#FIRSTLOOK: MARVEL STUDIOS ANIMATION PANEL AT 2022 SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON

Some cool new previews were unveiled today at San Diego Comic-Con. New upcoming Marvel Studios Animation Series were unveiled at I AM GROOT, SPIDER-MAN: FRESHMAN YEAR, X-MEN ’97, MARVEL ZOMBIES and WHAT IF…?.

Here are some of the exciting updates headed our way!

I AM GROOT

“I Am Groot” writer/director/executive producer Kirsten Lepore answered questions about the upcoming series and treated the audience to the trailer and new key art. A surprise screening of one of the shorts, “Groot Takes a Bath,” delighted everyone, and applause greeted the announcement of a second collection of shorts.

There’s no guarding the galaxy from this mischievous toddler! So get ready as Baby Groot takes center stage in his very own collection of shorts, exploring his glory days growing up—and getting into trouble—among the stars. “I Am Groot,” five original shorts featuring several new and unusual characters, stars everyone’s favorite little tree, Baby Groot, voiced by Vin Diesel, who voices Groot in the “Guardians of the Galaxy” franchise.

The executive producers are Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Brad Winderbaum and James Gunn.

“I Am Groot” launches exclusively on Disney+ August 10, with all five shorts available for viewing.

SPIDER-MAN: FRESHMAN YEAR

Jeff Trammell teased the show with the cast of characters, and Ryan Meinerding showed off the new Spider-Man suit designed for the series. A fun reveal was that moderator Paul F. Tompkins will be playing a character in the series. A second season was also announced, aptly titled “Spider-Man: Sophomore Year.”

“Spider-Man: Freshman Year” is an animated series that follows Peter Parker on his way to becoming Spider-Man in the MCU, with a journey unlike we’ve ever seen and a style that celebrates the character’s early comic book roots. Executive producer Jeff Trammel serves as head writer.

“Spider-Man: Freshman Year” comes exclusively to Disney+ in 2024.

WHAT IF…?

Bryan Andrews and AC Bradley talked about the Emmy-nominated series and showed the trailer for Season Two. The audience went wild when, at the end of the presentation, a surprise screening of one episode of the highly anticipated next season was shown, and a third season was announced.

“What If…?” Season 2 continues the journey with The Watcher as our guide through the vast multiverse, introducing brand new and familiar faces throughout the MCU. The animated series questions, revisits, and twists classic Marvel Cinematic moments with an incredible voice cast that includes a host of stars who reprise their iconic roles. Directed by executive producer Bryan Andrews with executive producer AC Bradley as head writer.

Season two of “What If…?” launches exclusively on Disney+ in early 2023.

MARVEL ZOMBIES

Bryan Andrews offered background on the series and its origins spawning from an episode of “What If…?” Season 1, as well as concept art.

The animated series “Marvel Zombies” from Marvel Studios reimagines the Marvel Universe as a new generation of heroes battle against an ever-spreading zombie scourge. Directed by executive producer Bryan Andrews and written by executive producer Zeb Wells.

“Marvel Zombies” will stream exclusively on Disney+.

X-MEN ’97

Cheers erupted when Brad Winderbaum spoke fondly of the legacy of “X-Men: The Animated Series” and presented a sizzle reel featuring cast and creatives from the popular ‘90s animated show. “X-Men ‘97” writer and executive producer Beau DeMayo then spoke about the new series, shared artwork, and presented an animatic AV piece. DeMayo also mentioned that the show will use the original “X-Men” theme music. A second season was also announced.

“X-MEN ’97” is an animated series from Marvel Studios that explores new stories in the iconic ’90s timeline of the original series. Beau DeMayo is executive producer and head writer.

“X-Men ’97”” will begin streaming exclusively on Disney+ Fall 2023.

#FIRSTLOOK: DISNEY+ PRESENTS “HALLOWSTREAM”

Disney+ has you covered this Halloween with their HALLOWSTREAM Program launching September 24, 2021 on the streaming services featuring all new original programming!

LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales

Premiering October 1, “LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales” is a seasonal celebration of the villainous dark side of the Star Wars galaxy— just in time for Halloween. After the events of “The Rise of Skywalker,” Poe and BB-8 must make an emergency landing on the volcanic planet Mustafar where they meet the greedy and conniving Graballa the Hutt who has purchased Darth Vader’s castle and is renovating it into the galaxy’s first all-inclusive Sith-inspired luxury hotel. While waiting for his X-Wing to be repaired, Poe, BB-8, Graballa, and Dean (a plucky and courageous young boy who works as Graballa’s mechanic) venture deep into the mysterious castle with Vader’s loyal servant, Vaneé.  Along the way, Vaneé shares three creepy stories linked to ancient artifacts and iconic villains from across all eras of Star Wars. As Vaneé spins his tales and lures our heroes deeper into the shadowy underbelly of the castle, a sinister plan emerges. With the help of Dean, Poe and BB-8 will have to face their fears, stop an ancient evil from rising, and escape to make it back to their friends. A new image from “LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales” is now available.

Muppets Haunted Mansion

The Muppets’ first-ever Halloween special “Muppets Haunted Mansion” will  premiere on Friday, October 8 on Disney+. The brand-new special will feature a star-studded Muppets cast, celebrity cameos, all-new music and spooky fun for families to enjoy together. “Muppets Haunted Mansion” takes place on Halloween night, when Gonzo is challenged to spend one very daring night in the most grim grinning place on Earth …The Haunted Mansion.

Just Beyond

All eight episodes of the supernatural anthology series “Just Beyond” will premiere on Wednesday, October 13 as a part of the Disney+ Hallowstream celebration. Inspired by the writings of R.L. Stine, the series tells astonishing and thought-provoking stories of a reality just beyond the one we know. Each episode introduces viewers to a new cast of characters who must go on a surprising journey of self-discovery in a supernatural world of witches, aliens, ghosts and parallel universes.

