Marvel’s What If? episode 1 on Disney Plus introduced The Watcher to the MCU for the first time, with this new character acting as the narrator for viewers’ journey through alternate realities. With Loki having opened the door to the long-awaited Marvel multiverse, The Watcher is another nod to this direction, with him explaining to the viewer that he “watches” different timelines without interfering in this. So who is The Watcher in What If? and who is his voice actor?
Who is The Watcher in Marvel’s What If?
The Watcher belongs to the Watchers, the oldest species in the universe in Marvel comics, who record knowledge and observe events across all aspects of the universe. The Watchers do not interfere with any events that transpire, so they aren’t similar to Loki’s He Who Remains/Kang, however, this particular Watcher is different from his counterparts.
Marvel’s What If? is narrated by Uatu the Watcher, who in Marvel comics was banished by his race after directly interfering with events, helping the Fantastic Four in their battle against Aron, known as the ‘Rogue Watcher,’ who was attempting to destroy the universe. It was later revealed that Uatu had actually broken the Watchers’ non-interference pact nearly 400 times, meaning that this particular cosmic being isn’t fond of being told what to do.
It remains to be seen whether or not Uatu will attempt to influence the events he oversees in What If?, but this does open the door to this show being more than just a fun Marvel spin-off. With The Watcher establishing that these events actually happen somewhere in the MCU, just not in the version of it that we’re most familiar with, there is potential for Uatu’s behavior to have a direct impact on what we see from Marvel moving forward.
Who voices The Watcher in What If?
The Watcher is voiced by acclaimed actor Jeffrey Wright in Marvel’s What If?, who is most known for his performances in Westworld, The Hunger Games, and James Bond. He is also set to appear as Commissioner Gordon in Matt Reeves’ The Batman, set to release in 2022.
Wright brings a gravitas to The Watcher role, with What If? having a star-studded cast, particularly for an animated show. Many actors reprised their roles in episode one, with the exception of Chris Evans, who was replaced as Steve Rogers.
For more What If? coverage, check out our review of the show’s first episode. We also revealed if there’s a hidden post-credits scene.
