In addition to all the live-action movies and TV shows on the way, Marvel Studios also has plenty of animated projects in development. Brad Winderbaum, Marvel Studios’ head of streaming television of animation, took the stage at San Diego Comic-Con alongside Ryan Meinerding, head of visual development, Bryan Andrews, director of What If…? and executive producer of Marvel Zombies, AC Bradley, writer and director of What If…?, Beau DeMayo, writer and executive producer of X-Men ’97, Kirsten Lepore, writer, director, and executive producer of I Am Groot, and Jeff Trammell, writer and executive producer of Spider-Man: Freshman Year.
First up, Spider-Man: Freshman year. The animated series will be released on Disney+ in 2024 and follows Peter Parker on his way to becoming Spider-Man in the MCU, with a journey unlike anything we’ve ever seen and a style that celebrates the character’s early comic-book roots. We’ll see Chameleon, Rhino, Unicorn, Doctor Octopus, and Scorpion, as well as Doctor Strange and Daredevil, who will be voiced by Charlie Cox. The series will also feature Norman Osborn as Peter’s new mentor, which has some fans wondering how the series will fit into the MCU. A second season of the series was also announced, titled Spider-Man: Sophomore Year.
Bryan Andrews and AC Bradley also spoke about the second season of What If…?, which will continue to see The Watcher guide audiences through the vast multiverse. The new season will see the return of Captain Carter, Scarlet Witch, Iron Man, Black Widow, Steve Rogers, and Doctor Strange. The trailer featured a medieval episode taking place in 1602, characters from Shang-Chi battling Odin and the Asgardians, and Valkyrie and Iron Man racing on Sakaar. A third season is already in the works, with the second set to launch on Disney+ in early 2023.
After first appearing in the first season of What If…?, the Marvel Zombies will be the focus of their very own series, which will be rated TV-MA on Disney+. We’ll see zombie versions of Hawkeye, Captain America, Captain Marvel, Scarlet Witch, Ikaris, and more, facing off against Kate Bishop, Yelena Belova, Shang-Chi, Kamala Khan, Jimmy Woo, Red Guardian, and more.
Last is X-Men ’97, a continuation of the classic X-Men animated series. The animation and concept art shared at Comic-Con revealed that a redesigned Magneto will lead the X-Men, which consists of Rogue, Beast, Gambit, Jean Grey, Wolverine, Storm, Jubilee, and Cyclops. Cable, Bishop, Forge, Morph, Sunspot, and Nightcrawler will also appear as the X-Men battle with Emma Frost, Sebastian Shaw, Bolivar Trask, and Mr. Sinister. The animation will stay true to the original series but will use a modern touch. The original X-Men theme music, which has already popped up in several live-action MCU projects, will be used, and a second season was also announced. X-Men ’97 will debut on Disney+ in Fall 2023.
A trailer for I Am Groot was also revealed, which we’re already shared with you. Which Marvel animated project are you looking forward to the most? Spider-Man: Freshman Year, What If…? season 2, Marvel Zombies, I Am Groot, or X-Men ’97?