Marvel’s darkest ‘what if’ moments that never made it to screen

Marvel has certainly given us some pretty mind-blowing moments over the years. From Iron Man’s ultimate sacrifice to Wanda going full chaos mode, we’ve seen superheroes break, evolve, and go rogue. But for every on-screen twist, there’s a “what if” scenario that never made it to our screens - ideas so dark, so brutal, or just so bizarre, that even the mighty Marvel Studios decided to pull the plug or keep it buried in the multiverse.

Thanks to the animated series What If...?, we got glimpses of alternate timelines - like zombie Avengers and a murderous Hank Pym. But believe it or not, some of the darkest Marvel alternate realities never even got animated, let alone featured in live-action. Whether they were cut out for being too grim, too controversial, or just too wild, these “what if” moments leave us wondering what could’ve been. So buckle up, because we’re diving into Marvel’s darkest rabbit holes you’ve probably never seen...but definitely won’t forget.

Marvel’s darkest ‘what if’ moments that never made it to the screen

1) What if Captain America led Hydra from the start?

You thought Cap saying “Hail Hydra” in Endgame was chilling? Imagine an entire timeline where Steve Rogers was always a Hydra agent. This isn’t just fanfiction - it was explored in the comics during the controversial Secret Empire arc, where Cap’s history was rewritten and he became Hydra’s supreme leader.

A “what if” episode was pitched, showing a version of Steve indoctrinated as a child by Hydra, growing up as their most powerful enforcer. The plan was to explore a morally twisted world where the symbol of American virtue becomes its greatest enemy. The ending? A brutal civil war between Hydra Steve and a rebellious Tony Stark - dark, emotional, and full of betrayal. But Marvel reportedly shelved it for being too politically sensitive.

2) What if The Avengers lost the battle of New York?

Remember that iconic moment in The Avengers where Iron Man takes the nuke through the wormhole and saves the day? Well, there was a version where that didn’t happen. In this scrapped What If...? concept, the Avengers fail, and the Chitauri overrun Earth.

The world turns into a dystopian wasteland, with Loki as a tyrannical ruler and only a handful of underground heroes left to resist. Imagine The Walking Dead meets Avengers: Endgame but with more frost giants and fewer happy endings. Hawkeye becomes a brutal vigilante, Hulk is captured and turned into a weapon, and Natasha leads a last-ditch rebellion. Kevin Feige allegedly called it “too bleak” for Marvel’s tone.

3) What if Peter Parker became Venom...permanently?

We’ve all seen Spider-Man briefly bond with the black symbiote suit, but a darker take would’ve had Peter never freeing himself from Venom. In this alternate universe, the symbiote doesn’t just feed on Peter’s aggression - it takes over completely.

Pitched as a gritty character study, this version of Peter Parker turns from friendly neighborhood Spider-Man to a violent antihero. No jokes, no mercy. He alienates Aunt May, kills a version of the Green Goblin, and eventually faces off against Miles Morales, who’s forced to stop him. The end? Peter dies trying to fight the symbiote from within. Yep. Brutal stuff. Marvel reportedly shelved this idea for being too much of a downer for a teen-friendly character like Spidey.

4) What if Wanda resurrected The Avengers...as zombies?

Sure, What If...? gave us zombie Avengers, but it was more popcorn horror than gut-wrenching tragedy. A much darker pitch involved Wanda losing control after Infinity War, resurrecting her dead friends as mindless zombie husks.

This story would’ve been more psychological than action-packed. Imagine Wanda walking through the ruins of Wakanda, bringing Vision, Steve, Natasha, and others back - but they’re broken, decaying versions of themselves. They recognize her, but not enough. The episode would’ve ended with Wanda realizing she’s trapped in her nightmare and choosing to destroy them all again. Quite the haunting look into grief and power gone wrong!

5) What if Tony Stark became Kang the Conqueror?

You read that right. One of the most bonkers what-if ideas was to merge Tony Stark with Kang. The concept? After the events of Endgame, a version of Tony is flung through the multiverse, where he sees countless versions of himself - and realizes they all end in failure.

So what does genius Tony do? He decides to control the timeline himself. Slowly, he evolves into a version of Kang the Conqueror, complete with a futuristic iron suit and zero moral compass. Tony becomes the ultimate villain, not out of malice, but out of fear. His motto? “Only I can fix this.” It was too complex for one episode and reportedly shelved because it conflicted with plans for the Kang Dynasty arc. But come on, Iron Man turning into a time-bending warlord? That’s dark Marvel gold right there!

6) What if Thanos joined The Avengers?

In this timeline, Thanos loses everything early in life, including the Black Order, and has a spiritual awakening. He meets Odin and is taken under his wing, eventually becoming an ally of Asgard and later...an Avenger.

Sounds wholesome, right? Wrong. While Thanos tries to be a hero, his worldview remains twisted. He believes in peace, but through total control. When the Avengers disagree with his “ends justify the means” logic, he turns on them. What starts as a redemption story spirals into betrayal, with Thanos ultimately wiping out the team “for the greater good.” Dark and philosophical, this story was deemed “too morally gray” for a younger audience, even though the betrayal arc would’ve hit hard.

7) What if Bruce Banner’s mind never returned?

The Hulk we got in Endgame - smart, calm, and in control - was a nice surprise. But another idea explored what would happen if Bruce Banner’s mind was completely erased, leaving only a savage Hulk...permanently.

In this version, Hulk becomes a planet-level threat, destroying cities, heroes, and even gods. Without Bruce’s conscience to ground him, Hulk is Marvel’s Doomsday. The only person who gets through to him? A grown-up Cassie Lang tries to talk him down. It fails, she dies, and Hulk becomes a cosmic wanderer, too dangerous to stay on Earth. Scary!

Marvel’s multiverse is full of wild, weird, and wonderfully dark possibilities. While these "What ifs" never made it to the screen, they give us a glimpse into just how far the MCU could go. Some stories are better left in the shadows...but some? We wish they were pursued!