Watch Sir Ben Kingsley Explain the ‘Layers’ of Character Development That Led Him Back to Marvel for ‘Wonder Man’

“Wonder Man” is a series unlike anything else you’ll find in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Disney+ show about a struggling actor with actual superpowers who struggles to land a role in a superhero movie is as much of a Hollywood satire as a comic book adaptation. Creators Destin Daniel Cretton and Andrew Guest lend an auteur’s touch to the material, creating something that stands on its own while still bearing some of the MCU’s crowd pleasing flourishes. The show also provides a charming showcase for its two lead actors, with Sir Ben Kingsley reprising his “Iron Man 3” and “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” role as actor (and occasional supervillain impersonator) Trevor Slattery, who befriends Yahya Abdul-Mateen II’s Simon Williams.

A special show merits a special screening, and attendees at IndieWire and Disney’s recent Pass the Remote event were treated to an unforgettable night at Vidiots Foundation in Eagle Rock. Recent IndieWire Honorees Cretton and Guest joined Kingsley for a wide-ranging conversation about the show’s unique place within the MCU.

Andrew Guest, Destin Daniel Cretton and Sir Ben Kingsley at the IndieWire Pass The Remote: ‘Wonder Man’ screeningRich Polk

“One of the things that was unique about this project is that often projects start internally at Marvel. They’re looking at a run of comics to turn into a show or movie,” Guest said. “This project really started with these two gentlemen [Kingsley and Cretton], and their relationship while working together on ‘Shang-Chi.’ They had so much fun and there was so much joy there, and there was so much more to explore with Sir Ben’s character of Trevor. Destin said ‘Could we do a show where Trevor goes to Hollywood?’ There was a competing project internally where they wanted to do a ‘Wonder Man’ series, then at a certain point they realized that it might be the same show.”

Cretton explained that he was drawn to Trevor Slattery due to the depth that Kingsley brought to character that otherwise could have just been comic relief.

“The character could so easily be a one-note character,” he said. “But what was exciting to me while shooting ‘Shang-Chi’ was all the layers behind the comedy. I just wanted to know more about Trevor Slattery.”

Sir Ben Kingsley and Destin Daniel CrettonRich Polk

Once Cretton and Guest’s idea was in motion, it was time to pitch it to Sir Ben Kingsley. The Oscar-winning actor said that he was immediately game, citing the attention to detail that the two creators put into the next evolution of his character.

“An actor can only grow by invitation. I’m commissioned to paint a portrait, much like a portrait artist is commissioned,” he said. “I had this wonderful meeting and phone call with dear Destin, and this wonderful script by Andrew, and saw that the extrapolations made absolute, total sense. It’s as if I was saying to these gentlemen ‘How did you know about those layers? Which were quite subtly placed, but not headline-baring at all.”

Watch the complete panel from the “Wonder Man” Pass the Remote event in the video above.

“Wonder Man” is now streaming on Disney+.