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Marvel’s What If…?- Season 1 Episode 5 Review

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What If…?  is the latest Marvel Studios project to arrive on our small screens on Disney +.

The animated anthology series, created by Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia writer A.C. Bradleyand Marvel vet Bryan Andrews flips the script on the MCU as following the creation of the multiverse in Loki’s first season finale, What If…? reimagines famous events from the films in unexpected ways.

In last weeks episode of What If…?, Marvel took an extremely dark and somber turn as Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) doomed the entire universe.



The dark streak continues in episode five of the animated series, as it truly leans into the more horror/gruesome tropes. Set during the events of Infinity War, episode five offers a totally difficult challenge as earths surviving heroes take on the Undead Avengers as Marvel Studios introduces us to ZOMBIES!!

The Watcher brings us to a universe where our Mighty Saviours are now the destroyers. It’s very reminiscent of The Walking Dead as these zombies are unambiguous and empty shells all wanting to do one thing to feast on flesh. 

Turning all of Earth’s mightiest Heroes into flesh-eating monsters has giving the MCU new abilities and challenges, they get to play with new styles and tones which have never been seen in a marvel project before. 

“Two weeks earlier, Dr. Hank Pym journeyed into the Quantum Realm, searching for his long-lost wife. But in this universe, Janet van Dyne contracted a quantum virus that corrupted her brain. So when she finally reunited with her husband after thirty long years…”

The watcher

What If… Zombies?!

Synopsis

When The Avengers are infected by a zombie plague, surviving heroes search for a cure.

Review

The “What If…?” moment that causes Zombies is Hank Pym traveling to the Quantum Realm to rescue his wife Janet Van Dyne. Though he discovers that she’s picked up a nasty virus, which when they return runs rampant and infects the larger population. As the Avengers fall so does Bruce Banner, he falls straight through the Sanctum’s staircase with a warning that Thanos is coming. 

Bleecker Street is deserted, so Bruce is left to wander. Soon enough as seen in Infinity War he encounters members of the Black Order and, like in the film, is unable to transform back into the Hulk to fight them. 

©Marvel

Iron Man, Doctor Strange, and Wong show up to fight, however alarm bells start ringing as Bruce realises that they are now Zombies. 

©Marvel

The episode then sees the surviving superheroes banding together to find a cure. The only ones who managed to save themselves  are Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Hudson Thames), Okoye (Danai Gurira), Sharon Carter (Emily VanCamp), Bucky (Sebastian Stan), Happy (Jon Favreau), Kurt (David Dastmalchian) and Hope (Evangeline Lilly). 

Spider-Man is filming zombie survival videos from New York rooftops, involving Happy hilariously. Thanks to all the movies Peter has watched, his cinematic brain helps the remaining Avengers fight off Zombies and ultimately stay safe for the time being. I absolutely loves Peter’s Zombie guides.

©Marvel

As the episode proceeds, trouble and losses increase and the remaining Avengers have to find a solution to put a stop to this massacre, as Earth’s Deadliest Heroes awaken. 

The Zombie angle is certainly an interesting take and I’m thrilled that these decaying heroes still retain their powers and abilities, which make for some fun encounters. This episode also feature tons of undead horror, especially when seeing iconic characters being torn, ripped and chopped apart. The bloody consequences truly bring something new to the MCU table.

This episode truly seems pulled and inspired from Phillip Kennedy Johnson’s Marvel Zombies: Resurrection comic book series.

The Zombies have Assembled and are now streaming on Disney +

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Comic Book Movies

Avengers: Endgame Reclaims Highest-Grossing Movie of All Time From Avatar

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Avengers: Endgame [marvel studios]

Earth’s Mightiest Heroes are back on top.

Avengers: Endgame has officially reclaimed its title as the highest-grossing movie of all time, passing James Cameron’s Avatar following the successful Avengers: Endgame Encore theatrical rerelease.

The 2019 Marvel Studios blockbuster has now earned approximately $2.925 billion worldwide, narrowly surpassing Avatar, which currently sits at approximately $2.923 billion globally.

It marks another chapter in a box office battle that has gone back and forth between the two films for years.

Avatar originally held the worldwide box office record for nearly a decade before Avengers: Endgame surpassed it during its historic theatrical run in 2019.

James Cameron’s sci-fi epic eventually took the crown back following another theatrical rerelease, pushing Endgame back into second place.

Now, Marvel has returned the favor.

Chris Evans as Captain America, Avengers: Endgame [marvel studio]

Disney and Marvel brought Endgame back to theaters with Avengers: Endgame Encore ahead of the upcoming release of Avengers: Doomsday. The rerelease has generated more than $126 million worldwide, enough to push the Avengers past the Na’vi once again.

