Marvel’s What If…? director and executive producer Bryan Andrews reveals how the Disney+ animated series nearly had the Marvel Cinematic Universe cross paths with the Star Wars universe.
In an exclusive interview with Moovy TV, Andrews discussed the “absolutely doable” plan by What If…? story editor Matthew Chauncey to do a special episode bringing the MCU into a galaxy far, far away. Disney and Marvel Studios, however, dumped cold water on the idea.
“I think Kevin [Feige] really doesn’t want to cross certain streams. But we did pitch… We actually had a Star Wars/Marvel crossover,” Andrews recalled. “So I think it’s absolutely doable. I just don’t know if [Feige] wants to cross those streams, but it’s really funny. Once you get to the realization of why, you go: ‘Oh, that… oh, right!’ It totally makes sense. It won’t rain on anyone’s parade. But it was just a love letter to old-school Star Wars. And it was great. And I don’t know if we’ll ever be able to do it. But we have thought about that stuff.”
The two biggest IPs under Disney are no strangers to each other. Following the release of the original Star Wars in 1977, Marvel Comics published a six-issue adaptation, followed by an unlimited run with 107 issues and three Annuals until 1986. Since Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2012, references to Star Wars in the MCU have been frequent in such movies as Captain America: Civil War, Spider-Man: Homecoming, and Eternals.
Despite Disney rejecting the Marvel/Star Wars crossover, Andrews managed to sneak in a TIE Fighter Easter egg in the episode “What If… T’Challa Became a Star-Lord?” However, Andrews added that the studio stopped short of references to fellow IPs with the Alien and Predator franchises.
“I have tried to put easter eggs. All these different things that Disney actually owns, but they’re really sharp about,” Andrews continued. “They’re like, ‘No, no, no, no, no.’ They spot that sh-t. We did sneak in a TIE Fighter… I don’t think anyone will ever be able to see it, but in the shot when Starlord T’Challa runs in and there’s spaceships around… In one of the shots, when it goes by, it’s maybe motion-blurred, but there is a TIE Fighter in there. I don’t know if you’ll ever see it, but technically it’s been painted. It’s in there. So that’s one we were able to get in.”
What happens in What If…? Season 2?
“The Watcher continues the journey as our guide through the vast multiverse, introducing brand-new and familiar faces throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe,” the official synopsis for What If…? Season 2 reads. “The animated anthology series questions, revisits, and twists classic Marvel Cinematic moments with an incredible voice cast that includes a host of stars who reprise their iconic roles.”
All nine episodes of What If…? Season 2 are currently streaming on Disney+.
