In a surprising and unforeseen turn, acclaimed actress Tatiana Maslany has expressed her deepest doubts about the likelihood of a second season of Marvel’s superhero series “She-Hulk: Attorney At Law.” According to Maslany, whose charismatic portrayal of attorney and superhuman, Jennifer Walters, has been both praised and critiqued, the series has reached an unexpected crossroads due in large part to budgetary concerns. “I don’t think so. I think we blew our budget, and Disney was like, ‘No thanks,’” Maslany announced candidly during an appearance on “Codenames LIVE! — The New Class” Twitch stream as reported by Deadline.
Best known for her brilliantly nuanced roles in transformative performances, Maslany dedicatedly embodied Walters, an accomplished attorney who also happens to be a towering 6-foot-7-inch, vivid-green superheroine. The series, which premiered exclusivity on the Disney+ streaming service in 2022, embodied a solid ensemble cast that included Jameela Jamil, Mark Ruffalo, Ginger Gonzaga, Tim Roth, and Megan Thee Stallion, each contributing their own flare to the series’ vivacious narrative tapestry.
Jessica Gao, the show’s head writer, previously expressed her skepticism regarding the potential for a “She-Hulk” sophomore season. “I’ve been writing for TV for a very long time, and you can never, ever guarantee that you’re gonna get another season, especially for a Season 1 show,” articulated Gao in a 2022 interview with Deadline. This sense of uncertainty resulted in the construction of the first season’s concluding episode as both a season and potential series finale.
Yet, it wasn’t just inside-scoop on budgeting or tales from the writing room that have instigated debates and polarizing perspectives surrounding “She-Hulk.” The show’s on-screen content has sparked substantive conversation within fan circles and digital critique platforms. Notably, a clip depicting Walters’ character, Maslany, expressing exasperation over the issue of street harassment, and subsequently having to manage her anger, endured mockery and triggered backlash among a vocal section of the fandom.
Simultaneously protruding from this multi-faceted controversy are the conflicting review scores showcased on Rotten Tomatoes. While the show holds a solid 77% from critics, the average audience score sits staggeringly low at 32%. Many attributed the divergence in ratings to the phenomenon of “review bombing,” a destructive practice of inundating review sites with negative, and most times unsubstantial, reviews in an attempt to plummet the aggregate score. On the contrary, allegations of ten-star review manipulation have also emerged, with individuals alleging that some fans were intentionally trying to heighten the score.
The controversy and future of ‘She-Hulk:Attorney At Law’ highlights a crucial turning point, not only in the embedded storytelling Marvel has been known for, but also in the broader sphere of public discourse surrounding superhero narratives, their budgets, and their position in the cultural zeitgeist. Whether a second season sees the light of day or not, one thing is for certain: ‘She-Hulk’ has undeniably left an indelible mark in its intersection of social commentary, superhero lore, visual spectacle, and complex character development. As the curtain falls on the current stage, we’re left anticipating what corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe will be illuminated next, and whether they can avoid the budgetary pitfalls and divisive content that marked ‘She-Hulk.’ .
