Potential Returning Multiverse Avengers Teams in MCU Phase 6

Warning: This article contains spoilers for What If…? season 3.

The animated series What If…?, which aired from 2021 to 2024, unveiled a multitude of alternative Avengers teams within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). With Phase 6 on the horizon, the possibility of these teams transitioning into live-action formats is tantalizing. Returning to the MCU in 2026 with Avengers: Doomsday, fans might be treated to not just the familiar faces of the original Avengers, but also these unique, multiverse variants.

Over three seasons, What If…? introduced eleven distinct multiversal superhero teams. The upcoming Avengers: Doomsday and 2027’s Avengers: Secret Wars could potentially feature some of these squads joining the established MCU Avengers in a battle against Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom. This crossover has the potential to elevate their roles beyond their brief appearances and culminate in exhilarating narratives as the MCU’s Multiverse Saga reaches its climax.

11 Nick Fury’s Alternate Avengers Team

What If…? Season 1, Episode 3, “What If… The World Lost Its Mightiest Heroes?”

In the inaugural season of What If…?, the first alternate Avengers team assembled by Nick Fury mirrored the iconic original team. Originally aiming to unite Iron Man, Thor, Hawkeye, Black Widow, and the Hulk, Fury’s plan was thwarted by Hank Pym’s Yellowjacket, who systematically eliminated these heroes. Undeterred, Fury sought new allies, forming a fresh Avengers lineup to confront Loki’s menacing threat.

This new iteration prominently featured a revived Captain America and Captain Marvel, alongside a hardened variant of Black Widow from a world devastated by Ultron. Fury’s capacity to recruit other undiscovered heroes, including elite SHIELD agents and Skrull allies, spots exciting avenues for exploration in live-action. With the potential for deeper character development, seeing this team transition to live action could be captivating.

10 Zombie-Fighting Avengers

What If…? Season 1, Episode 5, “What If… Zombies?!”

In this chilling reality, the Quantum Virus wreaked havoc, taking down most of the original Avengers early on. Bruce Banner served as the audience’s guide to a team tasked with combating the zombie apocalypse, featuring Spider-Man, the Wasp, the Winter Soldier, and several others. Tragically, many heroes faced their demise against the undead and a morally corrupt Vision, leaving only a few to persist.

T’Challa’s Black Panther and a disembodied Scott Lang joined Spider-Man for a critical mission to Wakanda, with their survival hanging in the balance as a zombified Thanos appeared. While Marvel Animation’s incoming Marvel Zombies series may explore this narrative further, an amalgamation of both familiar and new heroes could constitute an exciting opportunity to see these teams in a live-action scenario.

9 Guardians Of The Multiverse

What If…? Season 1, Episode 9, “What If… The Watcher Broke His Oath?”

The formidable team known as the Guardians of the Multiverse was assembled by Uatu the Watcher to battle Infinity Ultron, a multiversal menace. Comprising heroes such as Captain Carter, Strange Supreme, and Killmonger’s Black Panther, among others, their deep-rooted connections to the multiverse imbued them with significant powers.

Guardian of the Multiverse	Voice Actor	Centric Episode
Captain Peggy Carter	Hayley Atwell	“What If… Captain Carter Were the First Avenger?”
T’Challa’s Star-Lord	Chadwick Boseman	“What If… T’Challa Became a Star-Lord?”
Doctor Strange Supreme	Benedict Cumberbatch	“What If… Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands?”
Killmonger’s Black Panther	Michael B. Jordan	“What If… Killmonger Rescued Tony Stark?”
Party Thor	Chris Hemsworth	“What If… Thor Were an Only Child?”
Natasha Romanoff’s Black Widow	Lake Bell	“What If… Ultron Won?”
Gamora	Cynthia McWilliams	“What If… Iron Man Crashed into the Grandmaster?”

The introduction of the Guardians of the Multiverse into live-action could fit seamlessly into the narratives of Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars. However, the fate of some of these characters remains uncertain following season 3’s implications. Still, the potential for MCU veterans to reprise their roles as part of this multiverse-focused team generates excitement.

8 1988’s Avengers

What If…? Season 2, Episode 2, “What If… Peter Quill Attacked Earth’s Mightiest Heroes?”

Season 2 introduced a thrilling version of the Avengers from 1988, a team gathered to combat the youthful and Celestial-powered Peter Quill. This team included iconic characters such as Bill Foster’s Giant-Man, T’Chaka’s Black Panther, and the Winter Soldier, spearheaded by Peggy Carter and Howard Stark.

Reflecting on Quill’s backstory, it’s intriguing to note that his journey veers significantly from the 2014 narrative laid out in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. 1988’s Avengers could provide opportunities for lesser-known MCU actors to showcase their abilities in significant roles.

