Marvel Studios’ animated anthology series, What If...?, recently wrapped its third season to mixed reactions. While critics were largely positive, audiences have expressed dissatisfaction with the latest installment. Among the critics is Beau DeMayo, the former head writer of Marvel’s X-Men ’97, who didn’t hold back his disapproval.
DeMayo, known for his work on the widely praised X-Men ’97, took to social media platform X to share his blunt critique. He described What If...? Season 3 as lacking substance, calling the dialogue “flat and obvious” and the premises “weird.” His most cutting remark likened watching the show to watching water boil.
This critique holds additional weight because Matthew Chauncey, the head writer for What If...? Season 3, has stepped into DeMayo’s former role as the showrunner for X-Men ’97. According to DeMayo, Chauncey has made significant changes to the second season of X-Men ’97, which DeMayo had completed before parting ways with Marvel.
These changes reportedly include removing “intercut time-hopping across the first episodes” due to its perceived complexity. DeMayo also revealed that much of his work for the second season is being “thrown out or reworked.”
DeMayo’s candid remarks underline the creative tensions within Marvel’s animation projects. A.C. Bradley, who spearheaded the first two seasons of What If...?, has also stepped back, leaving Chauncey in charge of both What If...? and X-Men ’97. As Marvel continues to experiment with its storytelling across multiple shows, these behind-the-scenes shifts may shape the reception of future seasons.
The intersection of two beloved animated series—What If...? and X-Men ’97—underlines the challenges of meeting fan expectations while juggling creative leadership. Whether Chauncey can successfully steer both franchises remains to be seen.
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Source: Dark Horizons
Photo Credit: Marvel
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