Marvel’s animated shows have always been exciting and entertaining, but none of them have ever had a real, crucial impact on the events of the live-action Marvel Cinematic Universe. That’s about to change.
Speaking on the Official Marvel Podcast, the head of streaming, television, and animation for Marvel Studios, Brad Winderbaum, revealed that the upcoming Eyes of Wakanda will be the most singularly important animated show to the MCU to date.
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“Eyes of Wakanda, more than any other show, we’re doing in animation, ties directly into the MCU,” Winderbaum said. “This is a story about Wakandan history … It’s both about the history of Wakanda, but it also expands into the greater MCU at different time periods. So if you’re a fan of the movies, I think this show’s going to be a real treat.”
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Ryan Coogler, who directed the Black Panther movies, is producing the show and it’s being run by Todd Harris, a former Marvel storyboard artist. The initial news about the series described it as a story of “brave warriors [who] have been tasked to travel the world retrieving dangerous vibranium artifacts” from “throughout Wakandan history.”
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As someone who has largely skipped the animation, hearing that this show will give added context to the MCU is a huge selling point. But, for other fans, MCU connections aren’t the only thing they’re looking for in animation. Some people just want great stories and Winderbaum offered some updates on a few of the animated projects that offer that.
When asked about X-Men ‘97, he teased big things to come—and a lot of progress—on season two. “We have big plans for the second season,” Winderbaum said. “I’ve already seen all the animatics. We’re well on our way to creating something that hits the heights of the first season. I know the first season is an emotional ride. That ride continues in a very X-Men fashion in the second season.”
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He also described What If…? season three as “the completion of a trilogy” as well as a “moving and fulfilling culmination” for the Watcher, and said Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man is basically a big high school ensemble piece.
In terms of live-action shows, Winderbaum described Agatha All Along as “scary.” “It’s a Marvel brand of scary,” he clarified. “It’s a Halloween show. There are deadly stakes in this series. It’s a fun ride, but it’s a dangerous one.” He then likened Daredevil: Born Again to X-Men ‘97 .
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“It’s similar in some ways to X-Men ‘97 because it’s reviving something that the fans love,” he said. “But it is taking it in a new direction. These characters have matured. The universe is different than it was. Things have changed. Society’s changed. Matt [Murdock] and Wilson [Fisk] have changed. And their characters are going to collide in ways we’ve never seen before. It’s no longer enough to try to murder each other. There’s a whole game of politics at play.”
Which of the upcoming Marvel shows are you most excited for? Let us know below.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
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