How a Humorous Idea Turned into Disney+’s ‘Wonder Man’, According to the Executive Producer
Destin Daniel Cretton revealed the inspiration behind the upcoming Marvel series during a recent discussion. “The genesis of the idea actually sprouted when we were on the set of Shang Chi, where I loved working with Sir Ben [Kingsley, as Trevor Slattery]. He’s been such a standout and underutilized character,” Cretton explained. He jokingly pitched the concept to his producer, Jonathan Schwartz, suggesting the title “Trevor Goes To Hollywood.”
What began as a light-hearted idea quickly gained momentum. “The joke pitch kind of escalated because Schwartz, as a joke, made a poster with our art department depicting Trevor Slattery in a convertible, designed to look like something from the 1980s. I thought, we have to do this show! So that’s how it began.” This playful concept eventually transformed into an unusual addition to the Marvel Universe.
Watch on Deadline
Cretton noted that the project started to take shape when they discovered a similar series was also in development. “While we were pitching the show, we learned that Wonder Man was being developed with a similar theme surrounding Hollywood. Those two ideas collided, and that’s when Andrew [Guest, EP] came in to help us solidify the show’s vibe.”
The series focuses on Simon Williams (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), a struggling actor whose chance encounter with Slattery leads to a role in the remake of ‘Wonder Man.’ However, he faces challenges due to the Hollywood “Doorman Clause,” which prohibits anyone with supernatural abilities from working in film and television.
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II described his experience working with Kingsley as a “labor of respect.” He shared an insightful lesson from the Academy Award winner: “Sir Ben told me early on, he said ‘look, the time outside of action and cut is not for us; it’s for everybody else. All we get as actors is the time between action and cut, and we treat it as sacred, allowing the camera to find what’s between us. It was a pleasure.”
The production faced significant challenges during its first season. Executive Producer Andrew Guest noted that they were nearing the halfway point when the industry strike occurred, casting uncertainty on the future of Wonder Man. “This was a risk creatively for Marvel, and it’s one they reexamined during the strike. It’s been this underground project that the people at Marvel believed in.”
Check back Monday for the panel video.
