Draft:What If... Hela Found the Ten Rings?

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"What If... Hela Found the Ten Rings?"
What If...? episode
Episode no.Season 2
Episode 7
Directed byBryan Andrews
Written byMatthew Chauncey
Produced byA. C. Bradley
Editing byAntonio Capaldo-Smith
Original release dateDecember 28, 2023 (2023-12-28)
Running time30 minutes
Cast
Episode chronology
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"What If... Hela Found the Ten Rings?" is the seventh episode of the second season and sixteenth episode overall of the American animated television series What If...?, based on the Marvel Comics series of the same name.The episode was written by Matthew Chauncey and directed by Bryan Andrews.

Jeffrey Wright narrates the series as the Watcher, with this episode also starring the voices of Cate Blanchett, Jeff Bergman, Feodor Chin, Lauren Tom, Idris Elba, Michael Hagiwara, and Liv Zamora. Work on a second season of What If...? had begun by December 2019, with Andrews and head writer A. C. Bradley returning from the first season. Animation was provided by Flying Bark Productions, with Scott Wright serving as head of animation.

"What If... Hela Found the Ten Rings?" was released on Disney+ on December 28, 2023.

Plot[edit]

Growing weary of Hela's bloodlust in the Nine Realms, Odin banishes her to Earth and strips her powers by destroying Mjolnir and placing an enchantment on her crown.[a] Hela lands in medieval China and is confronted by the armies of Xu Wenwu. She attempts to retrieve the crown but fails. Wenwu keeps Hela alive and tries to recruit her to his army, but Hela escapes his fortress after failing to steal his Ten Rings. She is guided by a Hundun to the realm of Ta Lo, where she convinces their leader, Jiayi, to let her join their cause. Jiayi teaches Hela the techniques of Ta Lo after she recognizes her true desire for freedom from control. After Heimdall reports his failure to locate Hela, Odin visits Earth to battle Wenwu in retaliation. Hela joins Wenwu and fights against Odin, ultimately winning and regaining her worthiness to wield her crown. Odin recognizes Hela's growth, and submits Asgard's throne to her. Hela unites the armies of Asgard and Wenwu's Ten Rings organization and embarks on a journey to ensure freedom across the Nine Realms and beyond, coming to the rescue of Gamora's people as Thanos attacks them.[b]

Production[edit]

Development[edit]

In December 2019, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige revealed that work had already begun on a second season of the animated anthology series What If...?, based on the Marvel Comics series of the same name.[1] It explores how the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films would be altered if certain events occurred differently.[2] A. C. Bradley and Bryan Andrews returned from the first season as head writer and lead director,[3][4] and they executive produce alongside Brad Winderbaum, Kevin Feige, Louis D'Esposito, and Victoria Alonso.[4] Matthew Chauncey wrote the seventh episode,[4] titled "What If... Hela Found the Ten Rings?",[5] which features an alternate storyline of the film [FILM(s)].[citation needed] "What If... Hela Found the Ten Rings?" was released on Disney+ on December 28, 2023.[5]

Writing[edit]

Bradley had tried to include Hela in the season one episode "What If... Thor Were an Only Child?" but felt she did not "belong in that world". Instead, her and Chauncey decided to create a "redemption story" episode for the character, and quickly settled on exploring what if she had been banished to Earth instead of Hel,[6] looking to explore "how much of Hela's villainy is a product of her own nature and how much of it was created by the way her father treated her".[7]: 6  After reading the script for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) before it entered production, the duo realized they needed to set their episode in the past because the present day elements had yet to be solidified,[6][8]: 23:05–23:13  and were excited to explore "the visuals of getting to see this time period in China you don't often get to see".[6]

Casting[edit]

Jeffrey Wright narrates the episode as the Watcher,[9] with Marvel planning to have other characters in the series voiced by the actors who portrayed them in the MCU films.[10][11] The episode stars Cate Blanchett as Hela, Jeff Bergman as Odin, Feodor Chin as Xu Wenwu, Lauren Tom as Jiayi, Idris Elba as Heimdall,[12] Michael Hagiwara as Shunyuan,[13][14]: 27:19  and Liv Zamora as young Hela.[14]: 27:19  Blanchett signed on "pretty fast" to reprise the role.[6] Chin replaces original actor Tony Leung.[15]

