WARNING: The following contains spoilers for What If...? Season 1, Episode 3, "What If... the World Lost Its Mightiest Heroes?," now streaming on Disney+.
Throughout the three episodes released so far, What If...? has broadened the horizons of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, taking viewers into the disparate realms of the multiverse. Each episode has introduced a new reality in which events have unfolded differently to the mainstream MCU, with the series so far unfolding through various one-shot adventures. However, What If...? could be building toward a finale that is less self-contained and draws on the various universes of earlier episodes.
With various plot threads left dangling by each episode released so far, What If...? may be set to return to these stories and could bring their separate realities together. Marvel's What If? comic series established something of a precedent for a multiversal Avengers-like team, which could serve as a point of inspiration for the MCU. And, just like in the comics, the MCU's animated team of champions from across the multiverse may include a few villains in its ranks.
In 1992's What If? #39, by Roy Thomas, Gavin Curtis, Ian Akin and Ed Lazellari, the Time Variance Authority, alongside the Watcher, assemble a team dubbed the Time-Plucked Titans from various universes to combat the threat of Kang the Conqueror's future self, Immortus. In the comics, this team included Earth-772's Doctor Doom and Earth-9250's villainous vampiric Wolverine, alongside the heroes Irondroid and Thor. While the Titans were ultimately an unsuccessful endeavor, they could serve as the inspiration for a similar alliance in What If...?, and it could be the Watcher himself who assembles them.
Historically, Uatu the Watcher has been sworn only to observe events on Earth, never to interfere. However, throughout his comic book history, Uatu has proven himself a more rebellious member of the Watchers, having broken his vow -- or at least exploited a few loopholes -- on multiple occasions. And if the MCU's multiverse is about to face a threat too great for the Watcher to ignore, the cosmic observer may be moved to intervene for the good of all existence.
The first three episodes of What If...? have already produced some potentially worthy recruits for a multiverse-spanning Avengers team -- not all of them heroes. The first episode offered Captain Carter as an obvious leader figure in the mold of Steve Rogers' Captain America, albeit with more experience in combating cosmic threats. The second provided perhaps an even more noble hero in T'Challa's Star-Lord, but along with him came the first villain-turned-hero who may be a worthy recruit -- Thanos. T'Challa convinced the Mad Titan that his plan to cull half the universe was not the only way to redistribute resources, recruiting the former tyrant to his band of Ravagers.
Episode 3's murder mystery then ended on the reveal that this particular universe's Hank Pym had taken a darker turn following the death of his daughter, Hope. Hank, the original Ant-Man, killed off the would-be Avengers one by one. While this version of Hank had been blinded by vengeance, his hatred was directed purely at Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. Should a greater threat arise, a threat to all reality, he may still be persuaded to fight for the good of the multiverse. And with his genius mind and his terrifying use of his shrinking technology, this version of Hank could prove a valuable ally.
What has been shown of future episodes has also offered glimpses of potential members of such a multiversal team. One of the episodes teased so far appears to take inspiration from the Marvel Zombies comic series, with Zombie Hunter Spider-Man confirmed to appear, donning Doctor Strange's Cloak of Levitation. A version of Spider-Man single-handedly taking on the undead Avengers would undoubtedly be worthy of joining the fight for the multiverse.
Trailers have also revealed a more heroic take on Black Panther's Erik Killmonger. Killmonger proved a formidable foe in his live-action appearance, and, while his methods were extreme, his motives were considered honorable by most fans, making him one of the MCU's more successful standalone-movie villains. Bringing the character back as a hero could offer the opportunity to see him join an Avengers-style team.
Doctor Strange is also set to appear in the upcoming fourth episode of What If...?, though he too appears to be venturing down a darker path. Clips seen so far have shown a haggard version of Strange in dark attire coming face-to-face with Captain Carter, as well as fighting the MCU's mainstream version of himself. A team of heroes from across the multiverse would only be assembled in the face of a threat to all realities. The Spider-Man: No Way Home trailer has shown the original Doctor Strange is willing to meddle with the multiverse, and a malicious Master of the Mystic Arts would certainly warrant the attention of the multiverse's mightiest heroes.
To see if a multiverse version of the Avengers forms, new episodes of What If...? release Wednesdays on Disney+.