One of the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe shows scheduled to arrive for streaming on Disney+ is She-Hulk, starring Tatiana Maslany as Jennifer Walters. She-Hulk was created by Stan Lee and John Buscema and originally appeared in The Savage She-Hulk #1 in 1980. Forty-two years later, the character makes her modern-day onscreen debut in the upcoming Disney+ series this summer.
What can MCU fans – and legal nerds (here's looking at you, She-Hulk scribe Charles Soule) – expect when the Disney+ show arrives this summer? Here's everything MovieWeb knows (as well as some Marvel Comics-based deductions) about the narrative that's expected to be wholly unlike anything else in the MCU so far!
She-Hulk Is a "Half-Hour Legal Comedy"
First and foremost, She-Hulk's first season will be composed of ten episodes, and it will take the form of a half-hour legal comedy. In 2020, Marvel head boss Kevin Feige revealed the series is a "half-hour legal comedy" and something Marvel Studios has "never done before." Prima facie, a series described as a legal comedy, is a pretty significant departure for the live-action MCU, which flirted with sitcom-style in WandaVision (but explicitly used the comedy as a language for exploring Wanda's trauma).
However, many of the Marvel Comics stories involving She-Hulk are well suited to comedic adaptation, with characters like Howard the Duck frequently appearing in supporting roles. Per an official Disney Magazine from France, it's been confirmed Howard the Duck is finally returning in live-action form in She-Hulk. In addition, via The Illuminerdi, Marvel was looking to cast a 20-30-year-old female described as a mysterious shape-shifter that embraces Earth's pop culture. Now that Howard has potentially been added to the show's roster of characters, the shape-shifter could be Tara Tam, introduced in Howard the Duck #1 by Chip Zdarsky, Joe Quinones, Rico Renzi, and Travis Lanham.
In the comics, Tara Tam gained her shape-shifting powers by eating a Skrull disguised as a duck (how very Zeus of the Skrull), primarily using them to adjust her awesome tattoos. She isn't the only human to gain powers from similar circumstances either (learn more in Skull Kill Krew #1,1995, by Grant Morrison, Mark Millar, Steve Yeowell, Chris Ivy, Chia-Chi Wang, Digital Chameleon, and Richard Starkings). She sometimes helps Howard in his work as a private investigator. What makes their appearance in the series especially likely is Howard's office is located in the same office building as Jennifer Walters! Shulkie even appears on the fourth page of Zdarsky's Howard the Duck #1, along with another character, Titania, who will be played by Jameela Jamil.
An Award-Winning Creative Team
Behind the camera, the show was created by Jessica Gao. She wrote the season three Rick & Morty episode "Pickle Rick," which won the 2018 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program. She-Hulk will be directed by Kat Coiro, who has a ton of TV credits and experience adapting comics to the screen thanks to directing Marry Me, recently released on Peacock Premium on February 11th, 2022. Coiro directed the first, last, and four additional episodes of the She-Hulk's first season, while Anu Valia directed others.
Dana Schwarz, Melissa Hunter, Cody Ziglar, Kara Brown, and Zeb Wells wrote the series' first season. Interestingly, Ziglar and Wells also write for Marvel Comics, suggesting this season could feature as many deep cuts from Earth-616 as the first season of Marvel's M.O.D.O.K. on Hulu.
World of Hulks: Confirmed Cast
As far as the cast goes, Jen Walters, the attorney who gains Hulk-like powers after a blood transfusion from her cousin, will be played by Maslany. And never fear, Mark Ruffalo will be reprising the role of the said cousin, Bruce Banner, for the show, with teaser footage released during Disney+ Day confirming his appearance. The scene between the Hulkie cousins even pays homage to Bill Bixby as David Banner from the 1970s live-action The Incredible Hulk series through Bruce's outfit and Jennifer's use of David's catchphrase: "Don't make me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry."
The series will also introduce Jamil as Titania, an ongoing antagonist for Walters, whose strength rivals the jade giantess. Meanwhile, Renée Elise Goldsberry will play the enigmatic Amelia, Josh Segarra will play a mystery character, and Ginger Gonzaga will play Walters' best friend; however, in the comics, Patsy Walker is Shulkie's best friend. Jessica Jones cameo, anyone?
There are also rumors She-Hulk will feature some pretty big guest stars. Some of these rumors concern new characters who will be introduced to the MCU, including Megan Thee Stallion, who sources suggest will be playing herself (a suitable role, considering how often the She-Hulk source material shatters the fourth wall). Meanwhile, Tim Roth is returning as Abomination after his scene-stealing cameo in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and William Hurt is meant to reprise the role of Thunderbolt Ross.
"Don't Make Her Angry."
There is still no confirmed release date for when She-Hulk will arrive at Disney+, and reports contradict each other. Disney chief Bob Chapek has said the series would come in the second half of 2022. However, according to a new rumor, the She-Hulk is listed to begin on June 10th. However, this evidence seems thin and not something a good lawyer would want to base a case on, especially with Chapek saying the series will arrive a few months later.
According to a Rotten Tomatoes report, "[Moon Knight] and She-Hulk were designed to continue." This means fans can expect the second season of She-Hulk, even though details about the first season are still scant for now. With Moon Knight, the next MCU streaming series coming to Disney+ in March 2022, it should be only a matter of time before fans get concrete details on She-Hulk, including a specific release date. But until then, know to expect a unique, hilarious, and deeply informed show when She-Hulk finally arrives at Disney+.