The First-Ever Interactive Disney+ Original Story Will Soon Turn Fans Into Heroes in an Hour-Long Mixed Reality Experience
BURBANK, Calif., May 8, 2024 — Marvel Studios and ILM Immersive announce “What If…? – An Immersive Story,” the first-ever interactive Disney+ Original story coming exclusively to Apple Vision Pro. Fans will be invited to step inside the Multiverse like never before and have the chance to dive into an immersive, narrative-driven and innovative story in mixed reality. Connected to the critically acclaimed Disney+ Original animated series “What If…?,” Marvel.com was given a first look at the hour-long experience, diving into what fans can expect when it is released soon as a new app for Apple Vision Pro.
“As a kid, my favorite stories were about worlds beyond my own, advanced technologies, and heroes traveling across space and time. ‘What If…? – An Immersive Story’ is the next evolution in how we tell our stories, where fans across generations can experience them and live out the adventure alongside their favorite heroes,” said director and executive producer Dave Bushore. “This experience kicks the door open to the Marvel Universe, and it’s a glimpse of what I’ve been waiting for my whole life.”
“What If…?” reimagines events from across the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in unexpected ways. Now, fans have been chosen to step into the leading role of an all-new immersive story that transforms the space around them as they traverse across realities. Throughout their journey, they will come face-to-face with Multiversal variants of their favorite characters, learn the mystic arts, and be tasked with harnessing the power of the Infinity Stones.
“‘What If…?’ the animated series as well as the comic book has always been about looking over the horizon into realities that have yet to be conceived,” said executive producer Brad Winderbaum. “‘What If…? – An Immersive Story’ takes this one step further and actually allows you to visit these strange new worlds, not as a Watcher but as an actual participant. The creative work on this project is nothing less than stellar and we could not be more excited for fans to interact firsthand with some of their favorite Marvel heroes.”
Utilizing the revolutionary spatial computing capabilities of Apple Vision Pro, “What If…? – An Immersive Story” will deliver a technologically advanced and engaging experience to fans. They will cross between augmented and virtual reality as they live out their narrative adventure, interacting with the world around them by using their eyes and hands. Fans will step into breathtaking environments that place them in new and iconic MCU locations, and feel completely immersed with stunning visuals and spatial audio. Together, these features will remind fans that time, space, and reality are more than a linear path.
“This experience is truly groundbreaking and unlike anything we’ve done before,” said executive producer Jamie Voris, EVP/Chief Technology Officer at The Walt Disney Studios. “It’s an exciting new way to become a part of the MCU through a deeply emotional and compelling story.”
“What If…? – An Immersive Story” is directed by Dave Bushore at Marvel Studios and produced by Shereif M. Fattouh at ILM Immersive. The experience is written by David Dong and Phil McCarty (“The Learning Curve”), with music by Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning composer Laura Karpman (“American Fiction,” “The Marvels”). “What If…? – An Immersive Story” is executive produced by Bushore, Fattouh, and Brad Winderbaum (“What If…?,” “X-Men ‘97”), with Bryan Andrews (“What If…?,” “Primal”) serving as consulting producer. Vicki Dobbs Beck, VP of immersive content at Lucasfilm and ILM Immersive, Mark S. Miller, VP of creative development and production at ILM Immersive, and Jamie Voris, EVP/Chief Technology Officer at The Walt Disney Studios, all serve as executive producers.
Additional details about “What If…? – An Immersive Story” will be revealed soon. Fans looking to stay up-to-date on all news as it happens can follow the official social media handles from “What If…?,” Marvel Studios, and ILM Immersive.
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SOCIAL INFORMATION
X: @MarvelStudios, @ILMImmersive, @DisneyPlus, @WhatIfOfficial
Instagram: @MarvelStudios, @ILMImmersive, @DisneyPlus, @WhatIf
Facebook: @MarvelStudios, @ILMImmersive, @DisneyPlus, @OfficialWhatIf
TikTok: @Marvel, @DisneyPlus
Join the conversation with #WhatIf
ABOUT MARVEL
Marvel is one of the world’s most prominent entertainment brands, built on an unparalleled library of iconic characters and stories that have shaped pop culture for 85 years. The Marvel brand spans entertainment, including film, television, publishing, licensing, games, live events, digital media, and more.
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ABOUT ILM IMMERSIVE, A DIVISION OF INDUSTRIAL LIGHT & MAGIC
ILM Immersive is Lucasfilm’s award-winning storytelling studio, pioneering a new era of interactive entertainment in virtual and mixed reality across multiple platforms. As an innovation hub that has been pushing the state-of-the-art for close to a decade, ILM Immersive allows audiences to interact with engaging characters and worlds, inviting fans everywhere to “Step Inside Our Stories.”
The studio, formerly known as ILMxLAB, is renowned for their home VR experiences such as: Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge and the Emmy-nominated Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series; location-based experiences like Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire and Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Damage Control; and the Oscar-winning collaboration with Alejandro G. Iñárritu and Legendary Entertainment, CARNE y ARENA.
For more information, follow ILM Immersive on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or visit ILMImmersive.com.
Lucasfilm Ltd. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. ILM Immersive, the ILM Immersive logo, STAR WARS and related properties are trademarks in the United States and/or in other countries of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. © & TM 2023 Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved.
ABOUT DISNEY+
Disney+ is the dedicated streaming home for movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic, along with The Simpsons and much more. In select international markets, it also includes the general entertainment content brand, Star, and in the U.S., Disney Bundle subscribers can also access extensive Hulu content, including next day TV and Hulu Original titles, on Disney+. The flagship direct-to-consumer streaming service from The Walt Disney Company, Disney+ offers an ever-growing collection of exclusive originals, including feature-length films, documentaries, live-action and animated series, and short-form content. With unprecedented access to Disney’s long history of incredible film and television entertainment, Disney+ is also the exclusive streaming home for the newest releases from The Walt Disney Studios. Disney+ is available as a standalone streaming service, as part of the Disney Bundle in the U.S. that gives subscribers access to Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+, or as part of Combo+ in Latin America with Star+, the standalone general entertainment and sports streaming service in the region. For more, visit disneyplus.com, or find the Disney+ app on most mobile and connected TV devices.
