversal Variants were on the menu of madness for this MCU entry. In case you couldn’t get a good look, or wanted to see a freeze frame for added confirmation, here’s Captain Carter’s shield in frame during her battle with who looks like Elizabeth Olsen’s Wanda Maximoff. Keep that last part in mind as we continue into this next phase of discussion: 

Already we’ve seen two Variants of Wanda, and looking at another TV spot for Doctor Strange 2 we can gleam which one is in play against Captain Carter. There’s just one problem: if the next photo from the TV spot entitled “Dream” is any indication, that’s not “our” Wanda on the other end of the hall. In perhaps one of the most Sam Raimi moves that the director himself could pull off, here’s a better look at the Wanda that looks to be sparring with Peggy’s super soldier variant.

Yeah, that does not look like the Wanda Maximoff we’re supposed to root for. Blame the existence of parallel universes, and the shattering of the boundaries between them, for even putting us in this spot in the first place. Although this is the same scenario that’s returning Patrick Stewart’s Professor X as a part of the newly confirmed Illuminati, and with his iconic yellow hoverchair to boot. For a movie that’s set to debut in theaters next week, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness really does seem to be generous with its hints and easter eggs right about now.

All of this action is enough to make someone check to be sure that their Disney+ subscription is in order. Since What If…? is about to become even more entrenched in the canonical action of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a quick refresh probably wouldn’t hurt. Having as much knowledge as possible in the Multiverse is a good thing, as even more surprises are probably lurking in the darkest corners of the MCU.

Prepare to travel the Multiverse like never before, when Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness opens in theaters, starting with early showings on May 5th. If you’ve already got tickets secured and want to take a look at what the Cinemaverse has in store for the rest of the year, the full schedule of upcoming movies will come in handy throughout 2022. Just make sure things don’t get out of hand. 

Following Nicole Kidman’s fifth Oscar nomination for Being the Ricardos, the actress continues to surprise and dazzle with her role choices  – with her recent movie release The Northman, which got rave reviews, and the Apple TV+ anthology series, Roar. She executive produced the latter and stars in one particularly great episode called The Woman Who Ate Photographs, which somewhat feels like an episode of What If...?.

When CinemaBlend spoke to one of the series’ creators, Liz Flahive, she spoke to Nicole Kidman’s personal connection to starring in the particular episode out of the many short stories Roar is based on. In her words: 

The Woman Who Ate Photographs follows Nicole Kidman’s Robin, a mother of two living in Australia who is transferring her mother to a retirement home over the course of the episode. She dons short hair and not particularly fashionable or Hollywood-caliber attire. Per the interview, when Kidman was making the episode, she thought of it as an alternative life she would have perhaps would have had if she had not pursued acting. It’s truly Nicole Kidman’s own Marvel's What If…? episode in a lot of ways. Flahive also said this: 

The oddity of the episode is how Robin finds herself making a habit of literally eating photographs, because when she does, she’s able to relive the memory within them and return to the good days of her childhood, if only for a few moments. The episode is perhaps reflective of how the character is mourning her past when life was much simpler and she didn’t have to deal with her mother’s increasingly aloof mental state. 

During our conversation with Liz Flahive, who previously was the showrunner on Netflix’s cancelled series GLOW, she also spoke to her collaboration with Nicole Kidman as an executive producer on the series. Kidman has been producing much of her work as of late, including Big Little Lies, The Undoing and Nine Perfect Strangers and provided some keen creative input: 

Roar features a host of incredible talents including Cynthia Erivo, Alison Brie, Issa Rae and Betty Gilpin. Each episode tells another unique story that says something different about the struggles of womanhood. Yes, one of which is about a woman who falls for a duck while another has a character solving her own murder after an untimely death. They're interesting stories, which certainly more than rival the oddities featured in Marvel Studio's first animated series

All eight episodes of Roar are available to stream with an AppleTV+ subscription. Check out our interview with Fivel Stewart, the star of another episode The Girl Who Loved Horses, here on CinemaBlend. 

Hayley Atwell first portrayed S.H.I.E.L.D. founder Agent Peggy Carter in Captain America: The First Avenger, but the actress’ latest MCU appearance was in 2021’s Marvel and Disney+ animated series What If…? which asked the question “What if Peggy Carter took the super soldier serum instead of Steve Rogers?” Thanks to the episode, Peggy ended up as Captain Carter, with a new look and some new swag. Apparently though, one person who isn’t impressed with it is Atwell’s own mother.

