"Expect the unexpected."
Jeffrey Wright's The Watcher has emphasized the unpredictability of Marvel Studios's What If...? in every piece of marketing material for the upcoming Disney+ show. With the series operating in animation, the doors are wide open for any and everyone to show face.
The premiere episode is set to follow Hayley Atwell's Peggy Carter during the events of 2011's Captain America: The First Avenger with a slight twist. This storyline will follow a reality where Peggy takes the Super Soldier Serum, becoming Captain Carter and, consequently, the First Avenger.
Seeing that the episode is set during World War II, it's only appropriate that a certain crimson cranium would play a big part.
THE RETURN OF THE RED SKULL
Johann Schmidt is back.
In a new social media spot from @WhatIfOfficial, Jeffrey Wright's The Watcher teases the upcoming premiere episode of What If...?, which will feature Hayley Atwell's Peggy Carter becoming the First Avenger.
The brief teaser begins with the super-soldier file's subject name of "STEVE ROGERS" being replaced with "PEGGY CARTER" before an array of action scenes showcase Carter and the HYDRA Stomper in action.
Halfway through the footage, the Red Skull makes his animated debut, placing the Tesseract into a machine.
CAPTAIN CARTER VS. RED SKULL?
Considering he was the primary antagonist for The First Avenger, it's only appropriate that Johann Schmidt will retain his villainous role in What If...?'s premiere. With that in mind, the Skull is likely due for some one-on-one action opposite Captain Carter.
While the character is officially confirmed for the animated series, the actor who lends their vocal talents to the role still remains in question. Hugo Weaving debuted the Red Skull in 2011's The First Avenger, but a failed re-negotiation between the Matrix star and Marvel Studios led the character to be re-cast come Avengers: Infinity War. There, The Walking Dead star and impression extraordinaire Ross Marquand took on the role, acting as a guide for those who seek the Soul Stone on Vormir.
It's unclear whether Weaving, Marquand, or a completely new actor will voice Red Skull come What If...?'s premiere. Marquand has previously teased that once both Thanos and Hawkeye acquired the Soul Stone, the Skull is "essentially free."
Considering Atwell's Captain Carter has been teased to make the leap to live-action in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, could What If...? be the first step to Johann Schmidt returning to the big screen?
Fans will hopefully get their answers when What If...? premieres Wednesday, August 11, streaming exclusively on Disney+.
MCU Writer, Editor, Podcaster
