Jessica Gao, She-Hulk Head Writer, Explains How the Hulk Was Remade

[This story contains spoilers for She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’s second episode, “Superhuman Law.”]

Apparently the fourth time is the charm. She-Hulk: Lawyer Head writer Jessica Gao.

Marvel Studios’ latest Disney+ series, which focuses on Jen Walters’ (Tatiana Maslan) transformation into She-Hulk, was the executive producer’s fourth release at Marvel. Of the three previous rejections, one of them, for this Open the windowIt was basically Natasha Romanov’s version. blank thick tip. But this earlier failure was actually the best thing that could have happened to Gao.

“I just realized what the fourth is [rejection]? I have armor I don’t care anymore I have nothing to live for but this project. as soon as [She-Hulk] The program I answered them that day is basically the program we made,” says Gao. the hollywood reporter.

Inside she-hulkIn the second episode, “Superhuman Canon”, the MCU finally acknowledged the Bruce Banner/Hulk makeover that took place after the Edward Norton-directed film, The incredible Hulk (2008). And according to Gao, Mark Ruffalo, who has been with Norton since 2012 The AvengersApply the finishing touch by moving again.

“[Writer Jacqueline Gailes] It was like, ‘I should say, ‘I’m a completely different person now’, and Mark actually added ‘literally’. So if it was “literally” there, I wonder [Marvel Studios] I would bookmark it, but I’m constantly surprised at how willing they are to allow us to make fun of things and really celebrate everything,” shares Gao.

in the last conversation THRGao also talks about his unique relationship with Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige and explains his show’s influence. Shang Chi and the legend of the ten rings.

Cheetos and Chopsticks is a good life hack. How long have you been using this method?

Oh, I just eat Flamin’ Hot Cheetos on sticks because it’s so cool. Keep your fingers clean!

Unsurprisingly, did he make all the stops for the release?

Clear. You must. When Marvel knocks on the door, you have to drop everything and then spend a few weeks of your life convincing them to give you a job. [She-Hulk] In fact, it was my fourth time playing Marvel. I’ve been trying to get in the door for years, and I’ve succeeded. she-hulk Entering, he was already armed with three Marvel negatives. So I was like, ‘What’s the room? I have armor I don’t care anymore I have nothing to live for but this project”. So the show that I told you that day is basically the show that we did. I mean, there are little details here and there that get in the way, but the core is the show itself.

“Now I am a completely different person. In fact. When the Hulk rework note was written, did a part of you expect the Powers to come out and give you cancer?

So the line was written by Jacqueline Gales, who is a very funny writer. He said, “You have to say, ‘I’m a completely different person now,'” and Mark [Ruffalo] Literally added “literally”. So if it was “literally” there, I wonder if they would tag it, but I’m constantly surprised at how willing they are to let us make fun of things and celebrate it.

The fourth wall stuff is a lot of fun because it targets Marvel fans and their various behaviors, like their fixation on cameos. When you wrote a lot of special conversations, that’s when everyone Wanda’s Vision Were cameo theories happening at high volume?

No, that particular line about the cameo came much later. When we went through the post and watched the episodes, I felt like there were a lot of cameos. But it was always a very cameo show by nature, just because the half-hour cool comedy format allowed us to bring in a lot of people for the case of the week or an individual court case that would be decided in one episode. So there was always the danger that this would be the cameo of the week, and in great She-Hulk tradition, when she notices something, she tells the audience.

Are you satisfied that your Jen Walters defeated Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool before breaking the MCU’s fourth wall?

Yes, because as any good comic book reader knows, he did it first in the comics. So it’s really, really nice to have him as canon in the MCU as well.

You should start with Dr. Bruce Banner in human form because Shang ChiDid the label show him in human form?

No, he was in human form. Shang Chi Mark for our show and the reason we had him in human form was the nature of the accident. We knew we wanted him to bleed on Jen, so she got his blood. The Hulk wasn’t bleeding; You can’t puncture the Hulk’s skin, certainly not in an unfortunate car accident. So we needed him to be in human form for his gamma-irradiated blood to reach Jen and her system, and we had to find a reason why he was human.

So, did you have a debate with Kevin Feige about the trailer?

(laughs.) Yes, I probably struggle with Kevin more than anyone at Marvel, but it’s really a testament to what a selfish and wonderful person he is that he puts up with arguing with me all the time. It really lets me intimidate you in some way. I’m so mean to him and he really lets it go. So it’s really cool because there isn’t another studio president who really puts up with me like he does.

Are you proud to say “Bruh” to Mark Ruffalo?

(laughs.) That was all Mark!

The series starts by asking this question, but in the real world, if someone has gained powers like Jenny, do you think they have a responsibility to help others?

Yes, I think with great power comes great responsibility, and it’s a lot like some kind of privilege. You have a responsibility to help people and use that privilege.

Is Benedict Wong excited about some of the points that come up?

I hope so, because I’m sure people will call him that from now on.

And a part of you feels guilty for being wrong the Sopranos For Gen Z/Alpha Marvel fans?

No, they’ve had over a decade to watch, and if you haven’t watched it, you still haven’t. The the SopranosOne of the biggest shows in the world is about you.

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she-hulk Now streaming on Disney+. This interview has been edited for length and clarity..