The Agent Carter alum took to Instagram to share a Captain Carter action figure. She said she asked her mom if she wanted one, but her own mother came back with a sassy response. Honestly, it is the best:

Mama Atwell definitely had a hilarious response to her famous MCU daughter's query.  While it’s nice that Hayley Atwell asked her mother if she wanted a Captain Carter figure, I assume she already knew her mother's sense of humor and could have anticipated her response, though she clearly found it funny enough to share with her fanbase in the full post. 

Atwell was one of many Marvel stars to return to the MCU for What If…?, which takes some of the biggest events in the franchise and puts a spin on them. Marvel and Disney were quick to renew the series for a second season, but it’s currently unknown which characters the new episodes will follow. Even though the actress is busy with other projects, including voicing Lara Croft in a new Tomb Raider anime series, hopefully we’ll be able to see Peggy Carter once again, whether that is in animated or live-action form. Either way, I hope she's not going to try pushing more merch on her Dear Mother again. 

What Else Is Going On With Hayley Atwell, Outside Of Viral Marvel Moments?

Fans have always been fans of Peggy Carter, and she's been a popular cosplay character at events like Comic-Con or more. Could a revival of ABC’s Agent Carter happen? In 2018, Head of Marvel TV Jeph Loeb was asked about Agent Carter and said that Atwell has expressed interest in returning to the character. It would definitely be interesting, considering there is plenty of storyline to use, whether they go the What If…? route or Avengers: Endgame following Peggy reuniting with true love Steve Rogers.

Meanwhile, Hayley Atwell has been pretty busy with Mission: Impossible, as she’s in the upcoming two movies from in the franchise. Mission: Impossible 7 is set to come out in 2023 while Mission: Impossible 8 will be coming out in 2024. Atwell portrays Grace, opposite Tom Cruise. She seems to have had fun on the set, at least in a video she posted, so while we may not have more from Agent Carter soon, at least we still have plenty of projects, and hopefully swag, from Atwell to look forward to in the future!

Season 1 of Marvel’s What If…? is streaming now on Disney+. Be sure to check out the best shows to stream on Disney+ to keep you occupied until Season 2 comes out! Or, you know, grab some Peggy Carter merch. 

There are plenty of upcoming Marvel TV shows fans can look forward to in 2022, and What If…? Season 2 is one of them. Marvel Studios’ first animated production managed to be a hit with viewers, thanks to its entertaining Season 1 episodes. The show truly managed to provide some interesting retellings of some of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s greatest moments from Phases One through Three. So with Phase Four now in full swing, there’s a chance the upcoming batch of stories could incorporate those new plot points. And there are a few specific ones I’d like to see The Watcher take a crack at. 

In just one year, Phase Four has already delivered four films and five television series, ranging from WandaVision and Black Widow to Eternals and Hawkeye. Each introduced new characters and concepts that would serve as prime storytelling fodder for What If…? So it wouldn’t be surprising if showrunner A.C. Bradley and her team have been sitting on ideas for quite some time. Now, let’s journey into the unknown and ponder the storylines that could be featured this time around:

What If… Wanda Maximoff Joined Forces With Agatha Harkness?

On WandaVision, Wanda Maximoff gave into her darker urges, but she ultimately conquered them to become the Scarlet Witch and defeat the conniving Agatha Harkness, who’d learned of Wanda’s powers. But one has to wonder how things would play out if Maximoff instead chose to join Harkness. Off the top of my head, I’d say that the centuries-old sorceress would teach the Avenger how to control her chaos magic – and use it for the wrong reasons. The result could be an all-powerful Wanda, who may or may not still be holding the town of Westview, New Jersey hostage. Such an episode could be both interesting and tragic, not unlike Season 1’s evil Strange Supreme episode. Personally, I’d love to see another cautionary tale of that magnitude.

What If… The Government Chose Bucky Barnes To Be Captain America Instead Of John Walker?

