Assembled: The Making Of What If...?

[formerlyfreedom]

Quote

Join the creative team responsible for Marvel Studios’ “What If…?” on a journey behind-the-scenes of the inventive animated series. Discover how the show’s unusual storylines were crafted, along with how the series’ unique animation style was achieved. And visit renowned actor Jeffrey Wright in the studio as he voices The Watcher, breathing new life into the iconic character from the Marvel comics.

Dropping Wednesday, October 27, 2021.

[tv echo]

I have not watched it yet, but here's the trailer...

Marvel Studios Assembled: The Making of What If…? | Official Trailer | Disney+
Marvel Entertainment   Oct 27, 2021

 

[tv echo]

I finally watched this special...

Kevin Feige said that, after Avengers: Endgame, they were discussing the expansion into Phase 4 and also what ideas they could do in animation that they couldn't do in live action.

EP Brad Winderbaum was the one who pitched the idea of doing a What If animated series on Disney+ (inspired by "what if" comic series runs).

EP Bryan Andrews described the "what if" comics from past decades as like a "testing ground" for story ideas. However, for the What If series, they did not borrow anything from the comics. Instead, they're "riffing off" the MCU version of the comics characters.

They came up with a lot of ideas for the What If series, but the decisions as to what episodes to do were all character-based decisions.

Head writer A.C. Bradley said that some What If ideas were obvious (like, what if Thor was never banished, what if Ultron won). Then they explored other ideas (like, what if Yondu kidnapped the wrong kid).

Brad said that they quickly realized that every story had two parts: the "inciting incident" (like, what if Peggy Carter got into the Project Rebirth chamber and became the super soldier instead of Steve Rogers); and the "then what" (the actual story).

A.C. said that the "heart of the character" always had to remain the same (like, T'Challa is always the "once and future king," and "no matter where in the world Tony Stark is, Pepper Potts is always his North Star," and Steve Rogers is always the guy who will "go to the ends of the Earth to do what he believes is right"). So no matter the storyline, they always have to stay true to the character.

Brad said that the Watcher was needed to navigate the new realities and that they all had Jeffrey Wright's voice in their heads as the Watcher. He's like the Rod Serling of the What If series.

Jeffrey Wright said that it was an "organic" and thought-out process to figure out how the Watcher should sound.

A.C. said that the Watcher is both the "guardian and the observer" of what's happening in the Multiverse.

Ryan Meinerding (head of Marvel visual development and costume design) said that he's always been a fan of J. C. Leyendecker and Norman Rockwell, so when Brad and Bryan pitched that illustrative style as the visual basis for the show, that's his "bread and butter."

Bryan said that he thought animation has not been as "cinematic" as it could be.

Brad said that, for purposes of the What If series, they decided to "chase character likeness" and not actor likeness. They wanted to "capture the spirit of the character." He said animation is not a "photo-realistic medium."

Bryan said that they wanted to "stand out" and explored a variety of animation techniques. They decided to "just make something rad 2D."

Brad and Bryan had discussions about the use of light and shadow, and trying to achieve a cinematic style in animation. Bryan said that each episode was shot like a mini movie.

Brad said that the idea of Peggy Carter becoming Captain Carter was a "very early concept" and then Skinny Steve Rogers wearing the Hydra Stomper suit became part of the "then what" half of the story. Then they got to tell the story of the "tragic love affair - this dance that Peggy Carter and Steve Rogers have through time, where they don't ever get to fulfill their relationship without some event that gets in the way."

They realized that T'Challa was about the same age as Peter Quill, so they came up with the idea of the Ravagers kidnapping T'Challa instead of Peter. Even with the Ravagers, T'Challa still has a kingly presence and is a natural leader. So T'Challa ended up influencing Yondu, Nebula and Thanos.

Kevin said that Chadwick Boseman loved the Star Lord version of T'Challa.

Jeffrey said that it was nice to hear Chadwick Boseman's voice again as T'Challa.

A.C. said that the idea of what if Thor was never banished came up early on and that Marvel brought up the question of what an Evil Thor would look like. A.C. responded that she didn't think Thor would look evil, but that this Thor would just "look like a douchebag." He would take over a planet, hold parties, trash the place, and not pay his bills.

A.C. said that Doctor Strange becomes obsessed with his own power (like a "mixture of Dorian Gray and Voldemort") and eventually becomes an "H.P Lovecraftian-version of himself."

Brad: "What If gives us an opportunity to tell stories with a whole new idea of what the physical reality of the universe is. That is something that's going to be explored in other ways moving forward in our films."

Kevin said that What If gave them the opportunity to do a "fan favorite" - Marvel Zombies.

The first season culminated in a story that requires the Watcher's intervention, namely, a world where Ultron got Vision's body, defeats Thanos and gets all six Infinity Stones.

Brad: "When we got green-lit for the second season, we had to really look at the characters and really justify why we would keep telling stories in this fashion. Obviously, you could spin out any number of What If stories." 

Brad said that they needed a "central thread" to make it feel like "essential viewing for the MCU."  He added: "And what emerged was the relationship between Captain Carter and the Watcher, which is something that evolves, uh, in a grand fashion in the second season of the show."

ETA: After watching this special, I found a transcript of it (I wish I had found it sooner):
https://tvshowtranscripts.ourboard.org/viewtopic.php?f=950&t=47323

Edited November 1, 2021 by tv echo

[ahisma]

7 hours ago, tv echo said:

Brad said that the Watcher was needed to navigate the new realities and that they all had Jeffrey Wright's voice in their heads as the Watcher. He's like the Rod Serling of the What If series.

I did have flashbacks to the Twilight Zone opening during every What If? Opening!

7 hours ago, tv echo said:

A.C. responded that she didn't think Thor would look evil, but that this Thor would just "look like a douchebag."

So true—they nailed it! That was one of my favorites.

[Ailianna]

9 hours ago, tv echo said:

Brad said that they needed a "central thread" to make it feel like "essential viewing for the MCU."  He added: "And what emerged was the relationship between Captain Carter and the Watcher, which is something that evolves, uh, in a grand fashion in the second season of the show."

I still don't understand how this is a thread in the first season, since there IS no such relationship. I watched it, liked some more than others, but since it's all in other universes, it doesn't feel "must see." I just feel like they're trying to push it harder than it deserves. Not that it wasn't worth watching, just that it isn't "essential."

[arc]

@Ailianna, I think he meant that would be the connecting thread for s2.

[Ailianna]

They've said that about Captain Carter and the Watcher before though. It's a bit baffling.  I saw it in an article posted here just after the Dr. Strange episode dropped.