SPOILER ALERT: This piece contains spoilers for “Marvel Zombies,” which is currently available for streaming on Disney+.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is once again diving into the realm of blood and gore, but this time through the lens of animation.
“Marvel Zombies,” the undead spin-off of “What If…?,” marks Marvel’s inaugural M-rated animated series, trailing behind its live-action, R-rated successes like “Deadpool and Wolverine” in theaters and “Daredevil: Born Again” on Disney+. Directed by Bryan Andrews, the inaugural season of “What If…?” introduced a terrifying Quantum Realm virus that transformed a myriad of familiar characters into mindless zombies, including many iconic superheroes. With “Marvel Zombies,” Andrews amplifies the levels of gore and dismemberment, elevating the rating from TV-14 to TV-MA.
A host of heroes and villains reprise their roles from the “What If…?” episode, such as Spider-Man (voiced by Hudson Thames), the disembodied head of Ant-Man (Paul Rudd), and zombie renditions of Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), Thanos, and others. New MCU characters make significant appearances as well, including Ms. Marvel (Iman Vellani), Red Guardian (David Harbour), Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), and Shang-Chi (Simu Liu). Notably, the character Blade makes his MCU entrance as a day-walking vampire. However, this version, known as Blade Knight, is an amalgamation of Blade and Moon Knight, independent of Mahershala Ali’s live-action portrayal, which remains in development. The character is voiced by Todd Williams. For those paying close attention, Blade Knight was briefly teased in the finale of “What If…?” last year.
In an exclusive interview with Variety, Andrews elaborates on the creation of Blade Knight, the absence of the Fantastic Four and X-Men in the series, the initial concept of a feature film adaptation, and his aspirations for a potential Season 2.
What inspired the decision to create a spinoff from the “What If…?” zombie episode?
The idea originated early in the development of “What If…?”. Kevin Feige, a fan of both the comic series and the zombie genre, prompted initial discussions about exploring a zombie narrative. Once the concept was greenlit, we discovered that basing it around the events of “Infinity War” provided a rich backdrop of heroes to work with, something Kevin was quite enthusiastic about. It quickly became clear that we should expand this storyline further.
How did you transition into producing Marvel’s first M-rated animated series, and what was the conversation like regarding the intensity of the violence?
We had to be creative to fit the “What If…?” episode into a TV-14 rating, using darker, zombie-themed goo to tone down the blood and gore. However, when we decided to fully commit to telling a more expansive and darker story, an M-rated classification felt appropriate. The response from Kevin, Brad, and the rest of the team was overwhelmingly supportive; they wanted us to embrace the horror elements without holding back. There was a balance between showcasing gripping action and ensuring it remained narratively focused rather than indulging in graphic violence excessively.
Why was Kamala Khan, also known as Ms. Marvel, chosen as the main character for the series?
We aimed to present a fresh perspective compared to “What If…?” by centering around younger characters who hadn’t yet fully matured into their superhero roles. The backdrop of a zombie apocalypse provided an opportunity for them to evolve, showcasing both their naiveté and hopeful determination. This choice allowed for dynamic character development while still navigating through horrific circumstances.
Are there any limitations regarding the use of characters like Ms. Marvel, Riri Williams, and others from the MCU?
The creative process was largely open and flexible. At the onset, many of these characters were still in development stages in their respective shows, such as “Ironheart,” which was slated for release later on. Since “Marvel Zombies” lies within a unique, self-contained universe, we faced fewer roadblocks in integrating these characters. The voice actors were excited to learn their characters were sharing a storyline, which contributed to the overall enthusiasm in the booth.
Why didn’t you include characters from the Fantastic Four or X-Men?
Incorporating the Fantastic Four and X-Men posed challenges, as they belong to different timelines and multiverses. This made their inclusion complicated at this time. However, if a second season materializes, I certainly want to explore that possibility further—imagine the chaos of introducing more zombie-infused heroes!
Blade makes his first appearance as Blade Knight. Was this planned from the outset?
We developed “Zombies” and “What If…?” Season 3 simultaneously, and the character of Blade Knight was already in development early on. Although we initially had reservations about introducing Blade, especially since a live-action film was concurrently in the works, creating a unique iteration in Blade Knight allowed us to diverge from potential conflicts with the live-action portrayal and maintain creative freedom.
Have you received feedback on Blade Knight and the potential for the character to influence the live-action version?
I’m not privy to Marvel’s exact plans, but I know Kevin has shown genuine appreciation for Blade Knight. The positive response to his brief one-on-one combats in trailers has been heartening, with fans expressing hope that this character could guide the direction of the live-action film, which is highly motivating for me.
Why are there only four episodes in this series given the abundance of material you mentioned?
Limited resources and timelines dictated our constraints. Initially, we aimed to produce a feature-length film, but contractual obligations surrounding characters like Spider-Man prevented that from happening. Consequently, we settled on a four-part episodic format that preserves an engaging narrative style reminiscent of a book’s chapters.
It appears there is ample material available for a possible second season.
Indeed, we have numerous ideas and untold stories ready to unfold. We’re keen to explore additional characters and concepts that fans may be curious about. We already have a preliminary idea in place for a Season 2 that leans into medieval fantasy themes related to the story’s broader universe. It’s filled with possibilities still waiting to be explored!
Are there any specific episodes from “What If…?” that you would like to expand upon in future seasons?
One particular episode that stands out is the Shang-Chi Western concept from Season 3. We envisioned a much larger connection involving several pivotal characters, creating a rich narrative tapestry. In addition, a fun idea about a Marvel Dungeons and Dragons adventure garnered significant excitement, showcasing lesser-known characters attempting to navigate through a perilous world. The combination of Marvel lore with role-playing elements could have turned out to be a highly entertaining exploration of creativity.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
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