What If…? Episode 9 Cast Guide: Every New & Returning MCU Character

Like every episode of What If…?, episode 9 boasts an impressive array of new and returning MCU characters and actors. Here’s everyone who appears.

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The first season of Marvel’s What If…? concluded in spectacular style, with a return for many popular characters from throughout the series. Like every episode of the show to date, the finale boasted an impressive ensemble cast. However, as has become What If…?’s signature, several iconic characters appear in completely new scenarios, ultimately unveiling more about them in the process.

Episode 9 revolved around a conclusion to the Ultron Infinity Stones arc, first established at the end of episode 7. Following the genocidal AI’s epic battle with The Watcher throughout episode 8, Ultron squared off against a team of so-called Guardians of the Multiverse, comprised of Captain Carter, Strange Supreme, Party Thor, Starlord T’Challa, Killmonger, Gamora and Black Widow. After an intense struggle, the team succeeded in destroying Ultron, before both Killmonger and Arnim Zola became trapped inside a pocket dimension in their quest for supremacy over the Stones.

Unlike many previous What If…? episodes, which largely revolved around self-contained stories, episode 9 featured a highlights reel of iconic heroes from throughout the show’s overall story arc. Most of the heroes selected by The Watcher for the fight against Ultron had already featured in their own individual episode, showcasing their specific abilities. Perhaps because this was the climax of the series, episode 9 boasted arguably the most impressive ensemble cast to date. Here is every new and returning character from episode 9 of What If…?

The Watcher – Jeffrey Wright

An ever-present throughout the series, Jeffrey Wright’s Watcher serves as What If…?’s omniscient narrator. In episode 9, however, the character takes the radical step of directly intervening in the actions of the other main protagonists and assembling the Guardians of the Multiverse to take on Ultron. Away from the MCU, Wright is a veteran screen actor, recently appearing as Felix Leiter in the new Bond movie No Time To Die, as well as Commissioner Gordon in the upcoming DCEU film The Batman.

Nick Fury – Samuel L. Jackson

A veteran of the MCU, Samuel L. Jackson has portrayed SHIELD Director Nick Fury since the early days of Phase 1. Also appearing regularly throughout the first season of What If…? Jackson’s appearance in episode 9 is limited to a cameo during the end. However, despite this brief appearance, he continues to hold a huge influence over the MCU.

Peggy Carter/Captain Carter – Haley Atwell

The reimagined version of Captain America, Haley Atwell’s Captain Carter helped to kick off the entire What If…? premise with the show’s very first episode. Another MCU stalwart, Atwell first portrayed the character in 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger. She also has experience on the small screen, reprising her role for the acclaimed Agent Carter series.

Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow – Lake Bell

After Black Widow’s self-titled solo film was released earlier this year, the ex-Russian assassin and spy has remained in the limelight throughout What If…? Episode 9 saw a conclusion to the character’s arc established in the previous show, in which she was seen fighting Ultron alongside Hawkeye. However, Bell’s take on the character – in the absence of Scarlett Johansson – has been prominent throughout, also playing a crucial role in episode 3.

Brock Rumlow – Frank Grillo

After his villainous turn in the live-action MCU, Frank Grillo’s Brock Rumlow is a more sympathetic figure in What If…? While it’s not explicitly clear whether he will turn traitor, in episode 9 Grillo is seen assisting Captain Carter alongside Black Widow. Away from the MCU, Grillo is a regular action star, appearing in films such as The Grey and Copshop.

Batroc – Georges St-Pierre

Reprising his role from Captain America: The Winter Soldier, former MMA fighter Georges St-Pierre returns to the MCU as the deadly French-Algerian assassin Batroc. St-Pierre has also played the role for the recent Disney+ series The Falcon And The Winter Soldier, making What If…? his third appearance as the character. Although his filmography is limited, St-Pierre has also appeared in the 2016 flick Kickboxer: Vengeance.

Star-Lord T’Challa – Chadwick Boseman

Following previous appearances in three further What If…? episodes, Chadwick Boseman portrays the reimagined Star-Lord version of T’Challa first seen in episode 2 during the season finale. Best known for his live-action performance as T’Challa in the 2018 hit Black Panther, What If…? may mark Boseman’s final appearance in the MCU following his tragic passing in 2020. However, his depiction of Black Panther has become so iconic that his legacy as a Marvel legend is already cemented.

