Some stories are a little too risky, even for Marvel Studios, at least according to What if…? head writer A.C Bradley. Recently, Bradley sat down with The Post Credits Podcast to discuss the new show, including some ideas that didn’t make it into the final product. One of those ideas was a Spider-Man storyline that was apparently “too dark” for the animated series.
Speaking to The Post Credits Podcast, Bradley discussed an episode idea where Peter Parker/Spider-Man is transformed into a real spider, saying that the idea was scrapped because it was "just too dark and too body horror for their PG-13 [rating]." While Bradley doesn’t confirm it, the idea is likely inspired by an episode of the 1990’s Spider-Man: The Animated Series. In the episode, Peter Parker is transformed into a giant arachnid after he attempts to cure himself of his spider-mutation, instead accelerating the mutation to its final form.
This version of the character is referred to as Man-Spider (Get it?). He has six upper limbs and can spit acid. Parker's transformation into the character also causes him to lose much of his control, turning him into a vicious beast who only retains some semblance of his former self, a very Dr. Jekyl, Mr. Hyde situation. Thankfully, with a little unexpected help from The Punisher and a reformed Kraven the Hunter, Parker was able to return to his normal form. The character of Man-Spider has also been featured in several comic book storylines.
While a Cronenberg-esque body horror episode of What If…? definitely has some potential, it’s not surprising that the studio would want to maintain their standard PG 13 tone. However, it is interesting that the 1990’s animated series, a Saturday morning cartoon for children, was able to pull this off. Perhaps innovations in animation caused this storyline to be too graphic for modern-day audiences.
Created by Bradley and directed by Bryan Andrews, What If…? will be the fourth original Disney Plus series from Marvel and the Studio’s first animated series. Based on the Marvel Comics series of the same name, What If…? will explore alternate timelines in the multiverse that show what would happen if major moments from the MCU films occurred differently. Such events include Peggy Carter receiving the super-soldier serum instead of Steve Rogers, and T’Challa/Black Panther being abducted by Yondu and his ravagers instead of Peter Quill/Star-Lord.
The series also features some MCU actors reprising their roles from the films, including Hayley Atwell, Josh Brolin, Benicio Del Toro, Paul Bettany, Don Cheadle, Samuel L Jackson, and the late Chadwick Boseman in what will be his final acting performance.
What If...? will premiere exclusively on Disney Plus on August 11th, 2021.
Source: Collider