Season 1 put Peggy Carter into the shoes of Chris Evans’ iconic character, so why not try the same with Bucky Barnes? It’s true that The Falcon and the Winter Soldier established that Bucky Barnes didn’t want the shield, but a variant could feel differently. Such a development could be polarizing within the MCU itself and even create a rift between Barnes and frenemy Sam Wilson. Of course, there’s also the matter of how things would play out differently for John Walker if he hadn’t been named the new Cap. There’s so much potential for this story, and there are a number of ways things can play out. Though one would think (and hope) Bucky’s tenure as the Sentinel of Liberty wouldn’t be as deadly as Walker’s.

What If… Natasha Romanoff And Her Family Never Returned To Russia?

Natasha Romanoff got plenty of time to shine in the first batch of episodes, but a story more directly tied to her solo film would be great. The show could explore how the founding Avenger’s life would’ve turned out if she, Yelena Belova, Melina Vostokoff and Alexei Shostakov had not returned to Russia after their undercover mission in Ohio ended. Sure, they would’ve been on the run for a while, but they are all trained spies and may have been able to disappear and form new lives. Maybe they would’ve formed a true (and lethal) family unit. And would Nat have found her way to S.H.I.E.L.D.? It’s fun to think about, and the end result could be a family-centric episode that’s sweet, funny and heartfelt.

What If… Shang-Chi Never Left The Ten Rings?

Earlier this year, audiences watched as Shang-Chi rejected his father’s legacy and went up against the Ten Rings organization. But what would’ve happened if the hero had returned from his assassination mission as a teenager and remained with his father, Wenwu, and sister, Xialing? This is a question the show could absolutely answer, and there are plenty of possibilities. On the one hand, he could’ve ended up reforming his father’s group and turning them into a force for good. But honestly, it would be more interesting to see him give in to his father’s ways and become the ruthless wielder of the ancient rings. This story almost seems like a no-brainer for the show. Not only would it be interesting, but it would also give us more of the villainous organization ahead of the upcoming Shang-Chi sequel.

What If… The Eternals Intervened In Earthly Events From The Beginning?

There are plenty of developments in the MCU that have caused even the most devoted fans to roll their eyes. And last year, after fans learned why the Eternals stayed out of human-oriented events, many couldn’t help but make jokes. With this, What If…? can consider what would’ve happened if the group had chosen to openly influence events. What’s so interesting about this story idea is that it could have far-reaching effects greater than past installments. Sure, the cosmic beings could’ve intervened in superhero-related incidents, but they also might’ve shaped the planet in a number of other ways. All in all, this could be a truly thought-provoking episode.

What If… Kate Bishop Idolized Iron Man Instead Of Hawkeye?

Fans know that during the Battle of New York, a young Kate Bishop was inadvertently saved by Clint Barton and that from that moment on, she aspired to be Hawkeye. But how might things have shaken out for her if she’d seen Tony Stark instead? This is a question I’d love for the animated series to answer. The episode could be one of the funnier installments and see Bishop learning robotics in order to construct her own suit. And knowing Kate, the results would be delightfully destructive. A true Iron Man successor will arrive in Marvel’s Ironheart series, though it surely wouldn’t hurt to see a Kate variant try her hand at it first.

I’d say that any of these stories could be worthy additions to the show and could maybe stand alongside some of the best What If…? Season 1 episodes. The chances of them happening are admittedly slim, but a fan can dream, right? And let’s be honest, based on the first season, it’s clear the creatives certainly know how to take advantage of the superhero sandbox they’re playing and can create exciting stories.

Be sure to stream every episode of What If…? Season 1 on Disney+, and be sure to read up on the big things that the finale set up for Season 2. And of course, you can watch the Marvel movies in order on the streamer as well.

Whoo, what a first year for Disney+ Marvel TV shows, am I right? When the streamer rolled out its 2021 plans for the MCU, it seemed pretty crazy to think that we would get not one, not two, but FIVE Marvel TV projects, but here we are, spoiled beyond belief this year, while the Star Wars fans got rather slim pickings in comparison (Sorry! The upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows should make 2022 much better). In 2021, Marvel fans got (ahem) WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki, What If…?, AND Hawkeye. I mean, can it really get any better than that?

Well, actually, maybe it can, because some of the MCU projects were much better than others. While I do love and appreciate that we got a pretty steady stream of Marvel content to keep us occupied throughout the year, I have to admit that some shows made me eagerly anticipate each new episode, while others felt like a total chore to sit through. But, which shows were they? Well, you’re about to find out. 

Oh, and some spoilers up ahead for these shows if you haven’t watched them yet.

