The Marvel Studios Animation Panel at San Diego Comic-Con has just come to an end, with plenty of exciting announcements about the comic book giant’s animated arm offered to fans.
Among the offerings were a first look at X-Men ’97, Marvel Zombies and Spider-Man: Freshman Year, as well as previews of I Am Groot and the second season of What If…?
Marvel’s main event is tomorrow with Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige outlining his plans for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but fans’ appetites have certainly been whetted with a series of announcements from Marvel’s animation department.
The panel was led by Marvel Studios Head of Streaming, Television and Animation Brad Winderbaum and Head of Visual Development Ryan Meinerding, with both speaking to a packed Ballroom 20 at the San Diego event.
Back from death…
Inspired by the 2005 series of the same name, Marvel Zombies is set in an alternate reality where a new generation of heroes must fight a zombie apocalypse.
Marvel Zombies has an all-star cast of undead heroes and villains. We will see undead versions of Hawkeye, Captain America, Captain Marvel, Wanda Maximoff and Okoye from Black Panther, who will face off against Black Widow’s Yelena Belova, Kate Bishop, Red Guardian, Jimmy Woo, Death Dealer, Shang-Chi and Kamala Khan.
The Villains of ‘Marvel Zombies’ pic.twitter.com/iyuD27SM0UJuly 22, 2022
The show doesn’t yet have a release date, though it’s widely expected in 2024. However, we know it will make history as the first TV-MA-rated Marvel show. In TV terms, that’s the equivalent of an R rating. Things are going to get pretty bloody.
What if…? we have so much more What if…?
What If…?, the Marvel anthology series that takes iconic MCU moments like the creation of Captain America and reshapes them in unexpected ways, was commissioned for two seasons when it was first announced in the summer of 2019. We just didn’t. we knew when season two would arrive.
It’s now been confirmed that the show’s second season won’t be with us until early 2023, which is a shame, but that bitter pill has been sweetened by the confirmation that a third season of the show is already in production. This third season will adapt Neil Gaiman’s acclaimed film. Marvel miniseries 1602, where there are Marvel superheroes in the Elizabethan era.
Just announced at #SDCC2022: What if… from Marvel Studios? Season 2, an original series, streamed in early 2023 on @DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/zbqClqfrfJJuly 22, 2022
Are we Groot?
Scheduled for release in early August (opens in new tab)I Am Groot will follow the fan-favorite Guardians of the Galaxy character (voiced by Vin Diesel) as he grows from the molt we saw in Guardians 2 to the teenage character we see in Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame.
The panel revealed that, first of all, five animated shorts debut on August 10, with I Am Groot returning with additional episodes at a later date.
The show’s only episode, which features Bradley Cooper’s Rocket Raccoon lending his voice alongside Diesel, was shown to the audience. This episode, called Groot Takes a Bath, follows Groot on a spa day. Is he not the lucky tree?
The x marks the place…
In addition to Groot, zombies and What If…?, fans were treated to a preview of X-Men ’97, which will debut on Disney Plus in Fall 2023. A second season is already confirmed.
X-Men: The Animated Series ran from 1992 to 1997 and consisted of 76 episodes. This is a continuation of that show, with classic X-Men characters like Rogue, Beast, Gambit, Jean Grey, Wolverine, Storm, Jubilee and Cyclops all a key part of the series.
X-Men ’97 writer Beau DeBayo showed the crowd an early animated AV piece to tease the series.
Just announced in Marvel Studios’ #SDCC2022: X-Men ’97, an original series, streamed Fall 2023 on @DisneyPlus. #XMen97 pic.twitter.com/h78d17GYsqJuly 22, 2022
Feeling refreshed…
The panel’s surprise announcement came in the form of Spider-Man: Freshman Year, a new show featuring a comic book-inspired Peter Parker,
#SpidermanFreshManYear! pic.twitter.com/1asyvTEGvGJuly 22, 2022
according to variety, Freshman Year “will follow Peter Parker’s early days learning to become the neighborhood friend Spider-Man.” Stills from the series, which has been described as “bringing out the heart and charm of Peter Parker”, were shown, including a new Peter, who is young and looking comic book-inspired with bright colors and a homemade Spidey suit with backpack, sunglasses protection. , sneakers and a jacket.
Just announced in Marvel Studios’ #SDCC2022: Spider-Man: Freshman Year, an original series, streamed in 2024 on @DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/v7sqUUHoPaJuly 22, 2022
Jeff Trammell, writer and executive producer of Freshman Year, was on hand to show the audience the concept art of Peter Parker, his costumes and allies like Harry Osborn, Doctor Strange and Daredevil, who will be voiced by Charlie Cox.
San Diego Comic-Con 2022 continues tomorrow. Warner Brothers will screen Black Adam and Shazam: Fury of the Gods, while Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige will reveal the comic book giant’s new plans.