Animation[edit]

Animation for the episode was provided by Flying Bark Productions,[14]: 27:53  with Scott Wright serving as head of animation.[14]: 26:45  Andrews developed the series' cel-shaded animation style with Ryan Meinerding, the head of visual development at Marvel Studios.[16][17] Though the series has a consistent art style, elements such as the camera and color palette differ between episodes.[18]: 4  Andrews was able to look at the early concept art for Shang-Chi, as well as serving as an action sequence consultant on the film, to inform him and the animators about the movement of the ten rings with Wenwu that the Shang-Chi filmmakers were hoping to achieve since it had not yet been filmed. He called the process a "moving target" that the What If...? team had to keep up with as the film was changing things, such as altering the color being associated with Wenwu to blue.[8]: 32:13–34:20 

Reception[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Odin's choice to banish Hela to Earth rather than imprisoning her is where the story diverges from what was depicted in Thor: Ragnarok. (2017)
  2. ^ As seen in a flashback in Avengers: Infinity War (2018).

References[edit]

  1. ^ Bonomolo, Cameron (December 19, 2019). "Kevin Feige Reveals What If...? Has More Episodes Than Marvel Studios' Other Disney+ Series". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on December 20, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  2. ^ Kroll, Justin (September 18, 2018). "Loki, Scarlet Witch, Other Marvel Heroes to Get Own TV Series on Disney Streaming Service (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on September 19, 2018. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  3. ^ Hipes, Patrick (November 12, 2021). "Disney+ Day: All The Streamer's Film & TV News From Premiere Dates To Series Orders". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 12, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "Marvel Studios Celebrates New Season of 'What If...?'". Marvel.com. December 12, 2023. Archived from the original on December 12, 2023. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Burlingame, Russ (December 15, 2023). "What If...? Season 2 Episode Titles Revealed". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on December 15, 2023. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d Bennett, Tara (December 31, 2023). "Marvel's What If...? Head Writer Breaks Down Every Episode of Season 2". IGN. Archived from the original on December 31, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  7. ^ "What If 2 production brief Final with cast" (PDF). The Walt Disney Studios. December 21, 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 23, 2023. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  8. ^ a b What If..? Season 2 Live Q&A With Creative Team (A.C. Bradley, Matthew Chauncey, Bryan Andrews). Phase Zero. January 5, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2024 – via YouTube.
  9. ^ Kit, Borys (September 1, 2023). "Marvel Shuffles TV Calendar with New Dates for 'Agatha,' 'Echo,' X-Men '97' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  10. ^ Sciretta, Peter (March 12, 2019). "Exclusive: Marvel Studios Producing 'What If' TV Series For Disney+". /Film. Archived from the original on March 20, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  11. ^ Schreur, Brandon (December 22, 2023). "Disney Confirms Which MCU Stars Are Returning to Voice Characters in What If? Season 2". SuperHeroHype. Archived from the original on December 23, 2023. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  12. ^ Amin, Arezou (December 28, 2023). "'What If...?' Season 2 Episode 7 Recap: Hela and Wenwu Put a Ring on It". Collider. Archived from the original on December 28, 2023. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  13. ^ Nolan, Liam (December 27, 2023). "All Major Actors & Voice Cast List for What If… Season 2". The Escapist. Archived from the original on December 31, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  14. ^ a b c d Chauncey, Matthew (December 28, 2023). "What If... Hela Found the Ten Rings?". What If...?. Season 2. Episode 7. Disney+. End credits begin at 26:30.
  15. ^ Young, Kai (December 29, 2023). "Every MCU Actor Replaced In Marvel's What If...? Season 2". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on December 31, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  16. ^ Jones, Marcus (August 23, 2019). "What If on Disney+ will feature voices from majority of Marvel Cinematic Universe cast". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on August 24, 2019. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  17. ^ Salazar, Andrew J. (September 6, 2019). "'What If...?' Showrunner Ashley Bradley Talks 'Trollhunters', The Beginning Of 'What If...?', Captain Carter, The Watcher & Star-Lord T'Challa (Exclusive)". Discussing Film. Archived from the original on September 22, 2019. Retrieved September 27, 2019.
  18. ^ "What If..? Production Brief" (PDF). Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution. July 30, 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 1, 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2021.

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