5. What If…?

I have to tell you. Out of all the disappointments this year from the MCU (aside from Black Widow), What If…? was the absolute greatest. It’s mostly because it was the one that I was the most looking forward to. I grew up reading the What If? comics as a kid, and was always excited by what seemed like the limitless possibilities. The problem with the What If…? TV show is that it actually felt quite limited. The reason for this should have been obvious, but I didn’t see it at the onset. The storylines had to stay within the parameters of what was already told within the MCU. It couldn’t deviate in any way.

This, of course, meant that we couldn’t get any stories concerning characters like the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, or any of the other Marvel characters who had such interesting stories in the old What If? comics. That said, this wouldn’t have been such a problem if the stories that were told within the TV series were actually told well. The problem was the execution. A storyline like “What If…Killmonger Rescued Tony Stark?” or “What If…the World Lost Its Mightiest Heroes?” should have been slam dunks, and I don’t know if it was the poor pacing or what, but they just didn’t land for me.

I did like that all the episodes came together toward the end for the finale, which I didn’t see coming, and the “What If…Zombies?!” episode felt pretty refreshing (Oh, and we can’t forget that the “What If…Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands?” episode looks to play a part in the new Dr. Strange movie). Otherwise, this show felt like a bit of a misstep in an otherwise strong year. 

4. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier

Here’s the thing. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier had a REALLY strong middle. What I mean by that is, out of the six episodes of the season, I’d say that Episodes 1 and 2 were kind of mediocre, Episodes 3-5 were EXCELLENT, and the final episode, “One World, One People” was a massive disappointment. This created a lopsided experience that was both unsatisfying and also incredibly frustrating.

I loved the race issue that was introduced in the series, as well as how it was such a massive shift from the bizarre first MCU show, WandaVision. But, ultimately, it was a show that had a lot of promise and very little payoff in the end. Shame.

3. Hawkeye

The show that I don’t think anybody asked for turned out to be a delightful little holiday treat. Hawkeye, which starred both Hailee Steinfeld and Jeremy Renner as protégé and teacher, respectively, delivered in both the comedy and action department. In the end, it became a pretty middle-of-the-road, but enjoyable, way to cap off the MCU’s interesting year on Disney+.

That said, I have to be honest with you. It took a while for Hawkeye to really grow on me. I found the humor a little cringy at first, with the LARPers and the Tracksuits, and I was a little disappointed that the OG Hawkeye seemed to be a side-character in his own show. But, Hailee Steinfeld grew on me as Kate Bishop, and by the final episode, I found myself all in with the new characters, like Echo, and Jack Duquesne (a.k.a., Swordsman), who turned out to be a good guy after all, which was a nice switcharoo since he’s a villain in the comics. Overall, a good, if inconsistent, time.

2. WandaVision

I’m a weirdo. While most people will likely tell you that WandaVision didn’t pick up until about Episode 4, when we started to learn what was actually going on with the Westview Anomaly, I was actually SUPER into the show when we didn’t know what was going on. The show was creepy, bizarre, and unlike anything the MCU had ever done in the past in those first three episodes. It seemed really Lynchian in nature, offering more mystery than answers, and for a time, it was my favorite thing the MCU had ever done.

But then, it started to become more and more like your typical MCU production. Sure, going through different decades of sitcom history with each episode was different, but the more Wanda started to become the Scarlet Witch, the more it felt like it was just setting up the next big project, and that’s when I began to lose interest. Also—and it’s only partially the show’s fault after that whole Quicksilver fake-out—but all the IS THIS MEPHISTO??? speculation became super annoying by the end of it all. Overall, a fascinating venture into what an MCU television series could actually be, that was almost perfect.

1. Loki

Out of all the MCU shows in 2021, Loki is the only one that I think was consistently great all the way through. Tom Hiddleston, Sophia Di Martino, Owen Wilson, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Loki, Sylvie, Mobius, and Ravonna, were incredibly compelling throughout, and each episode unraveled the mystery even more, making me ravenous to find out what would happen next, week by week. The whole concept of the TVA (Time Variance Authority), is just fascinating to me, and this is an instance where I love how the storyline connects to the rest of the MCU when it comes to the split timelines.

