Production designers Cindy Chao and Michele Yu recently pulled back the curtain on the meticulous details woven throughout the Disney+ limited series, explaining how nearly every prop, address, poster and background element was designed to deepen the show's connection to Marvel lore while celebrating Los Angeles and the people who helped bring the series to life.
Now streaming on Disney+, Wonder Man stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams, an aspiring actor who unexpectedly possesses extraordinary powers. As Simon pursues his Hollywood dream, he navigates familiar Los Angeles landmarks, film studios, restaurants and theaters while hoping to land the lead role in a reboot of the fictional superhero movie Wonder Man. Along the way, viewers can spot references ranging from She-Hulk makeup and Hulk-branded protein powder to movie posters featuring Kingo from Eternals.
Simon Williams' Hidden Comic References
According to Yu, one of the cleverest Easter eggs in the series has surprisingly escaped the attention of most Marvel fans.
"His car license plate number is a reference to his comic book mutant ID number," she says. "We thought [it] would be a slam dunk of everybody catching them."
Simon's apartment number also carries comic book significance.
"Simon lives in apartment #9," Yu explains, noting that it "was a reference to the first issue that 'Wonder Man' appeared in."
The character made his comic debut in The Avengers #9, published in October 1964.
She adds, "Every number and address that shows up in the series was some reference to either a comic book issue number or an existing number in the MCU associated with Simon Williams or with the creators of Wonder Man."
Great Lakes Avengers and Asgard References
The series also introduces another deep-cut Marvel nod in the "Doorman" episode, where DeMarr Davis—better known in the comics as Doorman and portrayed by Josh Gad—appears on screen.
Yu revealed that even the apartment décor contains subtle clues.
"In the Doorman's apartment, we included a map of the Great Lakes."
Episode 2 continues the hidden references inside the recreated LAX terminal, where fictional travel advertisements invite visitors to Asgard.
Chao praised graphic designer Sarah Gonzalez for bringing those visuals to life.
"She illustrated and put together each of the regions of what Asgard would look like, and we had a little homage to that planet in that set."
A Touching Tribute to Morris
One of Yu's personal favorite Easter eggs connects directly to Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
While designing Trevor Slattery's apartment, she imagined what might have become of Morris, the beloved faceless mythical creature who accompanied Trevor in the film.
"Something must have happened, but we think that Trevor would have kept something around that reminded him of Morris."
That idea inspired an unusual piece of furniture.
"If you look at the footstool, this does appear on screen briefly," Yu says. "It's a fur-covered footstool. We tried to give it six legs. I don't know if it ended up having six legs, but he has a little footstool in his apartment that is a tribute to Morris, and what we think he would have kept around to remind him of his great friend."
Celebrating Los Angeles
Beyond Marvel references, the production team also wanted Wonder Man to serve as a love letter to Los Angeles.
Among Chao's favorite additions was a recreation of the iconic murals found along the city's 101 Freeway.
"We did our version of that mural. When they're running out of the hotel, you could see our version of the mural, which is a tiled version, and you could see that in one of the shots in the background."
Reviving Vintage Hollywood Posters
Throughout the series, viewers may also notice vibrant vintage-style advertisements inspired by the now-defunct Colby Poster Co., once famous for its fluorescent inks and bold typography.
Yu explained why recreating the company's signature style mattered.
"It was a very accessible and inexpensive way for businesses to create advertisements, and the design of it was very instinctual. The letter press operators would take notes about what text you wanted, and all of the decision-making for the design would happen in-house at the printing press."
Working from extensive historical research, graphic designer Sarah Gonzalez recreated the posters for the series.
"We gave her all this research material, and we replicated this look. You can see some of the posters, and they were always meant for the background. They were never going to have like a front and center moment, but they're there."
Hidden Tributes to the Crew
The production also found a creative way to honor members of the crew.
During a fast-moving car chase near the Hollywood Palladium, posters advertising a fictional band actually feature members of the production team.
Yu recalled, "We did a little photo shoot with some of our crew who are all working in L.A. We made the crew band members as if they were playing an upcoming show. It's a quick drive by, and you can't identify any of them, but we did that."
Elsewhere in the series, the Department of Damage Control offices display "Wanted" posters featuring the faces of friends connected to the production.
Simon's Family Story Includes a Personal Tribute
The show's emotional world also contains deeply personal touches.
Although Simon's father died before the events of the series, the production established that he had once been a chef who owned his own restaurant. That history is reflected through subtle details inside Martha Williams' kitchen.
"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."
Yu also revealed that one restaurant prop carried special meaning from her own life.
"The list of dishes that 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?'"
She added that those kinds of personal details help make the fictional world feel authentic, giving viewers "another layer of reality" as they explore the series.