Peter Quill – Brian T. Delaney

Following a brief appearance at the end of What If…? episode 2, Brian T. Delaney returns to play Peter Quill in the concluding show. Replacing regular actor Chris Pratt, Delaney is well-known for his voice acting work, most notably appearing in Fallout 4. He has also provided additional voices for films including Hotel Transylvania 3 and The Secret Life Of Pets 2.

Tony Stark/Iron Man – Mick Wingert

Perhaps surprisingly, Tony Stark’s Iron Man has not featured as prominently as other members of The Avengers team. This is exemplified during episode 9, when Gamora is selected by The Watcher over Stark to join the Guardians of the Multiverse. As for Wingert, he is extremely familiar with the role, having voiced the character over a number of years for several video game and cartoon appearances.

Gamora – Cynthia McWilliams

Replacing Zoe Saldana as the favorite daughter of Thanos, Cynthia McWilliams appears in What If…? for the first time during the show’s dramatic climax. Although episode 9 marks her debut, McWilliams’ Gamora plays a crucial role, sporting the Infinity Crusher initially used to destroy Ultron’s Stones. McWilliams herself is a regular small-screen performer, appearing in hit shows such as Bosch and Coyote.

Killmonger – Michael B. Jordan

As one of the most iconic villains in the MCU to date, Michael B. Jordan’s Killmonger makes another nefarious appearance in What If…? Much like his live-action counterpart, the episode 9 Killmonger seeks to wield power with the intention of – as he sees it – bettering his world. However, his plan comes unstuck thanks to the interventions of Doctor Strange and The Watcher. Although Killmonger is his best-known comic book role, Jordan has also featured in other Marvel properties – notably, the much-derided 2015 version of Fant4stic.

Shuri – Ozioma Akagha

Serving as Letitia Wright’s replacement, Ozioma Akagha briefly returns to the role of Shuri after her previous appearance in episode 6. However, while her responsibilities in episode 9 are somewhat diminished, they are far from her only role within Marvel. Akagha has also featured as Tamar in Runaways, securing her status as a performer within the MCU.

Thor – Chris Hemsworth

Having first appeared in the MCU as far back as 2011, Chris Hemsworth is one the MCU’s most popular performers. In addition to his role as “Party Thor” throughout What If…? Hemsworth has played a slightly more grounded version of the character in all four Avengers movies, as well as three standalone Thor films. The Australian-born actor is also set to appear in the upcoming sequel Thor: Love And Thunder opposite Natalie Portman.

Doctor Strange/Strange Supreme – Benedict Cumberbatch

Arguably the most tragic figure in What If…?, Cumberbatch’s Strange Supreme is crucial to the Guardians of the Multiverse’s plan to defeat Ultron. By absorbing the powers of multiple cosmic entities during episode 4, this version of Strange was able to protect other members of the team in their fight. As for Cumberbatch himself, the actor is returning to the MCU in the soon-to-be-released Spider-Man: No Way Home, as well as a separate solo venture, Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness.

Ultron – Ross Marquand

Reprising his role as the killer robot from episode 8, Ross Marquand stars as the show’s over-arching antagonist. Although he replaces star James Spader from the live-action MCU, Marquand is already familiar with the role, having portrayed Ultron in the 2019 video game Avengers: Damage Control. He is also a veteran voice actor, appearing in series such as Robot Chicken and Family Guy.

Arnim Zola – Toby Jones

10 years after his MCU debut in the first Captain America film, Toby Jones returns to the saga as Hydra scientist Arnim Zola. Although Zola is instrumental in defeating Ultron, he still ends up trying to take the Infinity Stones for himself, forcing Doctor Strange to trap him and Killmonger inside a pocket dimension. This continues Jones’ arc from 2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier, in which Zola was revealed to be a crucial part of Hydra’s plans to take over SHIELD.

Loki – Tom Hiddleston

After his surprisingly heroic turn in episode 7, Tom Hiddleston’s villainous version of Loki makes a comeback during episode 9. As one of the most popular antagonists in MCU history, Hiddleston features in several ongoing Marvel properties. Most notably, the star recently appeared in the popular Loki spin-off series which introduced audiences to the concept of multiple timelines.

Ego – Kurt Russell

Seen briefly before being blown up by Chadwick Boseman’s Star-Lord, the What If…? version of Ego looks set on continuing his Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2 plan to spread himself all over the known universe. Although his Marvel role is decidedly villainous, actor Kurt Russel is arguably best known as a heroic leading man. Some of his most iconic performances include the likes of Snake Plissken in Escape From New York and MacReady in John Carpenter’s The Thing. It just goes to show that, even when it comes to Hollywood legends, Marvel, and by extension What If…?, are unafraid to cast against type.

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