Marvel’s “Wonder Man” is packed with hidden gems, including Easter eggs, cameos, and connections to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Some are easy to spot, while others are cleverly concealed.
Production designers Cindy Chao and Michele Yu are the perfect guides to uncover these secrets.
The limited series, now available on Disney+, features Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams, an aspiring actor endowed with supernatural abilities. As he navigates Hollywood, Simon frequents well-known L.A. studios, eateries, and cinemas, hoping to land a role in the reboot of the superhero film “Wonder Man.”
Movie posters at the Highland Park theater feature She-Hulk makeup, Hulk protein powder, and even Kingo. For Chao and Yu, the series was an opportunity to embed numerous teasers for fans to explore. Here, they share some of their favorites.
Simon’s License Plate and his apartment
Yu found it fascinating to read about the Easter eggs fans managed to spot. However, she has a particular fondness for Simon’s license plate, which she believes has gone unnoticed.
“The number on his car’s license plate references his comic book mutant ID number,” she notes. “We thought it would be a sure bet for everyone to catch.”
Furthermore, Simon lives in apartment #9, which Yu reveals “references the first issue in which ‘Wonder Man’ appeared.” He debuted in “The Avengers” #9 in October 1964. She adds, “Every number and address featured in the series relates to either a comic book issue number or an MCU number linked to Simon Williams or the creators of Wonder Man.”
Great Lakes Avengers
In the episode “Doorman,” DeMarr Davis, a founding member of the Great Lakes Avengers, makes an appearance with the codename “Doorman,” portrayed by Josh Gad. Yu mentions, “In Doorman’s apartment, we included a map of the Great Lakes.”
Travel to Asgard
In Episode 2’s LAX set, background posters advertise travel to Asgard. Chao praises the work of graphic designer Sarah Gonzalez, who “illustrated and assembled each region of what Asgard might look like, paying homage to that planet in the set.”
Trevor Slattery’s apartment
Yu’s favorite Easter egg is the Shang-Chi reference in Trevor’s apartment. While designing the space, Yu contemplated Trevor’s bond with his pet Morris and the mythical creature’s fate. Yu speculates, “Something must have happened, but we think Trevor would have kept something around to remind him of Morris.”
Yu explains that a reminder of Morris was essential. “If you look at the footstool, it briefly appears on screen.” She adds, “It’s a fur-covered footstool. We tried to give it six legs. I’m not sure if it ended up with six, but he has a little footstool in his apartment that serves as a tribute to Morris, reminding him of his dear friend.”
Homage to Los Angeles
Set in Los Angeles, the show pays tribute to the city Chao and Yu love. A standout feature is the recreation of the famous freeway murals along the 101. Chao especially admired one depicting Grecian statues floating in space. She says, “We created our version of that mural. As they’re running out of the hotel, you can see it, which is a tiled version, in one of the background shots.”
Colby Posters
The show celebrates the now-closed Colby Poster Co., known for its fluorescent ink and bold typography. Yu explains, “It was an affordable and accessible way for businesses to make advertisements, with design decisions made in-house at the printing press.”
Once again, graphic designer Sarah Gonzalez contributed to honoring these vintage posters, which are featured throughout the show.
“We provided her with research material, and we recreated this look. You can spot some of the posters, always intended for the background, but they’re there,” Yu notes.
An homage to the film crew
Yu reveals a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it tribute. During a car chase past the Hollywood Palladium, they “did a little photo shoot with some of our crew working in L.A., making them band members as if playing an upcoming show. It’s a quick drive by, and you can’t identify any of them, but we did that.”
Moreover, the DODC (United States Department of Damage Control) offices feature Wanted posters on the wall, with the faces belonging to various friends.
Simon’s Dad, the chef
Simon’s backstory includes his father, who has passed away, and was once a chef who opened a restaurant.
Yu elaborates, “That was part of how they built community as a family. We wanted to give little hints that he was a cook. We wanted to incorporate stuff in set dressing in Martha’s (his mom, played by Shola Adewusi) kitchen that gave you hints of what his dad used to do. We had a framed chef’s hat that his dad would have worn.”
One detail Yu was excited to include was a framed paper tri-fold menu. “The list of dishes was specific to the style of Haitian cooking that his dad would have done, but the logo for the restaurant was a replica of a logo that my family’s restaurant had in the ’90s. When the opportunity came up that Simon’s dad was a chef, I was like, ‘Can I put a little bit of my reality in there?’” Yu believes these personal touches add another layer of authenticity for viewers.
