Notice! This article contains spoilers for What If...? season 3, episode 6.
And if...?
has just introduced a new and powerful villain to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)
but its on-screen debut will only happen at the end of 2025. And if...? is one of the most unique shows ever made for the MCU. The entire animated series revolves around a set of strange variables that take familiar MCU heroes and place them in new and unusual environments.
Sometimes this leads to stories about the heroes becoming zombies or about someone receiving power who was initially a minor character in the Sacred Timeline. However, whatever the outcome, all these eventualities are closely monitored by the ever-present Observer. And in And if...? Season 3, The Show One of the villains who should join the MCU in 2025 debutedbut the character was very different from the one currently being created in the MCU.
What if Season 3 introduces The Hood for the first time
The Hood looks a little different in the MCU animated series
And if...? Season 3, Episode 6 explores an alternate history to the Sacred Timeline. While the MCU is largely contemporary with release dates, this episode shows Familiar characters introduced in the Multiverse Sagaas Shang-Chi and Kate Bishop, living in the Wild West in 1872. In this new setting, the heroes face a powerful rival known as The Hood, but the character's true identity is masked for much of the episode.
However, The Hood is ultimately revealed to be Shang-Chi's sister Xialing, who faced the original Hood years before, defeating them and taking their powers. Xialing is now the owner of the mystical hood that provides the user with powerful powers such as invisibility and levitation, both can be seen in the episode. However, additional abilities, such as her mastery of fighting, are distinctly hers, as evidenced by Xialing's ability to overpower and defeat the original Hood. Regardless, it sets up important details for the upcoming villain.
The MCU has already revealed how cool Hood's powers will be in Ironheart
The Hood will be a great villain for Riri Williams
In the MCU, Anthony Ramos will appear as The Hood in Iron Heart. His version of the character will be evidently different, and the morality and intention behind his position in the series will be explored in this series. However, And if...? presented a preview of what these powers could look like and how they could match up to a hero like Riri Williams. Williams is set to be a spiritual successor to Iron Manwho has armor that gives him similar abilities. Although the character initially appeared in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Iron Heart it will be the first chance for the character to develop her own story.
And having seen the transformation abilities, invisibility and powers of flight shown in And if...? it seems like the villain is a good match for a technology-enhanced superhero. Pitting magic against technology always brings interesting results, and having the Hood able to fly and follow Ironheart's maneuvers will be essential for the character. And if...? delivered a solid preview, but the live-action debut will be on another level as The Hood joins the Sacred Timeline.
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- Release date
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February 14, 2025
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- Release date
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July 25, 2025
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- Release date
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July 24, 2026