The MCU Running Joke That's Coming True In Hulu's M.O.D.O.K.
Hulu's M.O.D.O.K. is the show nobody saw coming but almost everyone is anticipating. While audiences will probably never go to see a M.O.D.O.K. movie, Hulu of all platforms is receiving a show based on the hovering head himself. Unlike other current Marvel shows that blend action and comedy, such as The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, M.O.D.O.K. sits squarely in the comedy corner, complete with Robot Chicken stop-motion toy aesthetic — or at least the oft-forgotten show Titan Maximum.
Judging by the trailers, M.O.D.O.K. is one big, extended joke. In the show, M.O.D.O.K.'s organization, A.I.M., is incompetent and bankrupt, both morally and monetarily. And, M.O.D.O.K. himself is married and has two kids, only one of whom is a giant floating head. How does that even work? Regardless, not all of the show's jokes are self-contained. Even though the program is disconnected from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, one of M.O.D.O.K.'s casting choices references a running MCU joke that's harder to kill than Deadpool.
At long last, Nathan Fillion gets to play Wonder Man
Recently, the Marvel Entertainment Twitter account teased three supervillains (and one superhero) who would appear in Hulu's M.O.D.O.K., as well as the actors who will voice them. These include Bill Hader as The Leader and Angar the Screamer, Whoopi Goldberg as Poundcakes, and Nathan Fillion as Wonder Man. This isn't the first time Fillion portrayed Wonder Man in a Marvel property, but it's the first time Wonder Man has appeared in a piece of modern Marvel media. This requires a bit of explanation.
Before Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 hit theaters, pictures of fake movie posters featuring Fillion as Marvel Universe movie star Simon Williams, the alter ego of Wonder Man, swarmed the internet. The scenes to feature the posters, which were to be Fillion's only real cameo in the film, were cut from the final release cut; according to director James Gunn, the cameo slowed down the movie's pace. However, while Fillion's Marvel Cinematic Universe debut never came to pass, the potential has maintained more staying power than the source material character. For example, some audiences hoped Fillion would appear in WandaVision as Wonder Man thanks to a Grim Reaper helmet Easter egg — Grim Reaper is Wonder Man's brother, after all.
Those were two possible entry points for Wonder Man down, no payoff. But, M.O.D.O.K. will do what other shows and movies would not and finally let audiences see/hear Fillion play Wonder Man.