Actors Who Replaced Iron Man & Other Superheroes In What If…? E3

Marvel’s What If…? Episode 3 is here, and it has shaken up the Avengers as we know them.

We already know the gist of the animated series is to take an alternate timeline and exploring the question of ‘What if?’, narrated by The Watcher.

The anthology series’ first episode explored Peggy Carter taking the super-soldier serum instead of Steve Rogers, and episode two had Yondu pick up T’Challa instead of Peter Quill.

This week’s episode, however, had so much going on that the Avengers Initiative crashed before it even gets the chance to take off (Seriously, it was way off than the first two episodes).  

Episode 3 did not exactly ‘revisit’ a specific MCU movie like the first two, but instead, it robbed us of the Earth’s ‘Mightiest Heroes.’

Nick Fury has a bit of trouble starting the Avengers Initiative as all of his superheroes get killed off. Beginning with Tony Stark, followed by Thor, Hawkeye, and basically, every Avenger is gone, and Black Widow is trying to figure out who is behind this whole mess.

The episode had plenty of live-action actors returning to voice their characters, but a handful of them had replacements.

The actors who came back were Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Michael Douglas as Hank Pym/Yellow Jacket, Clark Gregg as Agent Coulson, Frank Grillo as Brock Rumlow, Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton/Hawkeye, Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner/Hulk, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, and Jamie Alexander as Lady Sif.

However, here are all the MCU actors who were replaced in What If…? Episode 3.

One can almost imagine that maybe these actors played the iconic characters for live-action in an alternate timeline:

Lake Bell – Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff

Scarlett Johansson bid goodbye to the role of Black Widow as her contract ended with the Black Widow film, and her character had already been killed off in Endgame.

Lake Bell does a pretty good job as Natasha and sounds a bit like Johansson too. Bell’s recent movies include Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, and voicing Poison Ivy in Harley Quinn.

Mike Wingert – Tony Stark/Iron Man

It was expected that Robert Downey Jr. wouldn’t return either as his Marvel contract ended with Avengers: Endgame.

Mike Wingert has some experience voicing Tony Stark. He has previously voiced Stark in anime Marvel Future Avengers, Lego Marvel Super Heroes: Avengers Reassembled, and other Marvel animated shows, including Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers Assemble, and Marvel Rising: Heart of Iron.

Stephanie Panisello – Betty Ross

Liv Tyler played Betty Ross in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk. Given that the Hulk himself was replaced after the film and with no mention of Ross after the first film, Tyler’s appearance wasn’t exactly expected either.

Stephanie Panisello voiced Betty Ross’ return to the MCU. The actress is most notably known for playing Claire Redfield in Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness.

Mike McGill – General Thaddeus Ross

William Hurt returned in Black Widow along with Johansson, however, he does not voice General Thunderbolt Ross in What If…?

Mike McGill takes on the role instead. McGill’s acting credits include shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Shameless.

Alexandra Daniels – Captain Marvel

The strangest one was Brie Larson not returning as Captain Marvel for the animated series despite being on board for the live-action sequel The Marvels.

The reason for Larson’s absence is unknown, but Mothers and Daughters actor Alexandra Daniels voices the superhero for episode 3.

What If…? premieres a new episode every Wednesday on Disney+. Plot details for episode 4 have not yet been revealed. However, rumors suggest Doctor Strange will turn to the dark side, and the Sorcerer Supreme will use dark magic after losing someone close to him.

Marvel’s What If…? episode 4 is to premiere on September 1.

About What If…?

What If…? is an American animated anthology series created by A.C. Bradley for the streaming service Disney+, based on the Marvel Comics series of the same name.

It explores what would happen if major moments from the films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) occurred differently.

The series is produced by Marvel Studios, their first animated series since becoming their own production company. Bradley serves as head writer of the series, with Bryan Andrews directing.

Jeffrey Wright stars as the Watcher, who narrates the series. By September 2018, Marvel Studios was developing a number of series for Disney+, and one based on the What If…? comic was first reported in March 2019.