SeveralMCUcharacters never before seen inWhat If…?will be appearing in the animated series' upcoming season 3, scheduled to premiere on December 22.What If…?season 3 will release as the final project in Marvel Studios' 2024 slate, and will mark the conclusion of theWhat If…?series, with Jeffrey Wright’s Watcher returning to narrate only eight new adventures across the MCU’s multiverse. Despite there being some confusion aboutwhyWhat If…?is actually ending, there is also a huge amount of excitement about the upcoming Marvel Animation series.
Theofficial trailer forWhat If…?season 3released on November 11, providing a glimpse at just a few of the stories set to unfold in the upcoming series. Season 3 will include new versions of characters who have previously been seen inWhat If…?, including Sam Wilson, Nebula and Bucky Barnes, while the likes ofCaptain Carter and Kahhoriwill also be returning. However,a number of characters inWhat If…?season 3 have not been adapted into animation before, which proves just how new and excitingWhat If…?season 3 will be.
17White Vision
Vision Debuted In The MCU In Avengers: Age Of Ultron (2015)
Vision has appeared in previous episodes ofWhat If…?, most notably “What If… Zombies?!” and “What If… Ultron Won?,” but White Vision will make hisWhat If…?debut in season 3.Vision has been a huge part of the MCU since his introduction in 2015’sAvengers: Age of Ultron, as he was the holder of the Mind Stone for some time and was involved in a romance with the Scarlet Witch.Vision acquired his sleek, white appearanceinWandaVisionafter being rebuilt by SWORD, which is the iteration that will appear inWhat If…?season 3.
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It seems that White Vision will be a villain inWhat If…?season 3. Ironheart can be seen fighting him, while he also seems to be commanding an army of the Iron Legion with a new red-eyed appearance.It’s possible Vision has once again fallen under the control of Ultron, transforming him into a powerful villain inWhat If…?season 3, and this could set up a similar storyline for Paul Bettany’s return as White Vision in theupcoming live-actionVisionseries.What If…?will mark the first time White Vision has been seen since his 2021 debut inWandaVision.
16Monica Rambea
Monica Rambeau Debuted In The MCU In Captain Marvel (2019)
Monica Rambeau was first introduced to the MCU as a child in 2019’sCaptain Marvel, but returned as an adult, portrayed by Teyonah Parris, inWandaVision. Phase 4 saw Monica gain energy absorption abilities after being exposed to the power of theScarlet Witch’s Hex, allowing her to fight alongside Carol Danvers and Kamala Khan inThe Marvels, which ended with her trapped in another reality.What If…?season 3 will introduce a new variant of Monica Rambeau, one who is a member of the Mech-suited Avengersalongside the likes of Sam Wilson’s Captain America, Shang-Chi and Moon Knight.
Monica Rambeau met Kelsey Grammer’s Beast and Lashana Lynch’s Binary inThe Marvels, and Charles Xavier was mentioned, confirming the X-Men exist in her new reality, but she hasn’t been seen since.
It’s unclear when the live-action iteration ofMonica Rambeau will return to the MCU, given the fact that she is trapped in a new reality inhabited by X-Men members Beast and Binary. However,What If…?season 3 will give Teyonah Parris the chance to show off new sides to her powerful MCU hero in an exciting storyline that will see the Avengers come togetherAvengers Mech Strikestyle. This will connect Monica Rambeau to even more Marvel heroes, and begin to establish her as a significant member of the Avengers in the MCU.
15Ying-Nan
Ying-Nan Debuted In The MCU In Shang-Chi & The Legend Of The Ten Rings (2021)
After making her first appearance as one of the protectors of Ta Lo in 2021’sShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Ying-Nan has been confirmed to be returning inWhat If…?season 3. As Ying-Li’s sister, Michelle Yeoh’s Ying-Nan is the aunt to Shang-Chi and Xialing, the children of theMandarin, Xu Wenwu.Ying-Nan trained Shang-Chi in the martial arts specialties of Ta Lo, which his mother had previously used to best Wenwu in battle. InWhat If…?, Ying-Nan is expected to embark on an adventure with Wong, Okoye and Valkyrie.
Michelle Yeoh previously portrayed Aleta Ogord in 2017’sGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, but didn’t reprise this role inVol. 3.
