Did Marvel try to sink Wonder Man? Series co-creator Destin Daniel Cretton speaks out on how supportive the studio REALLY was with the show.
Wonder Man was poised to be one of this year’s earliest surprise hits before it even came out. However, as the days ticked forward toward a release date, some strange news began to find its way onto the net. Perhaps the most interesting was the fact that Marvel planned to drop the entire series on the same day. Combine this with reports that the show was almost scrapped during the WGA/SAG strikes, and many saw this as Marvel trying to bury something they couldn’t kill the first time.
But reality isn’t always as simple as the narratives people make up in their heads (or, even worse, on social media). While speaking with the station Majic 102.1, Wonder Man co-creator Destin Daniel Cretton assured fans that Marvel didn’t want to kill Wonder Man. In fact, it was only with their support that he was able to take the creative swings he did.
“If Marvel didn’t care about this show, it wouldn’t be out in the world at all. And it definitely would not be out in the world in the form that it is. I think it’s…I am very happy to see that people are loving the show for the same reasons we do, because it’s different. It’s a bit of a big swing for Marvel to take. And I can’t say it was a struggle to make.”
“Everybody from Kevin on down really loved the tone of the show and loved that it was different, and loved pushing limits. And everybody here loves movies, and that’s what the show is really about. So yeah, the internet likes to make up stories and narratives. But I love the passion behind it because people just love the show and want more people to see it. So I’m all for that.”
The Ending Of Wonder Man Explained
Destin Daniel Cretton also gave some insight into why the series had such a unique finale. In contrast to most Marvel shows, which end with a CGI slug fest, Wonder Man ended on a superbly subdued note. The co-creator reveals that this was on purpose, showing the simple beauty in two people learning to change their ways.
“I think there is a beautiful simplicity that was an idea that Andrew and I talked about very early on in the process. Of having two characters who, for most of their lives, have been fairly self-centered. They’ve lived most of their life making choices around the orbit of one.”
“And seeing them, over the course of this show, learn how to be a friend. And so the finale of this show is watching two narcissists make the first time in their life potentially make a real sacrifice for somebody else. And I find it very simple and beautiful and moving.”
That simplicity is, ultimately, why Wonder Man worked where so many other Marvel projects on Disney Plus failed. The series wasn’t afraid to subvert the expectations of its audience, and in doing so managed to achieve something great, even if it wasn’t perfectly to the taste of its core fanbase. And with Destin Daniel Cretton helming the new Spider-Man film, it’s certain he’ll be bringing this flair to many projects to come.
Wonder Man is now streaming on Disney Plus. Stay tuned for the latest news regarding Wonder Man and the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe!
