A billion dollars in a week can buy a lot of things, but it can’t buy a second season of Wonder Man. Just as director Destin Daniel Cretton comes off the largest box office opening in history with Spider-Man: Brand New Day, his show Wonder Man was mysteriously cancelled almost simultaneously.
Of course, the two things aren’t necessarily related. Wonder Man is a Disney+ show about a relatively obscure character, and Spider-Man is, well, Spider-Man. But because Wonder Man had been renewed for a second season, received an Emmy nomination, and then had the plug pulled around the same time as Cretton’s new movie, it’s all a little weird.
Speaking to The Wrap, Cretton, who co-created and executive produced Wonder Man (and directed the series’ first two episodes), reminisced about the cancellation. “I love that show to death,” he said. “If it were up to me, we would be making that show. And I do believe that if—and I know this sounds weird—but if it were up to Kevin [Feige], we would be doing that show. And I’m just talking, I don’t fully understand the business of streaming, but if the business was right, we would be making that show because I know [Feige] loves that show as much as I do. It’s a bummer. I’m heartbroken about it. But I need to fully understand the why.”
Yes, that is Cretton not-so-subtly hinting that the president of Marvel Studios is not the reason a second season isn’t happening. It’s a decision from further up the food chain and, to be fair, that chain doesn’t go a whole lot higher.
Cretton was then asked about potentially directing a Wonder Man movie, which he seemed at least mildly interested in “because then we can clearly know if it’s a success or not,” he said. “It’s just very clear numbers.” As opposed to streaming, which keeps those numbers secret and safe.
Odds are, though, we won’t be seeing any more Wonder Man, which is a shame, because season two had such potential to take the story into fun places and work was well underway. But if anyone has the clout to bring him back in some way, it’s Cretton.
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