The MCU Secretly Just Killed Two Huge Favorites

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Marvel’s What If…? episode 2.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe secretly killed two fan-favorite characters, which Marvel’s What If…? subtly reveals. What If…? episode 2 rewrites the MCU timeline. In the episode, T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) becomes Star-Lord after the Ravagers mistakenly abduct him instead of Peter Quill (voiced by Brian T. Delaney). T’Challa’s Star-Lord then goes on to spread goodwill throughout the galaxy. The Ravagers change their criminal ways, becoming characters who fight for those in need. Also, Thanos (Josh Brolin) becomes completely reformed. The Mad Titan never does his deadly finger snap. Instead, he joins the Ravagers and T’Challa, realizing his plan in Avengers: Infinity War would cause more harm than good. 

However, the MCU quickly replaces Thanos’ villainy. With the Mad Titan out of the way, the Collector (Benicio del Toro) fills the vacancy, becoming the master of the galaxy’s underworld. As impressive as the Collector’s vast collection was in the previous Marvel movies, What If…? puts it to shame. The Collector uses his criminal influence to expand his collection, killing mercilessly to get his way. He also ends up with an item called the Embers of Genesis, which T’Challa and the Ravagers plan to steal to help feed the galaxy.

In What If…? episode 2, Marvel revealed two popular characters might be dead. In the episode, T’Challa’s Star-Lord battles against the Collector, who shows off his trophies while fighting. He first uses a rock-like weapon on his arm during the struggle, which he says he hacked off of a “terribly chatty Kronan.” The dialogue seems to indicate he took it from Korg (Taika Waititi). Additionally, during T’Challa’s fight, the silhouette of Groot (Vin Diesel) seems to appear in the background amongst the Collector’s collection.

The moments seem to confirm the deaths of Korg and Groot. Korg’s demise is more definite. With Taika Waititi’s Thor: Ragnarok character being the main “chatty Kronan” in the MCU, there’s little doubt where the Collector got the rock arm. Groot’s silhouette is more ambiguous. After all, not all the characters in the Collector’s collection are dead. If the Collector does have Groot, the character could still be alive. However, in Guardians of the Galaxy, the Collector also takes an interest in Groot and says he’d collect him upon the character’s death. With that quote, the moment doesn’t seem too promising.

Though T’Challa’s version of Star-Lord spreads goodwill in the galaxy, the alternate MCU timeline may contain other sinister realizations. In addition to Korg’s arm, the Collector has Captain America’s shield and Thor’s hammer. Because those characters likely wouldn’t give up those items willingly, the Collector may have killed or imprisoned them too. Additionally, when the Ravagers leave Quill on Earth, his Celestial dad, Ego (Kurt Russell), swoops in, hoping to use his son’s Celestial DNA to help him take over the galaxy. Though T’Challa’s Star-Lord makes significant changes to the MCU, not all of those changes are good.

Marvel’s What If…? releases new episodes Wednesdays on Disney+.