“She-Hulk: Attorney At Law” is the next Marvel property to release this year, coming out next week on August 18. And the nine-episode series may be the most original and unlikely MCU content yet: a legal drama, but with superheroes. Series creator Jessica Gao is confident the project will find an audience, though, and a lot of that has to do with the source material she used from original Marvel comics.
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/Film reports that Gao talked about the upcoming series at a recent press event, and divulged why she got involved with “She-Hulk.” “For me foundationally, first and foremost was the fourth wall breaking, and the meta humor, and the self-awareness,” she said. “It was the John Byrne run [in the comics] that made me fall in love with this character. It was so lighthearted and fun, and refreshing.” And Gao is no stranger to comedy either. She’s worked on a spate of other TV comedies, like “Rick And Morty,” “Robot Chicken,” and “Silicon Valley.”
At the press release, Gao also let it slip that “She-Hulk” isn’t the first time she’s tried to work with Marvel. In fact, this is her fourth, and first successful, attempt to do so. “I was elated because it was a dream job, but also I’d been rejected by Marvel three times for previous projects, so I was like, ‘I guess fourth time’s the charm!'” she mentioned. She’s glad “She-Hulk” ended up being the MCU project she ultimately worked on, though. “It was the right project,” Gao continued. “I’m glad they rejected me so many times.”
“She-Hulk” stars Tatiana Maslany as Jennifer Walters, lawyer and cousin of Bruce Banner, aka The Hulk, who adopts some of Banner’s Hulk powers after a blood transfusion. However, her new She-Hulk persona doesn’t keep her from continuing to go to court. Other cast members include Jameela Jamil, Ginger Gonzaga, and Renée Elise Goldsberry, with cameos from Mark Ruffalo, Tim Roth, Benedict Wong, and Charlie Cox reprising their respective MCU roles.
Will Jessica Gao’s comedic talents help “She-Hulk” rise above the glut of current Marvel content? The show premieres on Disney+ on August 18, with new episodes every week through October 13.