What If...? replaced Chris Evans for its first episode

(Prototype credit: Disney Plus/Curiosity)

What if...? Steve Rogers wasn't Chris Evans? No, that'south not the story at the middle of the Disney Plus series' kickoff episode ( spoiler warning for some other casting in that episode, by the way ) — simply it'south what my ears wondered as I watched.

As our sister sites TotalFilm and GamesRadar learned from Marvel's What If...? director Bryan Andrews, What If...? was not able to get everyone on their wish list for the animated show's cast.

Spider-Man: No Fashion Domicile release date and bandage rumors!
The all-time streaming devices
Plus: Marvel's What If...? release engagement and fourth dimension: How to watch episode 1 now

"Nosotros had a certain degree of liberty," Andrews noted. "Schedules are crazy, so it's really hard to get everybody."

Andrews went on to talk well-nigh the work that voice thespian Josh Keaton (who voiced a plethora of roles in the contempo Spider-Man animated series, as well as Scott Lang/Ant-Homo in a recent Pismire-Man blithe serial) did to supervene upon Evans.

After noting that the replacement actors "nosotros had come up in to take over did a fantastic job," Andrews explained a piddling virtually the process.

He stated that you demand "the player [to] bring a petty something to themselves. I'thousand non just doing an impression. It's not about impressions, right? They have to actually act the moments and evangelize some of the emotional intent."

And before y'all proceed, remember: spoiler warning!

Another reason why What If...? without Evans works

With that piece of work, with that character, you feel the connexion that Keaton's Cap has with Hayley Atwell's Peggy Carter. And, oddly enough, it'southward not exactly disruptive to non have Chris Evans voice Steve Rogers.

All the while in What If...? Episode I, y'all'll notice constant reminders about how this isn't the "correct" timeline. And and then for Rogers to sound different? It almost pales in comparison to the balance of what happens in the series.

That said, we're lucky that What If...? landed Atwell and other familiar voices, including those of Samuel J. Jackson, Jeremy Renner and Stanley Tucci.

What If...? Episode One besides works well because of the ending, with Carter going through an inter-dimensional gateway. Those who watched Loki with an eagle-center know Carter appeared in the TVA at 1 moment. That moment of Carter crossing over raised my eyebrows about what'due south to come up in the MCU.

Plus:How to lookout man Evangelion: 3.0 + one.01 Thrice Upon a Time online

Henry is a senior editor at Tom'due south Guide covering streaming media, laptops and all things Apple tree, reviewing devices and services for the past six-plus years. Prior to joining Tom's Guide, he reviewed software and hardware for TechRadar Pro, and interviewed artists for Patek Philippe International Magazine. He's also covered the wild globe of professional wrestling for Cageside Seats, interviewing athletes and other manufacture veterans.