Marvel’s ‘What If’: The T’Challa Spinoff That Almost Happened
As the first season of Marvel’s What If? comes to an end, the director and head writer say that there was talks of an animated T’Challa spinoff, based on a “variant” version of his character that becomes Star-Lord of the Ravagers rather than the King of Wakanda.
What If? is led by director Bryan Andrews and head writer A.C. Bradley as they explore alternate scenarios with characters that the live-action films could not go. Andrew recently told Variety about their plans for T’Challa played by the late Chadwick Boseman.
“There was planning to have Star Lord T’Challa spin off into his own show,” Andrews told Variety. “We were all very excited. We know [Chadwick] would have loved it, too.”
Andrews and Bradley revealed that they, unfortunately, did not have a chance to record anything for season two and just were lucky enough to have his performance set for season one (he voiced his character in a few episodes).
“Chadwick had recorded his Star Lord T’Challa stuff early. But we had those later episodes that he appeared in sporadically, and it was a long stretch before we got him [again]. And it was not long after the final recording that he passed,” Andrews explained.
He added: “But we got him in time to have everything [for Season 1]. I think he was also trying to make an effort because T’Challa was so important to him — and also this new version of Star Lord T’Challa was so important to him. He dug it.”
Andrews did leave some hope for fans saying in part in regards to the season two spin-off, “So all that’s in limbo. So, who knows? Maybe one day.”