And man. Man, oh, man, this was the best ending of an MCU series by far, with the introduction of Jonathan Majors’ Kang the Conqueror. After WandaVision trolled us with the Quicksilver fake-out, there was doubt about whether Kang would really make an appearance on Loki. When he finally did, he was fascinating all the way through, with his death creating such crazy (and exciting!) ramifications for the entire MCU’s future. No doubt about it, Loki was the best MCU show to come to Disney+ in 2021.

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Warning: SPOILERS are ahead for all the MCU movies and TV shows released in 2021.

After going through 2020 without any Marvel Cinematic Universe content (unless you count Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s final season, but its placement in MCU continuity is sketchy at best), 2021 marked the biggest year for the superhero franchise yet. That’s not an exaggeration, because in addition to getting four movies, we were also treated to five MCU TV shows on Disney+. We’ve come a long way from being thankful that just one or two MCU installments would arrive per year.

With so much Marvel content to enjoy in 2021, that meant that there were plenty of great moments within each of these projects, whether they were character-building or had major ramifications for the wider MCU. But which among them were the greatest? That’s what we’re here to go over.

10. Meeting Contessa Valentina Allegra De Fontaine

After his time as as the second Captain America ended unceremoniously, John Walker was approached by the mysterious Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Thanks to her, John now has a bright future ahead of him as U.S. Agent. Following her debut in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Valentina resurfaced in Black Widow, where she assigned Yelena Belova to hunt down Clint Barton, whom she claimed was responsible for Natasha Romanoff’s death. 

Much like Nick Fury in the MCU’s Phase 1, Valentina appears to be assembling a team for some yet-to-be-revealed purpose, with many fans believing this is how we get The Thunderbolts or Dark Avengers in the superhero franchise. This mysterious woman is definitely worth keeping an eye on.

9. Taskmaster’s Identity Being Revealed

Although Marvel Comics’ version of Taskmaster is a mercenary named Tony Masters, the MCU opted to give the identity and photographic reflexes to someone else for Black Widow. For years, fans speculated about who was under the mask, and now we finally know: it’s Antonia Dreykov, daughter of the Russian general who ran the Red Room. 

Originally thought to have been by Natasha Romanoff, both Dreykov and Antonia survived, though unfortunately for the latter, she was badly injured, leading her father to insert a chip into her head that relieved her of the pain, but also gave him complete control over her. For years, Taskmaster Antonia served as leader of the Black Widows and assassin extraordinaire, but now she’s free from her father’s influence, allowing her to chart her own destiny.

8. Shang-Chi Inheriting The Ten Rings From Wenwu

To say that Shang-Chi and his father Wenwu didn’t get along in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is an understatement. The former wanted nothing to do with his father’s criminal enterprise, and the latter would do anything to get his wife back (believing she was being held captive somewhere rather than dead), no matter who was hurt along the way. 

But once the Dweller-in-Darkness and its minions were freed from imprisonment in Ta Lo, the father and son were eventually able to overcome their differences and fight their shared adversaries, and in his final moments, Wenwu passed on the powerful rings that had kept him alive for centuries to Shang-Chi. It was a touching sacrificial moment from an antagonistic character, and now it’s up to Shang-Chi to solve the mystery his father never delved into: the rings’ origins.

7. Ultron Vs. The Watcher

For most of What If… ? Season 1’s run, like the viewers, Uatu the Watcher was simply a spectator, never interfering in the events of that unfolded across the multiverse no matter how bad things got. However, when a version of Ultron empowered by the Infinity Stones learned of Uatu’s existence, he wasted no time attacking the being who narrated the animated Disney+ series. 

Uatu put up a valiant fight, but he was no match for this godlike Ultron and was forced to flee. From there, The Watcher was forced to break his vow of nonintervention and assemble a team of heroes and villains to help him prevent Ultron from destroying the multiverse, and thankfully, they succeeded.

6. The Eternals Preventing The Birth Of A Celestial

It was revealed in Eternals that for millions of years, the Celestials have planted seeds on populated planets to bring forth new Celestials. Following the reversal of the Blip and nearly all of the Deviants being eradicated, the time had come for the Emergence, i.e. the Celestial known as Tiamut being born, which would lead to Earth being destroyed. 

