Spider-Man: Freshman Year and even more X-Men ’97, Marvel is fully going to animation

The studio’s Hall H exposition today made it obvious that animation will play a significant role in the MCU’s future, even while the studio’s live-action projects are a large part of what has people excited for this year’s San Diego Comic-Con.

Brad Winderbaum, the CEO of Marvel Studios’ streaming, TV, and animation, and Ryan Meinerding, the head of the studio’s visual production, joined the stage in Hall H to reveal fresh information regarding Spider-Man: Freshman Year, X-Men ’97, Marvel Zombies, and upcoming seasons of What If…?

The Watcher (Geoffrey Wright) will once again be the main character in What If…second ?’s and recently announced third seasons, just like in its debut season, as he scans the multiverse for the various realities that currently make up the MCU. Given how the Watcher actively interacted with people’s lives throughout the first season of What If…?, it’s possible that the rules may change a little as the series develops and continues to reimagine pivotal moments from earlier MCU movies.

The information that Marvel’s planned animated Spider-Man: Freshman Year series from executive producer Jeff Trammell will ostensibly follow Peter Parker through his first several years (plural) of “becoming Spider-Man in the MCU” is also unsurprising but nonetheless intriguing. Freshman and Sophomore Year are probably set in parallel realities where key elements play out in dramatically different, exciting ways because Peter’s journey to becoming a full-fledged Avenger has already been rather thoroughly recorded in Marvel’s earlier live-action films.

Spider-Man: A rookie Disney Plus is expected to release Year sometime in 2024.