12 Jul - MCU fans are highly anticipating the release of Marvel's "What If...?" – which is set for release on Disney+ beginning August 11th. The animated series re-imagines past Marvel films with alternate plot twists, with "each chapter of the 10-episode season exploring a pivotal moment from the Marvel Cinematic Universe that has been radically changed", according to Variety. After it was previously reported that the stars of the Marvel Cinematic Universe will return to voice their animated counterparts for the animated series, it is now reported that Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Brie Larson, and Benicio Del Toro are not coming back to voice their characters. According to Variety, the four stars, who play Iron Man, Captain America, Captain Marvel, and the Collector, will not be returning and instead will have their characters be voiced by other voice actors. However, it is unclear as to who will do the jobs, seeing that fans have anticipated the original stars.
In addition to the four, it was reported that Doctor Strange and Howard the Duck will also be played by other voice talents instead of its stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Seth Green. Fans are now speculating that the change could have something to do with Downey previously un-following his MCU co-stars on Instagram last week - with many assuming it to be the actor's way of severing his ties to the MCU. On the other hand, those confirmed to return include Hayley Atwell as Captain Peggy Carter, Josh Brolin as Thanos, Dominic Cooper as Howard Stark, David Dastmalchian as Kurt, Michael Douglas as Hank Pym, Karen Gillan as Nebula, Jeff Goldblum as Grandmaster, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Djimon Hounsou as Korath the Pursuer, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Michael B. Jordan as Killmonger, Natalie Portman as Jane Foster, Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton, Paul Rudd as Scott Lang, Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes, Taika Waititi as Korg, as well as Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa in his posthumous voice work.