After the starring Eternals characters learned the truth, a split emerged in the group, with some wanting to let Tiamut’s birth go as planned and others wanting to prevent it so that Earth would be saved. The latter group ultimately emerged triumphant, with the partially emerged Tiamut being turned to marble by the Uni-Mind. Consequently, Sersi, Phastos and Kingo were later captured by Arimesh so he could study their memories and determine if humanity is worthy of living. 

5. Reuniting With Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin

Following the tease of Maya Lopez’s “uncle” in the Hawkeye episode “Echoes,” speculation was rampant that we’d not only see Wilson Fisk, a.k.a. Kingpin, in the Disney+ series, but that Vincent D’Onofrio would reprise the role following his time as the character on Daredevil. Sure enough, at the end of “Ronin”, D’Onofrio’s Kingpin was revealed to be the “big guy” Clint Barton was worried about, who was not just leading the Tracksuit Mafia, but also in cahoots with Eleanor Bishop, Kate Bishop’s mother. 

It was in “So This Is Christmas?” that we got to see D’Onofrio in his full Kingpin glory again, although the episode ended with him seemingly being shot. But with an Echo spinoff coming and Charlie Cox officially back as Matt Murdock/Daredevil as of Spider-Man: No Way Home, don’t count on this being the last we see of Kingpin in the MCU. 

4. Sam Wilson Becoming Captain America

At the end of Avengers: Endgame, the elderly Steve Rogers gave his vibranium shield to Sam Wilson, who’s been his crimefighting partner since the events of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Nevertheless, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier saw Sam initially being unwilling to become the new Captain America, resulting in the U.S. government choosing John Walker to take on the mantle instead. 

Following John’s fall from grace and Sam getting the shield back, the latter finally embraced carrying on Steve’s legacy, though he’s still Falconing around thanks to his new uniform’s wing pack. Sam hit the scene as Captain America to stop the Flag Smashers’ attack on the GRC, and following this explosive debut, he’s now primed to finally take the cinematic spotlight in Captain America 4.

3. It’s Been Agatha All Along

Ok, so this statement isn’t entirely accurate, as it wasn’t Agatha’s fault that Westview was turned into a sitcom prison. However, at the end of the WandaVision episode “Breaking the Fourth Wall,” we learned that Wanda Maximoff and Vision’s wacky neighbor Agnes was actually Agatha Harkness, a witch who snuck into Westview to study Wanda’s power and was responsible for killing Sparky the dog and sending “Pietro Maximoff” (later revealed as Ralph Bohner) to the Maximoff household. 

The big reveal was accompanied by a catchy song that later scored the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics. If you became enamored with Kathryn Hahn’s character, you’re in luck, as she has her own spinoff on the way.

2. The Multiverse Being Unleashed

In the final episode of Loki Season 1, the eponymous protagonist and Sylvie finally met the person truly in charge of the Time Variance Authority: Jonathan Majors’ He Who Remains, a variant of Kang the Conqueror. Having grown tired with keeping the main MCU timeline in check, He Who Remains gave Loki and Sylvie two choices: take over his job of leading the TVA and keeping the timeline in check, or kill him, thus unleashing the multiverse. 

Sylvie, enraged by what the TVA did to her, chose the latter option, resulting in the TVA now being ruled by the main Kang. We’ll be properly introduced to him in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, while the multiverse itself has since been explored more in the aforementioned What If… ? and the recently-released Spider-Man: No Way Home, and we’ll head back there in 2022 for the appropriately-titled Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

1. Spider-Man Meets Spider-Man And Spider-Man

As if seeing Tom Holland’s Spider-Man fight villains from the previous Spider-Man film series in Spider-Man: No Way Home wasn’t cool enough, it was rumored for a long time that Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield would reprise their versions of Peter Parker in the movie. Well, that did indeed happen, with Ned (who has a knack for magic, it turns out), conjuring portals to these older Spider-Men in an effort to find his version of Peter. 

It was nice to catch up with Maguire and Garfield’s Spider-Men and learn a little bit about what happened to them after their respective film series concluded. More importantly, it was amazing (pun intended) getting to see Peter 1, Peter 2 and Peter 3 join forces, a narrative prospect that was once the stuff of fan imaginations. 

Now that we’ve gone over the 10 best MCU moments of 2021, we can look ahead to what this franchise has coming in 2022 and beyond. Our Marvel movies guide and Marvel TV shows guide have all the information you need on what’s in the works, and naturally we’ll continue to keep you apprised of any major MCU developments that come in.