Created by writer Stan Lee and artist and co-plotter Jack Kirby for Marvel Comics, the character Uatu / Watcher first appeared without a name in Fantastic Four vol. 1 #13 (1963), and periodically reappeared in that title. He then starred in "Tales of the Watcher", a backup feature that ran in Tales of Suspense vol. 1 #49–58 (1964–1965), Silver Surfer vol. 1 #1–7 (1968–1969), and Marvel Super-Heroes vol. 1 #23 (1969). His origin was revealed in Tales of Suspense vol. 1 #52–53 (1964), and his name was revealed in Captain Marvel vol. 1 #39 (1975).
The Watchers race first appeared in the MCU in the film Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017), as part of a Stan Lee cameo in which Lee appears as an informant to the Watchers, discussing previous adventures that include his cameos in other MCU films.[1] This acknowledged the fan theory that Lee may be portraying the same character in all his cameos,[2] with Vol. 2 director James Gunn noting that "people thought Stan Lee is a Watcher and that all of these cameos are part of him being a Watcher. So, Stan Lee as a guy who is working for the Watchers was something that I thought was fun for the MCU."[1][2]
What If...? writer A. C. Bradley said the character is "above everything else" and compared him to a viewer of the "pizza rat" video, observing and not interfering as he has "no interest in becoming friends with the rat, living amongst the rat, or doing rat things... That is the Watcher's relationship with humanity."[9] The Watcher's role in the series has been likened to Rod Serling's in The Twilight Zone.[10] Executive producer Brad Winderbaum felt Wright's vocal performance inspired a sense of humanity while explaining things about the episodes,[11] and Bradley explained that Wright was cast because his voice mixes power, charisma, and authority with a "warm personality".[9] Wright approached the character like he would a live-action role, learning as much as he could about the Watcher so his voice could reflect the character's "uniquely powerful, all-seeing, sagely presence". Wright chose a contemporary American accent rather than having the character sound like "some Oxford-educated, old, fusty guy in a tudor parlor somewhere",[10] and, aside from researching the character's comic book appearances, Wright took inspiration from the series' tone, visuals, and animation when developing the character's voice.[12] The comic book name "Uatu" is initially not used in the series because this would imply that there was more than one being watching the series' events when Bradley instead wanted to focus on the narrative of "the Watcher" observing the different characters and realities and how those affect him.[13]:12:04–13:35 The Watcher is identified as Uatu by the end of season 3, however.
Following the creation of the multiverse, the Watcher observes the branching timelines that stem from the "Sacred Timeline". At first, the Watcher narrates the stories of Captain Carter, T'Challa Star-Lord, the assassination of the Avengers, and when Doctor Strange Supreme fell to darkness. While observing Strange's story, Strange begins to witness the Watcher and later, begs for him to save his universe that is collapsing, but the Watcher refuses to interfere due to his oath, leaving Strange alone. The Watcher continues his observations, which includes the zombie apocalypse, Erik "Killmonger" Stevens saving and befriending Tony Stark, and Thor adopting a party lifestyle.
He later observes and narrates the events of another universe, where Ultron succeeded in wiping out life on his universe by uploading his consciousness in Vision's body, and obtaining all of the Infinity Stones. Like Strange Supreme, Ultron also becomes aware of the Watcher after hearing his voice, and (to the Watcher's horror) intends to destroy and conquer the Multiverse.
As the surviving Avengers from Ultron's universe seek an artificial intelligence which can wipe out Ultron's program, the Watcher is attacked by Ultron throughout the Multiverse. He attempts to fight back, but is overpowered by Ultron and forced to retreat. The Watcher is met with Strange Supreme, who convinces him that it is time to "break his oath" if he wants to stop Ultron. Reluctant at first, the Watcher agrees, and recruits Captain Carter, Star-Lord T'Challa, Prince Killmonger, Party Thor, and a Warlord version of Gamora to become the Guardians of the Multiverse. This group of Guardians ultimately defeats Ultron, resulting in Prince Killmonger and Arnim Zola eternally fighting for control of the Infinity Stones in a pocket universe watched by Strange Supreme, which Strange realizes was the Watcher's plan all along. The Watcher also transplants the Black Widow of the universe destroyed by Ultron to "a world that lost their widow".
In the third season, the Watcher continues to interfere in the stories of various heroes, and is put on trial by other Watchers due to his disobedience to their cardinal rule of noninterference. In the Fifth Dimension, the Watcher stands trial before the other three Watchers, the Eminence, the Incarnate, and the Executioner, while Captain Peggy Carter leads a team consisting of Kahhori, a grown-up Byrdie, and a Mjolnir-wielding Storm in stopping multiversal incursions. Carter and her team notice three shards from the Watcher's observatory and resolve to help him. After Carter is captured, a variant of Infinity Ultron agrees to help rescue Carter and the Watcher.
In a flashback, a Watcher disciple named Uatu was recruited to become a full Watcher by the Eminence. In the present, the Watcher is placed on trial for his repeated interference, such as giving Doctor Strange Supreme the information he needed to recreate his destroyed universe, saving Riri Williams and Kwai Jun-Fan amongst others, as well as involving Captain Carter in his affairs. The Watcher and Carter are rescued by Ultron, who sacrifices himself to buy them time to escape. The Watchers give chase, attempting to erase them from existence, but the Watcher grants Carter's team the powers of a Watcher before Carter sacrifices herself to transport everyone to Strange Supreme's universe where Strange, having become the sentient consciousness of that universe, removes the powers of the Eminence, Incarnate, and Executioner. The Watcher convinces the humbled trio to learn by watching over life in this new universe. As they mourn Carter's death, the Watcher invites Kahhori, Byrdie, and Storm to join him in watching over the multiverse.
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