Tatiana Maslany Responded to the Most Absurd Criticism of 'She-Hulk: Attorney at Law'
If the pandemic-imposed superhero hiatus left a void in your soul, then welcome to the strange and distant world of summer 2022, where every other major release is a Marvel Cinematic Universe special. We're still reeling from Thor: Love and Thunder. Ms. Marvel, too. There was the whole Comic-Con panel that announced two new Avengers movies, but whatever. Marvel boss Kevin Feige clearly heard your cries, and shouted back, "Are you not entertained?"
Now, we're closing in on it's next Disney+ offering, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, which stars the great Tatiana Maslany. The preview, which you can stream below, catches up with Jennifer Walters, a rising lawyer who also happens to be Bruce Banner's cousin. (We don't have confirmation on this yet, but in the comics, Walters receives an emergency blood transfusion from Banner, which gives her Hulk powers. Assume that some version of that event happens here.) Regardless, the trailer graces us with Walters undergoing a Hulk training montage which includes, but is not limited to: throwing rocks, Hulk-jumping, and generally dealing with Banner being a pest.
Listen, Esquire has been burned before by Marvel trailers, but we have some hesitant excitement here. The idea of a superhero-themed court procedural comedy sounds pretty damn fun, especially with Maslany and Mark Ruffalo as the leads—not to mention Jameela Jamil as the villain. And it looks fun, with Walters poking fun at superhero life, and maybe even being the first hero to break through Marvel's weird no-sex thing. Our worry? The CGI still needs a little bit of work. The fact that Marvel is busting out movies and shows at a couple-a-month clip is starting to show.
This is an issue that She-Hulk's director, Kat Coiro, said during the Television Critics Association’s press tour. “In terms of the CGI being critiqued, I think that has to do with our culture’s belief in its ownership of women’s bodies,” Coiro said. “I think a lot of the critique comes from feeling like they’re able to tear apart the CGI woman. There’s a lot of talk about about her body type and we based it on Olympian athletes and not bodybuilders. But I think if we had gone the other way, we would be facing the same critique. I think it’s very hard to win when you make women’s bodies.”
If you ask us, Coiro is absolutely right. We do think the CGI looks a little bit Uncanny Valley, but as for the character's body type, an unsavory corner of the Marvel fandom would've cried, no matter what. Are people out there saying Ruffalo's Hulk is too jacked? Or thin? Nope. Malsany even spoke up about the issue in a new interview with Elle:
“It’s such a chosen body. So, it asks for commentary. There’s something interesting in everyone’s ownership over that image. Obviously, I have no say over how she presents. But I do think we are thirsty for women’s bodies that don’t conform to an idealized feminine image. And that the musculature of She-Hulk could have been a really interesting, revolutionary thing to see.” She adds, “I feel supportive of that idea. But I’m also like, ‘Okay, but why do we all have say in [her body]?’”
Now, if you want to know more about the series itself from Maslany, the actress spoke to Empire about what we can expect from her new role. “She really is the antithesis of most superhero narratives,” she said of her character who is at first a tad unwilling to accept what happened to her, “There’s this great element of denial in her that’s relatable. For me, it was about rejecting what’s happened for as long as I could, as that’s what causes the fun tension between Jennifer and She-Hulk.”
Beyond that, we can expect a bizarre take on a legal drama for the new Marvel show. “When she’s heading this superhuman firm, that’s where we get some really fun characters that she’s either defending or in opposition of. It’s like this really absurd take on a legal show,” Maslany said.
Ready or not, She-Hulk's first episode will hit Disney+ on August 17, 2022. Here's the full plot description from Marvel and the Mouse House:
Directed by Kat Coiro (Episodes 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9) and Anu Valia (Episodes 5, 6, 7) with Jessica Gao as head writer, “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law” follows Jennifer Walters as she navigates the complicated life of a single, 30-something attorney who also happens to be a green 6-foot-7-inch superpowered hulk. The nine-episode series welcomes a host of MCU vets, including Mark Ruffalo as Smart Hulk, Tim Roth as Emil Blonsky/the Abomination, and Benedict Wong as Wong. The cast also includes Ginger Gonzaga, Josh Segarra, Jameela Jamil, Jon Bass and Renée Elise Goldsberry. Executive producers are Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Brad Winderbaum, Kat Coiro and Jessica Gao. Co-executive producers are Wendy Jacobson and Jennifer Booth.
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