Wonder Man, 1 of Marvel’s Best Shows Ever, Began as a ‘Joke Pitch’

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Originally, Wonder Man was seen as a bit of a long shot, almost a joke, before it actually started production and landed on Disney+. Despite starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (known for Aquaman, Watchmen, and Man on Fire), the show faced challenges leading up to its January release, and limited marketing may have stemmed from its initial concept.

Destin Daniel Cretton, the director of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day, recently shared that when he initially suggested a live-action Wonder Man series to Marvel, it wasn’t presented as a fully developed idea.

The idea originated after Destin Daniel Cretton worked on Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and enjoyed collaborating with Sir Ben Kingsley, leading them to jokingly discuss future projects together.

Wonder Man Began As a ‘Joke Pitch” to Marvel

The idea came to me while filming Shang-Chi. I really enjoyed working with Sir Ben Kingsley as Trevor Slattery, and I’ve always thought his character was memorable but hasn’t been used enough. I jokingly suggested to our producer, Jonathan Schwartz, that we make a movie called Trevor Goes To Hollywood.

He explained that the idea for the show started as a joke. Someone created a fun, 1980s-style poster featuring the character Trevor Slattery in a convertible, titled Trevor Goes to Hollywood, and he immediately knew they had to make it a reality. That’s how the whole project got its start.

Even after production started, bringing Wonder Man to life presented significant hurdles, according to executive producer Andrew Guest.

He explained that this project was a creative risk for Marvel, and they likely reconsidered it during the recent strike. It was a passion project for those at Marvel who strongly believed in its potential.

Will There Be a Season 2 of Wonder Man?

It became clear that those who underestimated Wonder Man were wrong, especially considering the Marvel Cinematic Universe was then focused on stories like Spiderman: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday.

Despite a mid-season stumble in Episode 5, and originating as a somewhat unlikely idea that faced production delays due to the actors’ strike, Wonder Man quickly became a hit when it premiered. The show boasted excellent writing and performances, with Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Ben Kingsley displaying incredible on-screen chemistry. Viewers went from being skeptical to eagerly anticipating more of their dynamic duo.

The first season of Wonder Man ended with a hopeful sign for the future, showing Simon Williams embracing his abilities and rescuing Slattery from prison. Marvel has now confirmed a second season of the popular show, which is great news for fans. It seems Wonder Man truly has the last laugh, and the show is set to continue its success.

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2026-04-26 19:39