Hailee Steinfeld made a surprise appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe reprising her role as Kate Bishop in the latest episode of Marvel Studios' animated series, "What If...?" Season 3. Fans of the franchise were excited to see Steinfeld's character return after her initial appearance in the 2021 series "Hawkeye" on Disney+, followed by a brief cameo in the post-credits scene of "The Marvels."
In "What If...1872?," the sixth episode of the current season, Steinfeld's Kate Bishop teams up with Simu Liu's Shang-Chi in a unique Multiversal storyline set in the Old West. This marks the first time audiences have seen Kate Bishop since the finale of "Hawkeye," but this time she is portrayed through animation.
The episode transports viewers to 1872 where Kate Bishop is no longer navigating the streets of New York City with her bow and arrow. Instead, she rides horseback, demonstrating sharpshooting skills with a revolver while still donning her signature purple and black. In this storyline, Bishop is on a quest to confront the Hood, who is responsible for the death of her family, while Shang-Chi searches for his long-lost sister Xu Xialing.
Their journey leads them to a young boy named Kwai Jun-Fan who reveals that the Hood has been capturing Chinese immigrants and brainwashing them with the help of Sonny Burch. As the plot unfolds, both heroes find themselves captured by the Hood only to discover that Xialing has taken on the Hood's powers after killing him. In a climactic moment, Steinfeld's Bishop ultimately defeats Xialing, aided by the Watcher, who helps free the captives and prevents Kate from falling victim to brainwashing.
The episode concludes with Kate Bishop and Shang-Chi deciding to remain partners, riding off into the sunset for their next adventure. However, the Watcher faces consequences for his interference, hinting at broader Multiversal implications.
While this animated role marks a new chapter for Steinfeld's portrayal of Kate Bishop, she is no stranger to voice acting in the Marvel universe. In addition to her role as Kate, she voices Gwen Stacy in the animated "Spider-Verse" films, with her story set to continue in "Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse."
As fans eagerly anticipate Steinfeld's return to live-action as Kate Bishop, speculation abounds regarding her future in the MCU. With hints of a potential "Young Avengers" project and the possibility of "Hawkeye" Season 2 in the works, it seems likely that Kate Bishop will play a significant role in upcoming ensemble films like "Avengers: Doomsday" or "Secret Wars."
In the meantime, Steinfeld's next MCU appearance may also be animated as she is set to star in the 2025 Disney+ series "Marvel Zombies" alongside Iman Vellani's Ms. Marvel and Simu Liu's Shang-Chi.
Hailee Steinfeld Makes a Surprising Return to the MCU as Kate Bishop