What a country! What If…? took on one of the most notorious events in the MCU in Season 3, Episode 3 “What If… The Red Guardian Stopped The Winter Soldier?” and turned it into a goofy buddy road trip. Wondering who is in the voice cast for the episode, from Red Guardian to Obadiah Stane to Ranger Morales? We’ve got you covered.
But first, a recap for the episode and spoilers past this point. We jump back to December 16, 1991 — or the lead-up to that — as Bucky Barnes, aka the Winter Soldier, is sent on a mission to take the super-soldier formula from Tony Stark’s parents. In Captain America: Civil War it’s revealed that Bucky killed them, but things of course happen differently here. When Red Guardian, aka Alexei Shostakov, finds out about it, he wants in, and heads to America to, er, help out… Instead of the assignment he was given to go undercover in Ohio (see Black Widow for more on that).
Only thing, Red Guardian doesn’t want to kill anyone, and after a brief fight that saves the lives of Tony’s ma and pa, the two Russians are on the run from the law — and the Red Room, run by General Dreykov. After a brief stop for lunch, the duo runs into Bill Foster, head of the science division for S.H.I.E.L.D., and Ranger Morales, who works for the Parks Department — meaning she has authority anywhere in the United States. I guess.
After another brief fight where Foster uses his Goliath powers (see Ant-Man and the Wasp for more on that one), they track down The Rook, a notorious Russian agent, in Las Vegas. It turns out The Rook is actually Obadiah Stane, who was behind the plot to kill the Starks (see… Iron Man? Sort of?). They end up killing Stane by tossing him out of a casino, fight Goliath again, and get trapped in a burned-out casino at the end of the Strip. There, an agent of the Red Room tries to brainwash Bucky again… But it doesn’t work because he’s formed a friendship with the earnest Red Guardian.
They jump out to take out the Red Room guys, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid style. But things turn out a little better for one of them than the did for those two gunslingers. Winter Soldier is taken back to Russia. But Red Guardian, who has come to appreciate America over the course of their road trip, is working as an elementary school gym coach. That is until Bill Foster recruits him to join The Avengers. we get the classic spin-around shot from The Avengers, and then Red Guardian shoves his way in. The end!
Looking for the What If Season 3, Episode 1 voice cast, or What If Season 3, Episode 2 voice cast? We’ve got you covered. For the Episode 3 voice cast, read on.
What If…? Season 3, Episode 3 “What If… The Red Guardian Stopped The Winter Soldier?” Cast: Who’s Who In The Cast?
This episode is an interesting mix of actors who did play their characters in live-action and those who did not. Let’s start with the former.
David Harbour is back as Red Guardian after appearing as the character in Black Widow, the Season 3 premiere of What If…? and the upcoming Thunderbolts*. Similarly, Sebastian Stan is back as Bucky Barnes, aka Winter Soldier, after multiple MCU appearances — and What If…? appearances, as well.
The legendary Laurence Fishburne does indeed reprise his role as Bill Foster, aka Goliath, after playing an older version of the character in Ant-Man and the Wasp.
You might be wondering about Ranger Morales, played by America Ferrera, and what secret Marvel character she is. The answer is… She isn’t one. Ranger Morales is not a secret superhero or multiversal riff; she’s just a Park Ranger. Ferrera, though, is known for everything from Ugly Betty to Superstore, to Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and Barbie.
Piotr Michael takes over the role of General Dreykov, the villain from Black Widow who Ray Winstone played in the movie. Winstone famously hated doing the role, so it’s no surprise he’s not back to provide a voice here. Michael you may know for his role as Yoda on various Star Wars animated series.
Gene Farber plays Vasily Karpov, the soldier tasked with deploying the Winter Soldier. And guess what? Farber also played him on screen in Captain America: Civil War, and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
And last but not least, no, Jeff Bridges did not return to play Obadiah Stane, like he did in Iron Man — despite Bridges actually noting in interviews that he’d be open to returning. Instead, the voice actor behind the baddie is Kiff VandenHeuvel, a veteran voice actor who previously played Stane on the What If…? episode “What If… Killmonger Rescued Tony Stark?”
What If…? Season 3, Episode 3 Cast List:
Here’s a full cast list from What If…? Season 3, Episode 3, “What If… The Red Guardian Stopped The Winter Soldier?” if you prefer to read it in list style instead of written out, as above:
The Watcher…Jeffrey Wright
Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian…David Harbour
Bucky Barnes / Winter Soldier…Sebastian Stan
Bill Foster / Goliath…Laurence Fishburne
Ranger Morales…America Ferrera
General Dreykov…Piotr Michael
Vasily Karpov…Gene Farber
Obadiah Stane / The Rook…Kiff VandenHeuvel
Additional Voices…Robin Atkin Downes, Terri Douglas, Melanie Minichinio, Dave B. Mitchell, Toby Larsen, Luke Lowe, Lucy Lowe, Maggie Lowe, Zeno Robinson, Kaitlyn Robrock, Tanya Wheelock, Matthew Wood, Secunda Wood
Where To Watch What If…?
What If…? Season 3 Premiere Dates And Episode Guide:
The first episode of What If…? Season 3 premieres Sunday, December 22 at 3 am ET / Midnight PT on Disney+. One episode a day premieres after that, leading to the series finale on December 29, 2024.
Here’s the full list of episodes in What If…? Season 3, with premiere dates:
- Sunday, December 22, 2024: What If…? Season 3, Episode 1: “What If… The Hulk Fought The Mech Avengers?”
- Monday, December 23, 2024: What If…? Season 3, Episode 2: “What If… Agatha Went to Hollywood?”
- Tuesday, December 24, 2024: What If…? Season 3, Episode 3: “What If… The Red Guardian Stopped The Winter Soldier?”
- Wednesday, December 25, 2024: What If…? Season 3, Episode 4: “What If… Howard the Duck Got Hitched?”
- Thursday, December 26, 2024: What If…? Season 3, Episode 5: “What If… The Emergence Destroyed The Earth?”
- Friday, December 27, 2024: What If…? Season 3, Episode 6: “What If… 1872?”
- Saturday, December 28, 2024: What If…? Season 3, Episode 7: “What If… The Watcher Disappeared?”
- Sunday, December 29, 2024: What If…? Season 3, Episode 8: “What If… What If?”
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