There are many paths to MCU canonization, but the most common is also the simplest: the cameo. It doesn’t matter if it’s Howard the Duck Guardians of the Galaxy or Kelsey Grammer at the end of The miracles; as long as you appear somewhere in the main MCU timeline, you’re good to go. But a lot of MCU stories, like a lot of Loki And Deadpool & Wolverine exist outside the main timeline. Seeing Chris Evans as Johnny Storm was cool, but it’s not right to call it canonical.
Now, however, the Marvel is showing that it has its nose to the canon and is ready to introduce two characters that will be at least somewhat canonical; one from elsewhere in the Marvel Universe, and another that’s brand new.
After the success of Kahhori, What if is going to introduce another original superhero.
Marvel Studios
According to Smiling placeMatt Chauncey, Head of Story for What if Season 3 and X Men ’97 Season 3 discussed both series during a panel at the LightBox Expo animation convention. He kept his cards close to his chest X Men ’97which is understandable since season 2 hasn’t even aired yet, but he did have a lot to say about it What if Season 3, which premieres on December 22.
According to the report, Chauncey revealed that the season will introduce an original character, and that the voice actor attached to the role is apparently a “dream casting.” Additionally, the season will also reveal “a highly anticipated MCU debut” of a pre-existing character. Who could that be?
Storm is a popular part of X Men ’97but technically she still hasn’t made her MCU debut yet.
Marvel Studios
The most likely options lie among unused X-Men and Fantastic Four characters. These superteams have been slowly teased in the MCU, such as John Krasinski’s one-off appearance as Reed Richards in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and Wolverine’s important role in it Deadpool and Wolverine. But other characters, like Storm and Sue Storm (no relation to the Storm family trees), still haven’t come along. Both would be strong choices; they’re popular characters, and you introduce them What if would be a great cross-promotion for their own projects, X Men ’97 And Fantastic Four: First steps.
What if Season 3 already brings in a big roster of appearances, including the recently departed Agatha Harkness, but these two new characters will provide even more intrigue. In Season 2, Kahhori delivered a gripping episode told entirely in Mohawk before making her comic book debut, so Marvel likely has broader plans for the next original character as well.
As for the MCU debut of a pre-existing character, while What if episodes are only canonical to their own little corner of the multiverse, they will undoubtedly be a sign of things to come in live-action Marvel. You need to play the smaller venues before you become the main act, and we’ll soon find out which comic book hero is on the rise.