Continuing from a popular episode of What If…?, Marvel Zombies reimagines the MCU as being overrun by a zombie plague. Here’s what we know about it.

The upcoming animated Marvel Zombies Disney+ show will feature a dark new take on the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Marvel Zombies is inspired by an episode of Marvel’s What If…? which was in turn based on the Marvel Comics series of the same name. Marvel Zombies explores an apocalyptic version of the MCU timeline, where a plague has turned many of the universe’s most beloved superheroes into ravenous – but still super-powered – undead. Marvel Studios’ 2022 Comic-Con panel further delved into the series, revealing its premise, relation to What If…?, and release window, and more news has shambled out since.

Although the MCU includes literally dozens of movies and shows, animation is relatively new territory. The first MCU animated series was What If…?, which depicted fascinating alternate versions of the MCU. One of the most popular episodes of What If…?, however, featured an MCU whose Earth became overrun by zombies. Not only is Marvel Zombies inspired by the What If…? episode, but it may more closely follow some aspects of the comic series of the same name — so much so that it’s earned a TV-MA rating.

The Latest Marvel Zombies News

The most recent update about Marvel Zombies came in January 2024, when show director Bryan Andrews provided more details during an interview with Marvel about the released What If…? season 2.

In it, Andrews described the show as “hardcore“, explaining that “people die. And they die rough.” After promising a good measure of action, drama, and violence, the series’ director then mentioned there would be “honest surprises” throughout the series, suggesting the release may avoid adapting its source material too closely so as to ensure audiences are kept on the edges of their seats.

Ms Marvel actor Iman Vellani revealed the most recent news for Marvel Zombies, explaining a little about her character’s role in the show. In an interview with The Direct, Vellani praised the series, and stated, “And Kamala is kind of the center of the show. They described it to me, it’s like, ‘She’s basically the Frodo of the story.’ And I was like, ‘That’s amazing.’…I get to interact and meet all these people along her journey. And, yes, they’re only the voices, and I don’t get to hear their voices in real-time. But just, it’s my fantasies, right? Like, knowing Kamala is going to interact with some really cool people, even if it’s just animation, is so special in a lot of ways.”

Other than this, the most attention-grabbing news on the Disney+ show is that Marvel Zombies will be rated TV-MA. Not only does this mean that Marvel Zombies will have a very different tone than What If…?, but also that it will follow the original Marvel Zombies comic more closely.

It won’t be a direct adaptation — pre-existing discrepancies between the MCU and Marvel Comics canons, such as Galactus not yet existing, make this impossible — but it will at least adhere to the comics’ violent and gory imagery. It’s very possible that the Marvel Zombies Disney+ show could delve more directly into Robert Kirkman’s Marvel Zombies comic book series for plot beats, but this has yet to be announced.

Marvel Zombies Cast

The What If…? episode featured numerous undead versions of MCU heroes, and the Marvel Zombies Disney+ show cast will include even more infected protagonists. The zombie versions of Hawkeye, Captain America, and Scarlet Witch will all return, joined by additional MCU zombies. These newcomers will include Captain Marvel, Okoye, Ghost, The Abomination, and even the Eternal, Ikaris, whose physiology won’t spare him from the Quantum Virus.

Marvel has confirmed the cast of the Marvel Zombies Disney+ show through both official announcements and via art showing what some of the characters in the series will look like. This reveals that Iman Vellani’s Ms. Marvel, Simu Liu’s Shang-Chi, Hailee Steinfeld’s Kate Bishop, Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova, and David Harbour’s Red Guardian will be in the MCU series’ hero roster.

This crew will be joined by other pre-existing MCU actors, including Randall Park’s Jimmy Woo, Awkwafina’s Katy, and Andy Le’s Death Dealer. These known characters will additionally be joined by some Skrull characters, and a team of Black Widows, based on the art for the series.

Marvel Zombies Story: What Is It & Does It Connect To What If…?

Marvel Zombies will take place in the same alternate timeline as the What If…? episode, allowing it to continue its story. “What If… Zombies!?” ends on a cliffhanger, with the three survivors headed for Wakanda to create a cure for the Quantum virus using the Mind Stone, not knowing that a zombie version of Thanos is already there. With a new team of survivors, the Marvel Zombies Disney+ show story will presumably continue the collective quest of the survivors to end the zombie plague.