After nearly a decade since a peculiar piece of the Stark family narrative was revealed in live action, Marvel Studios’ What If…? has officially integrated it into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The third season of What If…? delves into some of the most bizarre realities within the Multiverse Saga, introducing a host of exciting new characters including the Mech Avengers and a hybrid daughter of Darcy Lewis and Howard the Duck. Notably, one fascinating episode ties into the cosmic significance of Celestials and revisits elements from the Agent Carter series, reinforcing its relevance within the MCU.
In addition to Agatha Harkness gaining Celestial powers, What If…? season 3, episode 2, titled “What If… Agatha Went to Hollywood?”, suggests that the storyline of Marvel Television’s Agent Carter may be inching closer to integration into the MCU’s main continuity, known as Earth-616. Similar to the incorporation of Netflix’s Defenders Saga into the main MCU timeline in early 2024, this progression is noteworthy. The path to making Agent Carter part of the MCU remains somewhat unclear, but the developments introduced in What If…? season 3 could pave the way for its overdue recognition.
Stark Pictures Makes Its MCU Debut in What If…?
Howard Stark’s Cinematic Pursuits in What If…?
The second episode of What If…? season 3 heralded the introduction of **Stark Pictures**, revealing that Howard Stark established his own film production company during Hollywood’s Golden Age. Stark aimed to transform the entertainment industry by capturing Agatha’s attempts to wield the Celestial Tiamut’s power on film. This episode features Agatha engaging in a spectacular dance-off with the Eternal, Kingo, illustrating a piece of Tony Stark’s familial legacy that fans have yet to witness in the MCU context.
Throughout his MCU journey, Howard Stark has primarily been portrayed as a dedicated scientist, with little emphasis on his entertainment endeavors. His characterization in the Iron Man films depicted him as a man consumed by his work, often at the expense of his relationship with his son. The portrayal of Stark in Captain America: The First Avenger highlighted his scientific pursuits, while his role in Ant-Man and Avengers: Endgame further established him as a foundational member of SHIELD. With the developments in What If…? season 3, Howard Stark’s character is given new dimensions, reminiscent of his portrayal in Agent Carter.
Stark Pictures’ Connection to Agent Carter
The Evolution of Stark Pictures in Agent Carter
While the first season of Agent Carter was rooted in New York City, the second season transitioned to Los Angeles, showcasing Howard Stark’s establishment of Stark Pictures in 1947. With ambitions to innovate the film industry, Stark sought to adapt the comic character Kid Colt, Outlaw for the big screen. He envisioned a revolutionary approach to filmmaking, emphasizing not just visible light but also invisible light spectrums like infrared and x-rays. Despite his grand aspirations, Stark’s disinterest in the film industry remained evident.
During this time, Stark enlisted the help of several “production assistants”to support Peggy Carter in her quest to uncover the secrets of the Arena Club, targeting the enigmatic Council of Nine. The Stark Pictures studio lot eventually served as a pivotal location for Carter and her team to confront Whitney Frost. Unfortunately, Stark’s vision for the Kid Colt adaptation never materialized, and Stark Pictures faded into obscurity after Agent Carter concluded in 2016, until its revival in What If…? season 3.
The Potential for Agent Carter’s Canonical Inclusion
Agent Carter’s Canonical Seamlessness with the MCU
The resurgence of Stark Pictures in What If…? season 3 might signal Marvel Studios’ intention to weave Agent Carter into the larger tapestry of the MCU. With the advent of Disney+ and the production of new MCU-centric series, earlier Marvel Television offerings seemed sidelined from canon. However, January 2024 marked a notable shift as the Defenders Saga was successfully integrated into the MCU, suggesting similar possibilities could arise for Agent Carter.
|
Marvel Television Series |
Release |
Seasons |
Canon |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Agents of SHIELD |
2013-2020 |
7 |
No |
|
Agent Carter |
2015-2016 |
2 |
No |
|
Daredevil |
2015-2018 |
3 |
Yes |
|
Jessica Jones |
2015-2019 |
3 |
Yes |
|
Luke Cage |
2016-2018 |
2 |
Yes |
|
Iron Fist |
2017-2018 |
2 |
Yes |
|
The Defenders |
2017 |
1 |
Yes |
|
Inhumans |
2017 |
1 |
No |
|
The Punisher |
2017-2019 |
2 |
Yes |
|
Runaways |
2017-2019 |
3 |
No |
|
Cloak & Dagger |
2018-2019 |
2 |
No |
|
Whole room |
2020 |
1 |
No |
Set against the backdrop of post-World War II America, Agent Carter aligns seamlessly within the MCU timeline, positioned between Captain America: The First Avenger and Captain Marvel, which is set in 1995. The narrative elements within Agent Carter both respect and enhance the MCU’s continuity, featuring connections to notable characters like Edwin Jarvis, who later appears in Avengers: Endgame, and detailing the evolution of organizations from the Strategic Scientific Reserve into SHIELD.
Exploring the Absence of Agent Carter from MCU Canon
Hayley Atwell’s Expected Return to the MCU
Currently, the only segment of the Agent Carter franchise acknowledged as part of the MCU is the One-Shot included in the 2013 home media release of Iron Man 3. This short film served as the catalyst for the full series, leading many to question why the two-season narrative of Agent Carter hasn’t been incorporated into MCU canon yet. Since both Agent Carter and the Defenders Saga were produced outside the primary Marvel Studios framework, the inconsistency remains a topic of discussion.
The integration of the Defenders Saga marked a turning point, allowing beloved characters such as Charlie Cox’s Daredevil and Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin to return to the MCU fold. With Marvel Studios’ current trajectory, it seems plausible that Agent Carter could similarly be woven back into the official timeline, especially in light of Hayley Atwell’s impending return in Avengers: Doomsday. Atwell has portrayed Peggy Carter since the inception of the MCU with Captain America: The First Avenger, and her latest appearances as Captain Carter in What If…? and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness signal that her character still holds significant narrative potential within this expansive universe.
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