Having explored various brand expansions for its comic book empire, it was only a matter of time before Marvel got in the VR game, which it has now done, in collaboration with ILM Immersive, courtesy of an off-shoot of one of its animated projects. This is What If…? An Immersive Story, first unveiled in May 2024 and developed for the Apple Vision Pro headset, and subsequently featured in the Venice Immersive lineup. Its geeky credentials will attract superhero fans but, much like the series it is based on, it’s unlikely to be very welcoming for Marvel first-timers.
First released on Disney+ in 2021, What If…? is ostensibly based on the comic book of the same name, where the Watcher, a cosmic entity tasked with monitoring the different branches of the Multiverse, guides the reader/viewer across different realities. Each episode explores how something went a little differently compared to the Marvel Cinematic Universe films we’re familiar with (e.g. “What if Ultron had defeated the Avengers?”), with some characters revisited in later stories as part of a continuing arc about the protection of the Multiverse (the common thread uniting several MCU projects made after 2019).
What If? An Immersive Story draws from that idea, turning the user (always referred to as “they” by the characters in-universe) into a budding hero who teams up with Wong, the Sorcerer Supreme, to defeat three villains who are trying to collect the Infinity Stones. As the story jumps from one world to the next, the user learns new skills, with the Apple Vision Pro technical specs worked into the narrative: since the headset entails the use of hands and fingers, with no need for controllers, to interact with one’s surroundings, it goes hand in hand (pun intended) with the MCU’s depiction of magic. It’s the ideal form of interactive entertainment if, like me, you’ve ever pretended you’re Doctor Strange when an elevator door opens.
Part extended episode of the show (executive producer Brad Winderbaum is involved, as is the Emmy-winning composer Laura Karpman), part game-like experience, it draws heavily on MCU lore, and despite what Deadpool & Wolverine had to cheekily say on the subject, it confirms that, within reason, the Multiverse can be a fun storytelling tool. Although, much like with the aforementioned movie, the degree of enjoyment may depend on one’s level of investment in these worlds (among the deeper cuts is a reference to Eternals, a film that has become a running joke on social media for its apparent lack of relevance in the grand scheme of MCU things).
Visually impeccable, with the immersive elements interacting efficiently with the animated universe, this experience is a neatly assembled expansion of the Marvel machine, a prime target for enticing customers who are curious about the Apple Vision Pro headset and its technical implementations. And the first-person component, conjuring portals and mystical shields, will probably also make up for what may be the project’s biggest flaw for seasoned fans of the franchise. Unlike the animated series, this story features none of the film actors; even the show-specific voice actors are absent, some more noticeably than others. Then again, if there is one case in which Marvel can get away with it, it’s when the words “what if” are involved.
Director: Dave Bushore
Screenwriters: David Dong, Phil McCarty
Cast: Amuche Chukudebelu, Daisuke Tsuji, Danny Fehsenfeld, Jamie Costa, Analise Scarpaci, Stephanie Kerbis, Will Champion, Stephen Alcala, David Lodge, Allegra Verlezza, Shelby Young, Helen Sadler, Terri Douglas, David Collins, Helen Sadler, Matthew Wood
Producers: Dave Bushore, Shereif M. Fattouh, Mark S. Miller, Vicki Dobbs Beck, My-Linh Le
Production design: Patrick N. P. Conran
Music: Laura Karpman, Nora Kroll- Rosenbaum
Sound: Kevin Bolen, Nathan Moody, Bill Rudolph, Steve Orlando, Michael Brinkman, Jonathan Do
Production companies: Marvel Studios, ILM Immersive, Walt Disney Studios
World sales: ILM Immersive
Venue: Venice Film Festival (Venice Immersive – Out of Competition)
In English
50 minutes