When Marvel’s What If…? introduced zombies to the MCU there were instantly whispers that this may not the be only time we see the shambling monsters appearing, with some even going as far as to suggest that a live-action iteration could be on the cards. That isn’t a reality yet, but we are getting a brand new series in the newly announced Marvel Zombies animated show, which is now in development for Disney+. Based on the success of the Zombies episode of the MCU’s first animated offering, this is probably going to be one of the biggest revelations to come out of Disney+ for Marvel fans.
Marvel Zombies, an animated Original Series from Marvel Studios, coming soon to #DisneyPlus. #DisneyPlusDaypic.twitter.com/Rv6AESN6d3
— Disney+ (@disneyplus) November 12, 2021
The concept of Marvel Zombies has its origin in the comic series of the 2000s, which brought Marvel’s version of the brain-munching fiends to the page and was an instant hit with comic book fans. The series had numerous sequels as well as an Army of Darkness crossover – someone should really be lobbying Sam Raimi right now about that potential movie – and the calls for the Marvel Zombies to be brought to the screen have been growing over the years, so their inclusion in What If…? was very welcome indeed.
However, a one-time appearance is just not going to be enough for the Marvel fan base, and following the debut of the episode, social media became full of questions about when the Marvel Zombies would be seen again. That episode was a very fast-paced, quickly told story, based in the early part of Avengers: Infinity War, which saw Spider-Man, Bruce Banner, Sharon Carter, Okoye and Happy Hogan having to band together to find a cure for a zombie pandemic while avoiding being eaten by their former colleagues Captain America, Iron Man, Scarlet Witch and more of the Avengers team who had been turned into part of the undead horde.
“The fun part of Marvel Zombies, at least for me, was to delve into that initial run,” What If…? head writer A.C. Bradley told Discussing Film. “Probably more than any other What If…? episode, we drew directly from the comic for inspiration and for actual pieces, like scenes because it is so good.”
Where exactly the Marvel Zombies series will go is yet to be revealed, but there are a lot of possibilities. In the single episode seen in What If…? the body count could rival anything ever made by Quentin Tarantino, and the main question will be whether the series will be played out in the same alternative universe as already seen or will begin with a clean slate. Either outcome is equally possible as What If…? constantly reminded viewers that everything that happened within the series took place in one of infinite alternate realities, so the series could choose to stay in that reality or simply create another brand new one to use as its playground.
While Marvel Zombies is the first What If…? spin off, it is certainly not expected to be the last. While director Bryan Andrews previously revealed that there had been a Star Lord T’Challa series considered prior to Chadwick Boseman’s passing, other discussions have been made around Captain Carter and Party Thor, and of course we know that a second season of What If…? is also on the way to Disney+, which will provide even more alternate realities for some of the newer additions to the Marvel family.
Source: movieweb.com