“Marvel’s What If…?” has been a part of the Disney+ Marvel Cinematic Universe since the very beginning. It was the fourth official Marvel Studios show to launch on the then-burgeoning streaming platform in 2021, following “WandaVision,” “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” and “Loki” Season 1. The third and final animated anthology series. the final season will premiere on December 22, 2024, mimicking the holiday release window for “What if…?” season 2 in 2023.

Through its broadcast, “What if…?” attempted to strike a delicate balance between presenting truly unique alternate universe stories and tying into the larger “Multiverse Saga” of the MCU. There have been recurring characters and stable plots, even if the arcs from episode to episode remain relatively hypothetical and autonomous. Ultimately, it seems like the show’s connective tissue with the larger MCU’s plot may have been the reason for its end after three seasons, at least according to Marvel TV head Brad Winderbaum.

In a recent interview with The Hollywood ReporterWinderbaum explained part of the reasoning for canceling the animated series. “‘What if…?’ has always been tied to the greater MCU and the multiverse saga,” Winderbaum explained. “And for reasons that will become clear in the coming years, it was the right time to end the series from a story perspective.” It’s also true that three seasons is a pretty decent length for anything animated in the modern streaming landscape – a length longer than any other Marvel Studios Disney+ show has yet received.

According to Brad Winderbaum, there is a compelling narrative reason why now is the right time to conclude “What If…?” However, due to the confusion in the MCU’s multiverse era, this reasoning is not immediately clear.

Although a lot has happened in recent years regarding the various “branches” of the so-called “Sacred Timeline”, the multiverse itself is not going anywhere as a basic narrative construct, or at least it doesn’t seem like it. not be. Kang the Conqueror was sidelined due to controversy surrounding actor Jonathan Majors, but Robert Downey Jr. to play Doctor Doom in the upcoming “Avengers: Doomsday.” It’s still hard to say exactly where the franchise is going in general terms, but it would also make sense for Marvel Studios to start moving away from narratives. about explicitly the multiverse and start using it more as a justification for telling different types of stories.

That said, there are surely other reasons at play for the series’ cancellation. Animation isn’t cheap, and Disney has made no secret of the fact that the many “Star Wars” and Marvel streaming series released in recent years have been incredibly expensive – often without the corresponding salary. “What if…?” has been a fairly consistent hit with critics and fans, but it also hasn’t earned the praise of other recent Disney+ films like “X-Men ’97” or “Agatha All Along.”

While Marvel always keeps the overall story of the MCU in mind, there are many factors that go into whether a show is renewed or canceled. If “What if…?” » had received significant attention or been a huge cash cow for Disney+, I’m sure the studio would have found a narrative reason to continue. But even a company as huge as Disney has limited resources, and Marvel’s animated wing in particular has started going in different directions lately.

The massive success of “X-Men ’97” probably made some people at Marvel Studios rethink future TV projects. The series has no connection to the MCU, and for fans who simply couldn’t keep up with all the streaming series released in recent years, that was something of a selling point. In the same interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Winderbaum described another upcoming animated project, “Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man,” as “just a fun ride,” emphasizing its relatively independent status, similar to that of “X -Men.” “

“Eyes of Wakanda,” another upcoming animated series, will likely be more directly tied to the larger MCU, but its focus, which Winderbaum described as “a story of conquest and national identity,” makes it somewhat distinct on thematic plan, at least in theory. By its very nature, “What if…?” is a less focused show, potentially making it less suitable for Marvel’s upcoming animated slate.

Once again, the third and final season of “What If…?” will premiere on December 22, 2024 on Disney+.