While Marvel’s live-action projects are a big part of what’s getting people excited for this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, the studio’s showcase in Hall H today made it clear that animation will be a big part of the MCU’s future.
In addition to announcing their I Am Groot series, Marvel Studios head of streaming, television and animation Brad Winderbaum and head of visual development Ryan Meinerding took the stage in Hall H to discuss new details about Spider-Man: Freshman Year. X-Men ’97, Marvel Zombies and the upcoming seasons of What If…?
Like its first season, the second and recently announced third season of What If…? will once again focus on the Watcher (Jeffrey Wright) as he gazes across the multiverse at the many different realities that now make up the MCU. Given how the Watcher actively intervened in people’s lives in the first season of What If…?, it’s likely the rules will be a little different as the series progresses and continues to reimagine key moments from previous MCU films.
Following What if…? season 2 premieres in early 2023, there’s a chance the universe of the original X-Men animated series will technically become part of the MCU, as X-Men ’97 debuts and explores a number of “new stories in the iconic ’90s timeline of the original series,” according to a press release. Like What If…?, X-Men ’97 has already been renewed for a second season, which is no surprise given the series’ nostalgic appeal and the upcoming entry of mutants into Marvel films.
Equally unsurprising, but still intriguing, is the news that the upcoming Marvel Spider-Man: Freshman Year animated series from executive producer Jeff Trammell looks set to follow Peter Parker through his first few years (plural) of “becoming Spider -me in the MCU’. Since Peter’s path to becoming a full Avenger has already been pretty well documented in previous Marvel action movies, Freshman and Sophomore Year likely take place in alternate realities where important details play out in drastically different, compelling ways.
Spider-Man: Freshman Year is expected to arrive on Disney Plus sometime in 2024.
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