7 The Avengers & Freak

What If…? Season 2, Episode 3, “What If… Happy Hogan Saved Christmas?”

In another unique twist, Happy Hogan found himself transformed into the purple Freak after unintentionally infusing himself with Hulk’s blood. This version of the Avengers retained core members from the MCU, providing nostalgic continuity.

With the intriguing prospect of seeing Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans potentially return for Avengers: Doomsday, the possibility of Hogan’s character also joining the live-action team presents an enticing narrative angle.

6 Captain Carter’s Avengers

What If…? Season 2, Episode 5, “What If… Captain Carter Fought The Hydra Stomper?”

Continuing the theme of alternative paths, season 2 showcased Captain Carter as a leading figure among a new team of Avengers during a battle in New York. In this world, women dominated as superheroes, creating space for characters like the Wasp to join the ranks alongside iconic counterparts like Thor and Hawkeye.

Seeing Captain Carter’s Avengers rendered in live-action could explore themes of empowerment and evolution within the MCU’s historical narrative.

5 1602’s Avengers

What If…? Season 2, Episode 8, “What If… The Avengers Assembled In 1602?”

This episode presented the intriguing 1602 reality featuring a range of Renaissance heroes who could form a variant Avengers team. Characters like Forerunner Steve Rogers, Wanda Maximoff, and a multiversal Captain Carter could harmoniously unite within this historical narrative.

As Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars dive deeper into the multiverse, the integration of 1602’s Avengers could create a captivating historical layer to the overarching plot.

4 Mech Avengers

What If…? Season 3, Episode 1, “What If… The Hulk Fought The Mech Avengers?”

Introducing the Mech Avengers, season 3 unveiled one of the most formidable teams yet. In response to an outbreak of Hulk creatures, Iron Man crafted advanced mech suits for each hero, escalating their capabilities significantly. The team’s cinematic potential makes them an exciting prospect for live-action adaptations.

Me Avenger	Voice Actor	Debut MCU Project
Bucky Barnes	Sebastian Stan	Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
Sam Wilson’s Captain America	Anthony Mackie	Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
Nakia	Brittany Adebumola	Black Panther (2018)
Monica Rambeau	Teyonah Parris	Captain Marvel (2019)
Alexei Shostakov’s Red Guardian	David Harbour	Black Widow (2021)
Melina Vostokoff	Kari Wahlgren	Black Widow (2021)
Xu Shang-Chi	Simu Liu	Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
Marc Spector’s Moon Knight	Oscar Isaac	Moon Knight (2022)

The Mech Avengers can merge their suits into the colossal Mighty Avenger armor, presenting unique possibilities for their portrayal in future MCU films. With this configuration, viewers could gain insights into the evolving Avengers roster as they battle formidable threats.

3 The Avengers & Red Guardian

What If…? Season 3, Episode 3, “What If… The Red Guardian Stopped the Winter Soldier?”

Mirroring original Avengers teams, the version in this episode included Red Guardian, who, after defecting from Russia, was integrated into the team led by iconic members. Despite potential challenges with his overlap in abilities with Captain America, Red Guardian’s inclusion adds compelling layers to potential live-action narratives.

As discussions continue about David Harbour’s return as Red Guardian, the multiversal context could pave the way for exciting team dynamics.

2 Emergence Alliance

What If…? Season 3, Episode 5, “What If… The Emergence Destroyed The Earth?”

In the aftermath of a catastrophic event triggered by the Celestial Tiamut, a resilient team of heroes, including Ying-Nan, Wong, Okoye, and Valkyrie, rallied together to fight against Mysterio and the manipulated Vision. As they faced insurmountable odds, their efforts highlighted the theme of perseverance in the face of despair.

With Dominique Thorne’s Riri Williams reportedly set to reprise her role in the upcoming Ironheart series, the opportunity to showcase this new team in the sequel films brings forward a fresh exciting potential. The presence of these seasoned characters alongside Riri could highlight evolving narratives within the MCU.

1 Exiles

What If…? Season 3, Episode 7, “What If… The Watcher Disappeared?”

The final season culminated in a climactic showdown featuring the Exiles, a team led by Captain Carter, Kahhori, and a variant Storm. Their alliance with the Watcher enabled them to operate at unprecedented strength, making them a formidable force within the multiverse.

With Hayley Atwell confirmed for appearances in the upcoming Avengers film, the potential revival of the Exiles in live-action brings excitement and anticipation to fans eager for new stories and character advancements.

The integration of these outstanding teams from What If…? into the live-action MCU sets the stage for a thrilling future, offering fans a blend of nostalgia and fresh storytelling.

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