The performance also shows that audiences remain interested in Marvel’s biggest team-up event more than seven years after its original release.

Endgame served as the culmination of more than a decade of Marvel Cinematic Universe storytelling, bringing together heroes including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Black Widow, Spider-Man, Black Panther and many more for the final battle against Thanos.

Marvel is hoping to recapture that massive event-film atmosphere with Avengers: Doomsday.

Anthony and Joe Russo are returning to direct the upcoming Avengers film, which will once again assemble characters from across the MCU. Robert Downey Jr. will also make his highly anticipated return to the franchise, this time portraying Victor von Doom instead of Tony Stark.

The success of the Endgame rerelease could be an encouraging sign for Marvel heading into Doomsday, demonstrating that audiences are still willing to turn out for an Avengers-scale theatrical event.

For now, however, Avengers: Endgame can once again call itself the biggest movie in box office history — at least until Avatar gets another opportunity to take the crown back.

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Vincent D’Onofrio Says Goodbye to Kingpin as Daredevil: Born Again Prepares to End

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Vincent D'Onofrio as Kingpin [marvel]

Vincent D’Onofrio is preparing to say goodbye to Wilson Fisk, better known as Kingpin, following news that Marvel’s Daredevil: Born Again will conclude with its upcoming third season on Disney+.

The actor took to X on September 23 to reflect on his time with the series, thank fans for their continued support and share his excitement for the final season, which is expected to arrive in 2027.

D’Onofrio wrote, “You stuck with us and I like to think we stuck with you,” before teasing that the final season will feature “some very cool stuff.”

He also shared a heartfelt message about the character he has portrayed for more than a decade.

“I love that character Fisk. Always will.”

The actor concluded his message by suggesting he was moving on to other projects while reminding fans that Season 3 is still on the way.

Vincent D’Onofrio as Kingpin [marvel]

D’Onofrio first appeared as Wilson Fisk in Netflix’s Daredevil in 2015, opposite Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock. He later reprised the role in Marvel’s Hawkeye and Echo before returning as a central antagonist in Daredevil: Born Again.

The series’ conclusion also comes amid a major behind-the-scenes change. Showrunner Dario Scardapane is departing during post-production on Season 3 after his contract with Marvel Studios was not renewed.

While D’Onofrio’s message certainly sounds like a farewell to Kingpin, Marvel has not confirmed whether the character could return in another MCU project. For now, fans have one final season of Daredevil: Born Again to look forward to in 2027.

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Disney+ Scraps Live-Action ‘Gargoyles’ Reboot From James Wan and Gary Dauberman

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Disney’s long-awaited attempt to bring Gargoyles into live action has officially come to an end.

The planned Gargoyles live-action series is no longer moving forward at Disney+, according to Deadline. The project had been in early development with Gary Dauberman and James Wan’s Atomic Monster attached.

Original Gargoyles co-creator Greg Weisman revealed the fate of the project during a recent interview with Comics Online.

“That’s dead,” Weisman said when asked about the live-action project. “I have no idea about animation, but there are no current plans for live-action.”

A source close to the project subsequently confirmed to Deadline that the series was no longer moving forward.

The live-action adaptation was first reported in 2023, with Dauberman, whose credits include It, Annabelle Comes Homeand The Nun, set to write, executive produce and serve as showrunner. Wan and Michael Clear were attached as executive producers through Atomic Monster.

The proposed series would have centered on Goliath, the legendary gargoyle warrior who awakens from a centuries-long curse and finds himself protecting modern-day New York City alongside police detective Elisa Maza.

Gargoyles

The original Gargoyles animated series debuted in 1994 and followed a clan of ancient gargoyles who turn to stone during the day and come alive at night. After spending roughly a thousand years trapped in stone, the group awakens in modern-day Manhattan and becomes a team of nighttime protectors.

The series developed a passionate following thanks to its darker storytelling, mythology and serialized approach, which helped distinguish it from many other Disney animated shows of the era.

Its voice cast included Keith David as Goliath alongside Salli Richardson, Jonathan Frakes, Marina Sirtis, Ed Asner, Jeff Bennett, Bill Fagerbakke and others. The original show ran from 1994 through 1997.

For years, fans have hoped Disney would revisit the property, with multiple potential adaptations and revival rumors surfacing without ultimately reaching the screen.

While the live-action version is now officially off the table, that doesn’t necessarily mean Gargoyles will remain dormant forever. Weisman specifically said he does not know what Disney may have planned on the animation side, leaving open the possibility that the franchise could eventually return in another form.

For now, however, fans hoping to see Goliath and the Manhattan Clan make the jump into live action will have to keep waiting.

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