Marvel's "What If...?" Leaps into Interactive Storytelling on Vision Pro

Marvel's "What If...? — An Immersive Story" brings fans into the multiverse, letting them interact with characters and use superpowers through Apple's Vision Pro headset. The experience offers a glimpse into the future of interactive storytelling.

Behind the Scenes

• The project, led by "What If...?" director Dave Bushore and ILM Immersive executive producer Shereif M. Fattouh, integrates familiar Marvel characters in unique ways.

• The team used classic storytelling techniques, starting with traditional media to set up the story before inviting viewers to become active participants.

• Cinematic vignettes, or "shards," serve as gateways to interactive sequences, allowing for dramatic cuts and classic cinematography.

• Developing comfortable gestures and crafting emotional beats required trial and error to harmonize traditional and interactive elements.

The Breakdown

• "The constraints were only how many times could we ask 'What if?' of ourselves," says Bushore, emphasizing the project's creative freedom.

• Fattouh highlights the endless possibilities for updating and adding content: "It's not a stretch to imagine that there can be things that get added."

Final Take

"What If...? — An Immersive Story" showcases the potential of interactive storytelling within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As Bushore puts it, "To put people in spaces with characters to make them feel things, it's the core of why we tell stories in the first place."

While the experience is currently limited to Apple's Vision Pro headset, it offers a tantalizing glimpse into the future of immersive entertainment.