Doing Marvel Zombies Was a ‘No-Brainer’ SaysWhat IfHead Writer AC Bradley

Marvel’sWhat Ifseries on Disney+ is set to dig into thecountless storiesunfolding all throughoutthe MCU ’s freshly minted multiverse , many of which bear striking similarities to clod of the cinematic canon established in previous films . But some of the series ’ specific macrocosm will turn over into reality that would be almost impossible to manifest outside of living .

As Marvel Studio ’s first invigorate task put hard within the MCU — and one about exploring a multiverse of far - flung possibilities — What If is in the unequalled perspective of being capable to get rather risky in term of pulling from Marvel ’s rich catalog of famous floor . When io9 recently spoke with What If ’s executive manufacturer Brad Winderbaum , straits writer A.C. Bradley , and director Bryan Andrews , they all emphasize how the series being animated dislodge them up creatively to go bigger than they would have been able to otherwise . “ Had it not been animate , we would n’t have been able to really plumb the depths of the MCU like we have , ” Winderbaum aver . “ It ’s almost unnumerable what you ’re capable to do in the enliven space , so if you could daydream it , you could do it . You want to go back to the Project Rebirth lab ? It ’s just as sluttish as going back toKnowhere . ”

While many of What If ’s episodes rework familiar beats from the MCU , the series will also puff from Marvel ’s comic strip . In any other circumstance , contain the outbreak of a zombifying pathogen into the MCU would reasonably derail the entire project . But Bradley explain how the estimation to toss zombies into the blender come to her early on after Marvel head Kevin Feige asked for pitches for the show ’s first time of year . “ I think I might have advert it ahead of time on as a ‘ What if we did this ’ kind of Proto-Indo European in the sky throwaway not cogitate at first that there really has been the very far-famed tally , ” Bradley recalled . “ Brad was excited , and then Kevin [ Feige ] kind of surprised us by being like , ‘ Yeah , no . You ’re doing Marvel Zombies . ’’ ”

Screenshot: Disney+/Marvel

Bradley pointed out that more so than any of What If ’s other ego - hold entries , the Marvel Zombies installment is one for which people might need to brush up on the comedian — written by Robert Kirkman , artistry by Sean Phillips , and cover by Arthur Suydam — in preparation . “ The fun part of Marvel Zombies , at least for me , was to delve into that initial run , ” Bradley said . “ Probably more than any other what episode . We guide directly from the comic for brainchild and for actual specific scenes , because it is so good and less from the movies . ”

One of the interesting and potentially trickier bits of adapt Marvel Zombies for the MCU boils down to who all is last to show up . In all of the Ultimate Fantastic Four zombie plot written by Mark Millar and illustrated by Greg Land , the Fantastic Four feature quite for the most part in the breakthrough of the zombified cosmos . Similarly , ten - Men characters like Magneto and Wolverine toy important role in Kirkman ’s tale . Considering what’splanned for yearsto comeon the bounteous screen , it ’s unconvincing that any of technically - Marvel’s - but - not - yet - in - the - MCU chunks of IP will pop up in What If .

As much flexibleness the series being animated afforded the squad , Andrews submit that there were some limitations on what they were able to do due to time and budgetary constraints , but in the end , they did pour the bulk of their fleshed - out ideas into the show . “ We were still able to tell it the way we wanted to and show the things that we want to show , ” Andrews said . “ I think animation allow us the freedom to do that . So we could be swelled and bold and crazy and expand , which is awesome , and I think that ’s what the multiverse should do , and what the story is these chronicle are going to do . ”

Screenshot: Disney+/Marvel