What If… Zombies?!

To kick off the celebration early, fans can watch “What If… Zombies?!”—the latest episode in Marvel Studios’ first-ever animated series—premiering today on Disney+. In this eerie episode, The Avengers are infected by a zombie plague, and surviving heroes must search for a cure.

Above this though, Disney+ also will have several of your favourites up. Here’s a graphic with all the details:

(Photo/video credit: Walt Disney Studios Canada)

#FIRSTLOOK: MARVEL’S “WHAT IF…?”

By Justin Waldman

Marvel has created a cinematic universe that has dazzled audiences since 2008, and with fans clamouring for more content they’ve branched out into Television that also extends to the Cinematic Universe. With such hits as Wandavision, Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and Loki, What If…? is their newest entry into TV and with them tackling the animation forefront there is so much to be explored.

In the Comics, What If…? explored Spider-Man joining the Fantastic Four, Planet Hulk, Jane Foster finding the Mjolnir, what if certain characters didn’t die, the show has endless possibilities of what can be explored, and the first three episodes touch on some of the craziest, wildest stories. With this new show being produced as an Animated Series, the possibilities are endless, and the entertainment is boundless, join us as we dive into the world of What If…?.

Each episode of What If…? starts with The Watcher (Jeffery Wright) talking about the universe and how a small, miniscule change can change everything. What if Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) never left the experiment room where Steve Rogers first got the serum? The world would have a different superhero, instead of Captain America the world would have Captain Carter. Captain Carter would lead America to win the war, to take down Red Skull and Arnim Zola (Toby Jones) from using the tesseract to destroy the world.

The first episode of What If…? is great in that it gives us the stories that audiences have always wanted to see, but never got to see cinematically. Peggy Carter always deserved to be the hero, in the cinematic world she lead S.H.I.E.L.D to victory after Steve froze himself, and this episodes let audiences explore the world that we never got to see. What truly brings back the fond memories of The First Avenger is the cheesy dialogue, ’50s- inspired jokes and corny one liners truly bring together the fun action packed Captain Carter vibes to this first episode of What If…? With such a strong, world changing launch to a new series, there is surely so much more excitement and intensity we can expect from What If…?

WHAT IF…? debuts on Disney+ Canada Wednesday, August 11, 2021 at 3 AM ET. New episodes arrive weekly on Wednesday.

EPISODE TWO PREVIEW

Welcome to the world of What If…? What if the Guardians of the Galaxy weren’t lead by a bumbling lovable buffoon who put love over the entire universe? What if it was a new team of misfits that were a better fit, what if the wrong person was taken away from their family?

What happens when the whistle-blowing, Yondu (Michael Rooker) known for his line “I’m Mary Poppins y’all!”, takes the wrong child? Or T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) becomes legendary outlaw Star-Lord with his new team of bandits, still after the Infinity Stone? This time around, instead of having to fight-off Thanos and his minions, he must defend himself and his team against The Collector who is the most powerful being in the galaxy. He still possesses all the rarities throughout the galaxy, but is less quirky and more menacing than we’ve originally seen. Will the new Guardians of the Galaxy be able to stop The Collector or will he be too much for the new guardians? Lastly, the overwhelming tribute to Chadwick Boseman in his final Marvel performance is heartbreaking and beautiful.

When you change the dynamics of the Guardians of the Galaxy, you lose some of that lovableness that Chris Pratt provided the team, which makes the Guardians a little less silly, and more plausible as a threat to defeat their nemeses, but their antics still are top notch and filled with entertainment.

EPISODE THREE

What If… the Avengers never assembled? What would the world come to if the world’s mightiest heroes were broken up before they could even become a team? What if Nick Fury trusted an unlikely ally, where would the world be? Welcome to What If…? episode three, the most daring, ambitious and shocking episode we’ve seen thus far.

The world’s mightiest heroes, prior to being assembled by Nick Fury (Samuel L Jackson) are being targeted so they can never assemble and take down the worlds strongest threats. With marks on their backs, Fury must find out who is behind the pursuing of such Avengers such as Hulk, Thor, Hawkeye, Iron Man, and Black Widow. With a threat this large against Fury’s initiative, he goes to extensive measures that no one would’ve thought plausible in the sacred timeline. Chaos ensues, all madness breaks out, and leaves the audience salivating for more, hopefully there is more to this storyline sooner than later.

What If…? has provided lots of joy, laughter, and even a tear or two in its first couple episodes, with more and more possibilities yet to be explored. There is an endless amount of adventure to be afoot, and the excitement cannot be contained. With the Avengers not being assembled, it provides a darkness that lures over the timelines, What If…? brings all the theories, timelines, and complete madness to the forefront and lets audiences explore the world beyond their greatest imaginations!

(Photo credit: Marvel)

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER FOR “WHAT IF…?”

Marvel’s first ever animated series WHAT IF…? arrives on Disney+ this August! See the new Trailer!

Synopsis:

Disney+ unveiled a new trailer and poster today for Marvel Studios’ “What If…?,” showcasing the compelling series that reimagines famous events from films in the MCU. Creating a multiverse of infinite possibilities, “What If… ?” features fan-favourite characters, including Peggy Carter, T’Challa, Doctor Strange, Killmonger, Thor and more. The new series, directed by Bryan Andrews with AC Bradley as head writer, features signature MCU action with a curious twist. Marvel Studios’ first-ever animated series launches on Disney+ on Wednesday, August 11.

WHAT IF…? arrives on Disney+ August 11, 2021.

(Photo/video credit: Disney)