What If...? has been an interesting venture for Marvel Studios. For one, it marks the first animated project that it has had, particularly within the MCU canon itself. Pair that with the endless creativity that the concept allows, and there is an endless number of possibilities.
One of the problems that comes with the space, however, is that some actors aren't available for voiceover. This is something that has been shown in previous episodes, such as Josh Keaton voicing Steve Rogers and Lake Bell voicing Black Widow.
That's not to say that actors don't ever return to their roles. Early episodes had stars such as Hayley Atwell and the late Chadwick Boseman bring their characters to life once again—but in unique ways.
The most recent episode of What If...? had several notable actors who replaced the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges, and more.
Paltrow and Bridges Voice Actors for What If...?
In "What If... Killmonger rescued Tony Stark?," plenty of familiar faces returned to the roles that they have made famous. Killmonger had Michael B. Jordan, Happy Hogan was Jon Favreau, Chadwick Boseman returned once again for T'Challa, and Don Cheadle played James Rhodes.
Not everyone could return to their roles, sadly. While there was the returning fill-in for Tony Stark, actor Mick Wingert, most were new faces to the show.
One of the key changes was Beth Hoyt as Pepper Potts, filling in for Gwyneth Paltrow. The actress is known for roles in Better Call Saul, Dead to Me, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
Joining Hoyt was Mike McGill as General Ross, a performer who has played parts in Shameless, Bosch, and Annabelle Comes Home.
Then there was Shuri, where actor Ozioma Akagha got to have a crack at the character. Akagha is known for her time on Runways as well as one of the leading roles in the newly released game Deathloop.
It's been a while since fans have seen Obadiah Stane. This time around, the character was voiced by Kiff Vandenheuvel and not Jeff Bridges. The actor has done projects such as La La Land, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Parks and Recreation.
What If...? and Its Replacements
All of the newcomers did a great job at filling in some pretty big shoes. The actors also did another key aspect of their jobs perfectly: they played them all similar to the original actors. In fact, sometimes it'd be hard-pressed to realize that it wasn't the same person.
What If...? has continued to do a wonderful job at mixing returning actors with replacement ones, and it has been fairly difficult to even notice that difference on most occasions. While it's a shame that the show couldn't get everyone back, it's doing a fine job without them.
That's not to say it's better without the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges, or Letitia Wright; it just simply still works.
Fans will have to relish those who were able to come back, such as Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, and Don Cheadle. Sometimes, you can't win them all.
The show has three episodes left in the season, and they can be seen every Wednesday as What If...? airs exclusively on Disney+.
