Is Peggy Carter taking over the Captin Britain moniker for Marvel’s What If…? series? The animated anthology by A.C. Bradley is expected to debut on Disney+ in the summer of 2021. Actress Hayley Atwell confirmed that she will be reprising her Marvel Cinematic Universe role by voicing Peggy’s character.
The animated series was reported earlier this year before it was officially announced at San Diego Comic-Con 2019. What If…? will focus on major moments within the MCU and explore “what if” key plot points played out differently. There will be 23 episodes, one for each MCU installment thus far. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige confirmed that the first episode of the animated TV series will ask, “What if Peggy Carter became Captain America?” Rather than Steve Rogers, Peggy will be the one to get the super-soldier serum, transforming her into a version of Captain America.
Peggy’s What If…? story will serve as the series’ premiere episode. Feige, Atwell, and Bradley were in attendance at D23 2019 to provide more details into the Disney+ panel. They also presented the sizzle reel that offered a first look at Peggy in the series. The footage surprisingly revealed an image of the character donning the iconic shield and superhero attire featuring an exciting change. Considering she didn’t come from the United States, Peggy will trade in the stars and stripes for a British get-up. Peggy’s superhero uniform is equipped with the Union Jack, leading viewers to believe that she will be known as Captain Britain.
Marvel’s Captain Britain was first introduced in 1976 and was primarily intended to appear in issues for the UK market. The character, Brian Braddock, was a protector of Great Britain but he often teamed up with other well-known heroes. In one story arc, Captain Britain aligned with Captain America and Nick Fury to prevent a neo-Nazi takeover. Braddock was also a member of Excalibur, Great Britain’s super-team as well as the Secret Avengers.
Unlike Steve Rogers, Captain Britain didn’t use his shield, hinting that Peggy’s version of the character will be a reimagining of sorts. Some have been referring to her What If…? character as Captain Carter, but it seems more likely that she will be named after the country she hails from. This could give the MCU a chance to introduce a lesser-known character like Captain Britain. What If…? one-off stories won’t be canon (or at least be stories that exist in the mainline universe), so it can’t block the MCU’s chance at bringing a more established Captain Britain character down the line.
There’s certainly no harm in bringing back a character like Peggy Carter back into the mix as her involvement has been greatly missed in the MCU. Her appearance in Avengers: Endgame was a treat for fans, and seeing her again in any capacity is greatly welcomed. Interestingly enough, Avengers: Endgame may have teased Captain Britain during the scene with Peggy in the 1970s, so it would be fitting if Atwell paved the way for the character in the MCU. Spider-Man: Far From Home even threw out a Captain Britain tease so it seems like What If…? may just be the beginning of the character’s focus through Marvel Studios.
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