It’s unclear exactly what storyline Ying-Nan will embark on inWhat If…?season 3, and who will be voicing the character, as it doesn’t seem as though Michelle Yeoh will be reprising the role.Shang-Chi is expected to appear in at least two episodes ofWhat If…?season 3, so it’s possible that Ta Lo could be revisited, allowing Ying-Nan to appear alongside her nephew. Hela previously trained with Jiayi inTa Lo InWhat If…?season 2, so season 3 presents the perfect opportunity for the mystical dimension to be explored even further.
14Alexei Shostakov’s Red Guardian
Alexei Shostakov Debuted In The MCU In Black Widow (2021)
David Harbour’s Red Guardian is quickly becoming one of the MCU’s most consistent new characters, as he debuted in 2021’sBlack Widow, and is set to return in 2025’sThunderbolts*and the animatedMarvel Zombiesseries, as well asWhat If…?season 3. Alexei Shostakov is the surrogate father to Black Widows Natasha Romanoff and Yelena Belova, having raised them in Ohio alongside Melina Vostokoff. Alexei and Melina will return as Mech-suited Avengers inWhat If…?season 3, while some ofRed Guardian’s history could also be explored.
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An entire episode ofWhat If…?season 3 is expected to be dedicated to expanding on the connection between Russian super-soldiers Alexei Shostakov and Bucky Barnes' Winter Soldier.This episode was originally intended to be released as part ofWhat If…?season 2, but was delayed until season 3. It will also feature Laurence Fishburne’s Bill Foster and an original MCU character voiced by America Ferrera, and is expected to develop the Red Guardian’s legend in the MCU before Harbour returns in thelive-actionThunderbolts*movie.
13Agatha Harkness
Agatha Harkness Debuted In The MCU In WandaVision (2021)
Kathryn Hahn’s Agatha Harkness has recently become one of the most popular characters in the MCU, thanks to her starring role in theAgatha All Alongseries. The centuries-old witch gathered a coven and traveled the fabricated Witches' Road inAgatha All Along, but it seems she will curiously be partnering with the Eternals inWhat If…?season 3.Agatha Harkness’What If…?season 3 episode has been revealed to include at least one musical number, following on from the hits, “Agatha All Along” and “The Ballad of the Witches' Road.”
2021
2024
What If…?Season 3
What If…?season 3 will show off a version of Agatha Harkness who seems to have been empowered with new gifts, perhaps using her ability to absorb the energy and life force of others to steal power from the Eternals. This could explain how she is able to loom over the Earth in a gown embroidered with the same patterning of the Eternals' own costumes. Agatha Harkness endedAgatha All Alongas a ghost on a mission withBilly Maximoff’s Wiccan, but it’s unclear when she’ll be seen in live-action next, soWhat If…?season 3 can bridge this gap.
12Kingo
Kingo Debuted In The MCU In Eternals (2021)
Speaking of Eternals,Kumail Nanjiani’s Kingocan be seen alongside Agatha Harkness inWhat If…?season 3’s trailer. It’s unclear if the other members of the Eternals team who were sent to Earth will also appear, but Kingo has been the most-mentioned member of this group in the years sinceEternals'2021 release, so it makes sense that he would be spotlighted inWhat If…?season 3.While the other Eternals tried to stay out of the public eye, Kingo became a Bollywood superstar, and reinvented himself as his own son every few decades, creating a powerful on-screen dynasty.
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The appearance of at least one member of the Eternals inWhat If…?suggests that the Celestial emergence will play a rolein the upcoming animated series. What part Agatha Harkness has to play in this storyline is another question, but with no sign ofEternals 2being put into development,What If…?season 3 presents the perfect opportunity for the cosmic beings to be examined in much more detail. It’s unclear whether Nanjiani will return to voice Kingo inWhat If…?season 3, but it would be great to see him reprise his role in the MCU.
11Shang-Chi
Shang-Chi Debuted In The MCU In Shang-Chi & The Legend Of The Ten Rings (2021)
It’s been a huge shame that Simu Liu’s Shang-Chi hasn’t been seen in the MCU since his debut in 2021’sShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Even thoughShang-Chi 2is in production, director Destin Daniel Cretton has been working on theWonder Manseries, and will soon be starting work on the MCU’sSpider-Man 4, so theShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Ringssequel may still be a few years away. Luckily, however,Shang-Chi will be returning inWhat If…?season 3, with a Wild West-set episode focused entirely on him.
