MCU Leak Reveals New Black Widow & The Collector Funkos For Disney+'s What If

By John Ross Bradford Posted:
Funko Collector Black Widow

Marvel Studios What If...? is all about how some of the biggest MCU events would play out if certain elements were changed. 

For instance, one episode will focus on Chadwick Boseman's T'Challa and how the Guardians of the Galaxy would change if he took Peter Quill's place. Another installment will follow Peggy Carter if she were the one to take the Super Soldier Serum instead of Steve Rogers. 

There are still several episodes that no one knows the premise of, but a new toy leak may have just confirmed another What If...? storyline. 

A NEW BLACK WIDOW IN WHAT IF...? 

Black-Widow-What-If
Marvel

Images of two new Funko Pops! made for Marvel Studios' What If...? were shared by @dis.trackers on Instagram - one of which being the bionically-enhanced Collector seen in promotional footage for the show.

Interestingly, what's also revealed in this leak is a figure made for a Post-Apocalyptic Black Widow, hinting at a previously unconfirmed plot that follows certain Avengers after an Earth-shattering event. 

Images of the two Funko figures can be seen in the tweet below: 

 

WHAT IF ULTRON BEAT THE AVENGERS? 

This Funko Pop! for Black Widow is certainly a more run-down look for Natasha, complete with a tattered, makeshift uniform and dirt on her face. With her iconic Widow belt slung across her chest, expect to see the grounded, combative Black Widow that fans know and love. 

Considering the length of Natasha Romanoff's hair on this new figure, it's likely that this post-apocalyptic storyline will take place sometime between 2012's The Avengers and 2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron - both times during which Black Widow and the Avengers were the only ones standing between Earth and an apocalyptic event. 

The most likely scenario is that this story would show Natasha avoiding the events of Age of Ultron's final act, rather than joining the fight once Bruce Banner freed her from Ultron's captivity. This would have left the Avengers shorthanded while trying to stop the maniacal murder-bot, meaning Ultron may succeed in his mission to rid the world of human life. 

During the climactic events of Age of Ultron, Bruce Banner intended to accompany Black Widow in her escape. If this What If...? storyline also removes Banner from the fight against Ultron, then that could also explain the plot of a separate episode where Tony Stark finds himself stranded on Sakaar instead of the Hulk. It's a stretch, but that's what Marvel's first animated forray is all about! 

THE COLLECTOR JOINS THE FUNKO COLLECTION 

The inclusion of The Collector in the Funko Pop! lineup for What If...? - specifically in the Marvel Collector Corps subscription box - is almost too fitting.

However, it does point to his role being much larger than what Benicio del Toro's character has played in the past, which was also confirmed in the most recent trailer for What If...? as Yondu and T'Challa Star-Lord give him quite the beating

Marvel Studios' What If...? debuts on Disney+ August 11. 

- In This Article: What If...? (Season 2)
Release Date
December 22, 2023
Platform
Actors
Jeffrey Wright
- About The Author: John Ross Bradford
John Ross Bradford is an editor and writer at The Direct. He has contributed to content ideation and development across multiple branches of the company's website since it launched in 2020.