Destin Daniel Cretton Explains How ‘Wonder Man’ Started With a Joke Pitch
Against all odds, Wonder Man managed to expand the Marvel Cinematic Universe in an unexpected direction by telling the story of a struggling Hollywood actor and his unlikely best friend.
Debuting last January on Disney+, the series introduced audiences to Simon Williams (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), a struggling actor who secretly has superpowers.
Image: Disney
Throughout the series, Williams forms an unlikely friendship with Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley), who reprised his roles from Iron Man 3 and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. It is a relationship that ultimately shapes both of their journeys.
“Aspiring Hollywood actor Simon Williams is struggling to get his career off the ground. During a chance meeting with Trevor Slattery, an actor whose biggest roles may be well behind him, Simon learns legendary director Von Kovak is remaking the superhero film ‘Wonder Man,’” the series synopsis explains.
“These two actors at opposite ends of their careers pursue life-changing roles while giving audiences a peek behind the curtain of the entertainment industry.”
‘Wonder Man’ Began as a Joke
While Wonder Man ultimately won over critics and fans with its fresh take on the superhero genre, the series actually began as something of a joke.
In a recent interview with Deadline, executive producer Destin Daniel Cretton revealed that the idea first emerged while working on Shang-Chi.
“The genesis of the idea actually sprouted when we were on the set of Shang-Chi and I just loved working with Sir Ben. I really loved his character and felt like in every movie Trevor Slattery has been a standout and underutilized,” Cretton said. “So I did a joke pitch to my producer Jonathan Schwartz and said, ‘We should do Trevor Goes to Hollywood.’”
What started as a joke quickly gained traction.
Producer Jonathan Schwartz even created a mock poster with the art department, featuring Trevor Slattery in a convertible with a stylized 1980s look.
“That’s when I thought we have to do this show,” Cretton added.
Worlds Collide
As development continued, Marvel was already working on a separate Wonder Man concept centered on Hollywood and the entertainment industry.
Image: Disney
“When we were really pitching the show, we found out that Wonder Man was also being developed around what a show would be like in the MC Hollywood. Those two ideas collided and that’s when [executive producer] Andrew [Guest] came in and helped us create the real vibe of the show,” Cretoon explained.
Image: Disney