The ending ofShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Ringsintroduced Shang-Chi and Katy to the Avengers, but they have not been seen or heard from since.
Shang-Chi will be appearing alongside Kate Bishop in a WesternWhat If…?episode, while he will also be featured as a member of the Avengers inWhat If…?season 3’s Mech suit episode. The latter will also introduce a version of the ten rings which can be utilized by the Avengers' Megazord-style armor, which will be very exciting. Audiences are desperate forShang-Chi to return to the live-action MCU, though it seems he won’t be seen until 2026’sAvengers: Doomsday, butWhat If…?season 3 will give Shang-Chi some development prior to the Phase 6 crossover.
10Marc Spector’s Moon Knight
Marc Spector Debuted In The MCU In Moon Knight (2022)
Similarly to Shang-Chi, Marc Spector’s Moon Knight is also one of the recent MCU characters that audiences are desperate to see return. This is especially true after theMoon Knightseries ended with a cliffhanger introducing Spector’s third alter, Jake Lockley. There’s no sign ofMoon Knight returning to the MCU, butWhat If…?season 3 seems to have set him up to be a key member of the Mech-suit Avengers, perhaps even the team’s leader, as he can be seen strategizing for the Avengers' team-up adventure, which is an exciting prospect.
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It’s a shame thatOscar Isaac’s Moon Knighthasn’t returned to the MCU since his 2022 debut, though there has been speculation that he’ll play a huge role in the as-yet-unconfirmed Midnight Sons team-up event in the MCU’s future.Moon Knight’s return inWhat If…?season 3 could be huge for his live-action future, as his popularity will prove to Marvel Studios just how much audiences want to see him back on-screen. Oscar Isaac’s Moon Knight should be crucial to the MCU’s future, andWhat If…?season 3 can kick-start this new renaissance.
9Kaecilius
Kaecilius Debuted In The MCU In Doctor Strange (2016)
As well as including new versions of some of the MCU’s most notable heroes,What If…?season 3 is also expected to include a number of new supervillains. This includesMads Mikkelsen’s Kaecilius, who opposed the Ancient One and Doctor Strange in 2016’s eponymousDoctor Strange, though was seemingly killed when he was taken by Dormammu into the Dark Dimension.Kaecilius' role inWhat If…?season 3 is uncertain, though it seems he will still be filling a villainous role, as he has the same scarring over his eyes as his live-action MCU counterpart.
Mads Mikkelsen previously auditioned for the role of Doctor Doom in 2015’sFantastic Four, a role which eventually went to Toby Kebbell.
Mads Mikkelsen had recently been fan-cast as the MCU’s Doctor Doom, prior toRobert Downey Jr. being recast as Doomafter playing Tony Stark’s Iron Man for over a decade. Mikkelsen was arguably wasted in the role of Kaecilius, so it’s great to see this character return to the MCU for at least one more adventure, thoughit’s unclear whether Mikkelsen himself will be voicing the villain. It would be fantastic to have Mads Mikkelsen back in the MCU in some capacity, and, if not in live-action, the animatedWhat If…?series may be the best bet.
8Kate Bishop’s Hawkeye
Kate Bishop Debuted In The MCU In Hawkeye (2021)
Hailee Steinfeld’s Kate Bishopdebuted in 2021’sHawkeyeseries as the young protégé to Jeremy Renner’s Clint Barton, but she’ll take on a new role opposite Shang-Chi inWhat If…?season 3.Kate Bishop will be starring in the Wild West-set episode ofWhat If…?season 3 with Shang-Chi, though it’s unclear exactly what storyline this episode will feature. It will nevertheless be great to see Kate Bishop back in the MCU, as the tease of her joining the Young Avengers at the end ofThe Marvelshas, so far, gone nowhere.
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Kate Bishop has the chance to become a cornerstone of the MCU as one of the franchise’s youngest and most exciting new characters. As the new Hawkeye, Kate Bishop will be key to thedevelopment of the Young Avengers, and could even join the primary Avengers team in Phase 6’sAvengers: DoomsdayandSecret Warsor beyond. Until then,What If…?season 3 is the best place for Kate Bishop to be explored across the multiverse, giving Hailee Steinfeld new stories in the MCU before she reprises the role in live-action.
