| What/If | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Thriller |
| Created by | Mike Kelley |
| Starring | |
| Composer | Fil Eisler |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 10 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Producer | Stephen Sassen |
| Cinematography | Jeffrey C. Mygatt |
| Editors |
|
| Camera setup | Single-camera |
| Running time | 44–56 minutes |
| Production companies | |
| Original release | |
| Network | Netflix |
| Release | May 24, 2019 (2019-05-24) |
What/If (stylized asWHAT⧸IF) is an Americanthriller miniseries, created byMike Kelley, that premiered on May 24, 2019, onNetflix.[1] The series starsJane Levy,Blake Jenner,Daniella Pineda,Keith Powers,Samantha Marie Ware,Dave Annable,Saamer Usmani,John Clarence Stewart,Louis Herthum, andRenée Zellweger.
What/If is aneo-noir thriller that, according toDeadline Hollywood's Nellie Andreeva, explores "the ripple effects of what happens when acceptable people start doing unacceptable things. Each season will tackle a different morality tale inspired by culturally consequential source material, and the power of a single fateful decision to change the trajectory of an entire life."[2][3]
On August 17, 2018, it was announced thatNetflix had given the production a series order for a first season consisting of ten episodes. The series was created byMike Kelley who was also expected to write for the series. Executive producers were slated to include Kelley, Melissa Loy, Alex Gartner,Charles Roven,Robert Zemeckis, andJack Rapke. Additionally, Jackie Levine was slated to serve as a co-executive producer andPhillip Noyce was expected to direct and executive produce the first two episodes. Production companies involved with the series were expected to consist of Page Fright,Atlas Entertainment, Compari Entertainment, andWarner Bros. Television.[2][6][7] On April 23, 2019, it was announced that the series would premiere on May 24, 2019.[1]
Alongside the series order announcement, it was confirmed thatRenée Zellweger had been cast in the series' lead role.[2][6][7] In August 2018, it was announced thatJane Levy andBlake Jenner had joined the cast in starring roles.[8][9] In September 2018, it was reported that Samantha Ware, Juan Castano,Keith Powers, Saamer Usmani,Dave Annable, andLouis Herthum had been cast in the series with Herthum in a recurring role.[10][11]
In December 2018, it was announced thatDaniella Pineda had joined the main cast in a series regular role and thatTyler Ross, Derek Smith, Nana Ghana, Monique Kim, and Marissa Cuevas would appear in a recurring capacity.[12][13]
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Prod. code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Pilot" | Phillip Noyce | Mike Kelley | May 24, 2019 (2019-05-24) | T13.21401 |
| 2 | "What Now" | Phillip Noyce | Mike Kelley | May 24, 2019 (2019-05-24) | T13.21402 |
| 3 | "What Happened" | Russell Fine | David Graziano | May 24, 2019 (2019-05-24) | T13.21403 |
| 4 | "What Drama" | Jessika Borsiczky | Robin Wasserman | May 24, 2019 (2019-05-24) | T13.21404 |
| 5 | "What Next" | Fernando Coimbra & Jill Maxcy | Blair Singer | May 24, 2019 (2019-05-24) | T13.21405 |
| 6 | "What History" | Joanna Kerns | Brenna Kouf | May 24, 2019 (2019-05-24) | T13.21406 |
| 7 | "What Ghosts" | David Rodriguez | Elizabeth Benjamin | May 24, 2019 (2019-05-24) | T13.21407 |
| 8 | "What Secrets" | Maggie Kiley | Blair Singer & Mike Kelley | May 24, 2019 (2019-05-24) | T13.21408 |
| 9 | "WTF" | J. Miller Tobin | David Graziano & Robin Wasserman | May 24, 2019 (2019-05-24) | T13.21409 |
| 10 | "What Remains" | Randy Zisk | Mike Kelley | May 24, 2019 (2019-05-24) | T13.21410 |
On April 23, 2019, the official teaser for the series was released.[14] On May 13, 2019, Netflix released the official trailer for the first season.[3]
Onreview aggregatorRotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 44% based on 32 reviews, with an average rating of 5.35/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "A deliriously delicious performance from Renée Zellweger can't saveWhat/If from its own mediocrity, but boy is she fun to watch."[15] OnMetacritic, it has a weighted average score of 58 out of 100, based on 12 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[16]
Haider Rifaat ofThe Express Tribune wrote, "The writing is pretty much the heart of the show. Immaculate dialogues, nuanced characters and relationships, both broken and unscathed, are a few exciting features that make it compelling. Not to forgo the incredible acting prowess of Zellweger, who impeccably embraces the character of Anne. Subtle gestures, symbolic interaction and character development are some commendable aspects that intensify the actors’ performances."[17] NPR's Linda Holmes concluded: "... it's not a good show, but it's entertaining in a very specific way. Zellweger has sunk her teeth so deeply into this notion of Welcome To Rich Prowling Cougartown that she's practically licking up bowls of milk. Everything inWhat/If is forever being revealed and unfurled and figuratively glitter-bombed, and if I were trying to distract myself from the problems of the world and had perhaps a tankard of wine and a dear friend at my disposal, I just might put my head on a fuzzy pillow and fire it up."[18]
