Marvel’s WONDER MAN Film Gag Might Be Taking a Playful Shot at the Rumored AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY Runtime
Marvel Studios might be having a little fun with fans who have been obsessing over the rumored gargantuan runtime of Avengers: Doomsday, and the joke is tied to Wonder Man.
Over the past week, rumors have been spreading that Avengers: Doomsday could clock in at a massive three hours and 45 minutes. If that ends up being true, it would easily make the film the longest entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
While Marvel hasn’t confirmed anything, the studio may have already responded in the most Marvel way possible, with a wink and a grin.
On X, Marvel Studios’ official account shared an old ticket stub for the in-universe superhero movie Wonder Man, along with a modern theater booking screen for its remake.
The booking screen lists the runtime as 225 minutes. That breaks down to exactly 3 hours and 45 minutes. Even better, the ticket price shown is $3.75, which lines up perfectly since 225 minutes equals 3.75 hours.
Now, whether this is Marvel cheekily teasing that the Doomsday runtime really is supersized, simply poking fun at the rumors, or just pulling off an extremely specific visual gag is still unclear.
It could also be a coincidence, though knowing Marvel, that seems unlikely. Either way, it’s the kind of deep-cut joke that rewards fans who pay way too much attention, and that’s part of the fun.
All of this plays directly into the meta nature of Wonder Man, which centers on an in-universe Hollywood reboot of the classic superhero film.
In the show, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II stars as Simon Williams, an actor desperate to land the lead role after growing up obsessed with the original movie. There’s just one major problem. Simon happens to have real superpowers in a world where superpowered individuals are banned from working in Hollywood.
That story gives the series plenty of room to comment on fame, nostalgia, and the weird intersection of superheroes and show business, while still delivering laughs and character-driven moments. Early reactions suggest the show is hitting that balance just right.
The series has already debuted to strong reviews from critics, and I personally loved it! Marvel had a lot of fun with this project and delivered a fun and unique series that is very much a character study.
Whether Marvel is slyly hinting at Avengers: Doomsday’s runtime or just having a laugh at the fandom’s expense, the gag fits perfectly with the playful tone of Wonder Man. At the very least, it shows Marvel is fully aware of the chatter and isn’t above turning it into a joke that lives inside its own universe.
Wonder Man has arrived on DIsney+ and I hope you enjoy it!