Marvel Television's limited series 'Wonder Man' utilized numerous iconic Los Angeles spots to depict the gritty reality of Hollywood aspirations. Starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as aspiring actor Simon Williams, the meta superhero show highlights theaters, restaurants, and studios across the city. Production designers Cindy Chao and Michele Yu, both L.A. natives, curated these sites to peel back the city's layers.
The series 'Wonder Man' follows Simon Williams, an actor with supernatural powers, as he navigates Hollywood in hopes of landing a role in a superhero reboot. Filming took place at various authentic L.A. venues, emphasizing the contrast between dreams and reality.
Production designers Cindy Chao and Michele Yu drew from their personal experiences to select locations. "Production design, when it comes to location shooting, is very much the curation of the world around us," Yu explained. They aimed to showcase evocative, less obvious spots, like the giant Superior Tile man in Laurel Canyon, which appears in the show.
Key theaters featured include the Highland Theater in Highland Park, where Simon meets Trevor during a 'Midnight Cowboy' screening—one of at least six classic venues used. The Eagle Theater in Eagle Rock, now Vidiots, was dressed for a 1990s flashback with a fruit vendor for neighborhood authenticity. The Sowden House in Los Feliz, a Neo-Mayan structure designed by Lloyd Wright in 1926, served as the set for the movie-within-a-movie, evoking films like 'L.A. Confidential' and 'The Aviator.' The Fox Village Theater in Westwood hosted the in-show premiere, with the Bruin Theater visible nearby; Chao recalled watching 'Titanic' there as a memorable experience.
Other sites include a Beverly Hills mansion for eccentric director Van Kovak, accessed after a visit to Koreatown's Break Room 86 nightclub. Ben Kingsley's character resides in the historic Talmadge building in Koreatown, cluttered with global mementos reflecting his MCU roles, including 'Shang-Chi.' Restaurants like trendy Mother Wolf in Hollywood—once a newspaper office—and the soon-to-close Taix French Restaurant in Echo Park provided backdrops for pivotal scenes. The studio lot combined Radford Studios and Paramount, capturing old Hollywood magic.
Yu and Chao emphasized L.A.'s irreplaceable role: "There’s just no place like L.A.," Yu said, highlighting benefits for crew, vendors, and the industry's recovery. Their field trips, including to Echo Park's Randyland (though not used), ensured a multifaceted portrayal of the city.
