Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Wonder Man episode 8.
While the MCU has struggled to win over fans with the Multiverse Saga, Iron Man 3 continues to get better with time. At one point, the MCU was a rock-solid franchise that released billion-dollar hit after billion-dollar hit. But the most recent slate of releases appears to have lost a huge portion of the once-dedicated fanbase.
However, some recent projects have been incredibly promising, and while they aren’t raking in billions at the box office, they are earning huge ratings wins, and strengthening the wider MCU thanks to some clever connections. One of which comes right at the end of the new Wonder Man series, and ties all the way back to 2013’s Iron Man 3.
Iron Man 3 Was Reasonably Well Received As Far As The MCU Goes
In the early days of the MCU, it took some time to build trust with audiences that Marvel Studios could consistently deliver outstanding films. But on the back of the enormous success of The Avengers in 2012, there was a lot of anticipation going into Iron Man 3 the following year.
Despite that, Iron Man 3 proved to be one of the more divisive entries in the Robert Downey Jr. trilogy as far as reviews were concerned, but it did pull in an impressive $1.2 billion at the box office, which continued to bolster the MCU and lead to more success in later entries.
Trevor Slattery Became A Standout Supporting Character After Iron Man 3
One of the issues that people had with the film upon its release was the odd bait-and-switch introduction of the Mandarin. After teasing the Ten Rings organization in the original Iron Man in 2008, the Mandarin’s arrival was hotly anticipated. But the reveal that this was a drunk actor by the name of Trevor Slattery felt ridiculous and underwhelming.
Thankfully, almost a decade later, Marvel released Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and managed to course correct this ominous organization, while also bringing actor Ben Kingsley back to reprise his role as the blundering actor Trevor. And that largely redeemed the character and made Trevor an endearing part of the franchise.
The Wonder Man Finale Sees Trevor Slattery Embrace The Mandarin
Now, Wonder Man goes even further to make the story of Trevor Slattery one of the most thrilling and satisfying character arcs in the MCU. Trevor makes the brave decision to return to Hollywood and hopefully start fresh after the lowest point of his career led to his entire life being uprooted. And that remained a sore spot in his history for over a decade.
But, by the end of Wonder Man, Trevor is able to reconcile with his past and even tackle the role of the Mandarin once again, this time to save his friend, Simon Williams. This beautiful moment allows Trevor to reclaim the darkest part of his story and turn it into something good while also acknowledging that he no longer needs to be in the spotlight.