Marvel's Most Recent Release May Have Teased The Answer To A 7-Year-Old MCU Mystery That Has Major Implications For A 2025 Project
Marvel Studios may have finally teased the answer to a seven-year-old MCU mystery inWhat If...? season 3, which could have major implications for the upcoming Ironheart series. While previous seasons of Marvel Animation's What If...? included only heroes who had already appeared in the MCU's live-action projects, What If...? season 3 marked the debut of several characters who hadn't yet appeared in the MCU. One of these new additions perfectly sets the stage for an upcoming MCU series, and could have also solved an annoying Phase 3 mystery.
Among some of the new additions to the MCU in What If...? season 3, the most recent chapter of the animated Multiverse Saga series also featured a number of returning characters. This saw What If...? introduce variants of Sam Wilson's Captain America, Agatha Harkness, Riri Williams' Ironheart, Shang-Chi and Kate Bishop, among others. The latter two appeared as outlaws in the Wild West of 1872 searching for Shang-Chi's missing sister, Xu Xialing, which brought them across a villain that hasn't been seen in the MCU since 2018's Ant-Man and the Wasp.
Sonny Burch’s Mysterious Benefactor From Ant-Man & The Wasp Has Never Been Revealed
Walton Goggins Portrayed Sonny Burch In Ant-Man & The Wasp
Walton Goggins first appeared as Sonny Burch in Ant-Man and the Wasp, introduced as a black market technology dealer who had been supplying equipment to Hank Pym and Hope van Dyne for them to build their Quantum Tunnel. Burch wasn't working alone, however, as he mentioned having an enigmatic benefactor who had taken an interest in Hank and Hope's activities, but Ant-Man and the Wasp did not reveal the identity of this mysterious background villain. In fact, Marvel Studios has now gone seven years without revealing who Sonny Burch works for.
Sonny Burch survived the events of Ant-Man and the Wasp, though was presumably incarcerated along with his goons after making several attempts to steal Hank and Hope's quantum technology. In Marvel Comics, Sonny Burch was the chairperson of Cross Technologies, and he designed weapons for Obadiah Stane, but the MCU's original villain met his demise at the end of 2008's Iron Man. While Marvel might never have addressed exactly who Sonny Burch worked for in Ant-Man and the Wasp, What If...? season 3 might have just provided a hint.
What If…? Season 3 Saw Sonny Burch Working For The Hood
Sonny Burch Returned In What If...? Season 3, Episode 6
After almost seven years, Walton Goggins returned to the MCU in What If...? season 3, episode 6, "What If... 1872?," to voice a variant of Sonny Burch from the Wild West. This variant had the same opportunistic and ambitious personality as his MCU counterpart, but the identity of his benefactor did not remain hidden in What If...?. The animated series revealed that this variant of Sonny Burch worked for the Hood, a criminal, revealed to be Xu Xialing, who was enhanced by the dark powers of a dangerous and coveted hooded cloak.
It was great to see the Hood appear in What If...?, as this sets the stage for Anthony Ramos' debut as Parker Robbins, the more well-known host of the Hood, in 2025's upcoming Ironheart series. The fact that Sonny Burch works for the Hood in What If...? could suggest that his live-action counterpart also works for the villain, whether that be Parker Robbins or a previous iteration. The mysterious garment gifts its wearer incredible unmatched abilities, which may make Sonny Burch an even more sinister character.
The Hood’s Speculated Mephisto Connections Suggests A Dark Backstory For Sonny Burch
Sonny Burch Working For The MCU's Hood Changes The Ant-Man & The Wasp Villain
In Marvel Comics, young criminal Parker Robbins becomes the hood after stealing the cloak and boots from a demon he had just killed. It's possible Marvel Studios could follow a similar storyline for Anthony Ramos' Parker Robbins, though there has been speculation that the Hood's demonic connection will actually be to Mephisto. If Mephisto is the man behind the curtain of both the Hood and Sonny Burch, the Ant-Man and the Wasp villain's motivation could be viewed very differently, as he might truly be fighting for his life.
Parker Robbins' Hood made his first Marvel Comics appearance in 2002's The Hood #1, and he went on to become one of New York's most powerful and notorious crime bosses.
Little was revealed about Sonny Burch's history in Ant-Man and the Wasp, only that he was a master at traversing the black market, and his unidentified boss took an interest in quantum technology. This spurred theories that a variant of Kang the Conqueror could have been behind Burch's actions, but Mephisto also has clear connections to the multiverse in Marvel Comics, so would also likely be intrigued by quantum technology. This could all come to a head soon, as Marvel Studios has already teased Mephisto's debut in the MCU.
Mephisto Is Reportedly Set To Finally Appear In The MCU This Year
Mephisto Has Already Been Teased In The MCU
Although it hasn't yet been officially confirmed, reports have suggested that Borat and The Trial of the Chicago 7 star Sacha Baron Cohen has been cast as Mephisto in the MCU. The iconic Marvel demon has been the subject of heavy speculation for several years, most notably during the release of 2021's WandaVision, but it was 2024's Agatha All Along that featured Mephisto's first name-drop in the MCU. Now that Jennifer Kale has confirmed the existence of "Agents of Mephisto," it's only a matter of time until the supervillain appears, and he's rumored to make his live-action debut in Ironheart.
Mephisto's possible debut in 2025's Ironheart makes his connection to the Hood all the more likely. This could also strengthen the idea that Mephisto is behind the activities of Sonny Burch, particularly since Walton Goggins has been speculated to be returning to the MCU after What If...? season 3 to take part in Marvel Studios' upcoming Armor Wars, though the movie's status is currently unclear. Armor Wars or another project featuring Sonny Burch could finally confirm his unknown history, and perhaps set up a bigger role for Mephisto in the MCU's future.
What If...?
- Release Date
- 2021 - 2024
- Showrunner
- Ashley Bradley
- Directors
- Bryan Andrews
- Writers
- Ashley Bradley, Matthew Chauncey
- Franchise(s)
- Marvel Cinematic Universe
Cast
Stanley Tucci
What If… ? is an animated anthology series set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe which features fan-favorite characters, including Peggy Carter, T’Challa, Doctor Strange, Killmonger, Thor, and more. The new series, directed by Bryan Andrews with AC Bradley as head writer, features signature MCU action with a curious twist. The show sees Uatu the Watcher, an omnipotent being that observes the events of multiple universes from afar as they unfold, unable to interfere. However, things shift when an entity peers beyond the veil, jeopardizing the multiverse.
- Seasons
- 3
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