Wonder Man creators explain finale's needle drop using The O.C. theme song: 'It actually feels re...

&34;I got excited about the idea of using another show's theme song as our theme song for one episode,&34; Andrew Guest tells EW. Wonder Man creators explain finale's needle drop using The O.C. theme song: 'It actually feels really tragic' &34;I got excited about the idea of using another show's theme song as our theme song for one episode,&34; Andrew Guest tells EW. By Sydney Bucksbaum :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/headshotb5dc24df8d5d43d1a16c9ce0e0383119.jpg) Sydney Bucksbaum Sydney Bucksbaum is a staff writer at . She has been working at EW since 2019 and is a published author.

"I got excited about the idea of using another show's theme song as our theme song for one episode," Andrew Guest tells EW.

*Wonder Man *creators explain finale's needle drop using *The O.C. *theme song: 'It actually feels really tragic'

"I got excited about the idea of using another show's theme song as our theme song for one episode," Andrew Guest tells EW.

By Sydney Bucksbaum

Sydney Bucksbaum

Sydney Bucksbaum is a staff writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2019 and is a published author. Her work has previously appeared in *TV Guide Magazine*, E! News/E! Online, *The Hollywood Reporter*, Mashable, Bustle, IGN, DCComics.com, Inverse, *The Daily Northwestern*, and more.

EW's editorial guidelines

January 29, 2026 7:26 p.m. ET

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in 'Wonder Man'. Credit:

**Warning: This article contains spoilers about the *Wonder Man *season 1 finale, "Yucca Valley."**

Yes, *Wonder Man*'s finale opening credit sequence is a direct reference to *The O.C.* Come on, how could it not be?!

Marvel's latest TV series borrowed *The O.C*.'s iconic theme song, "California" by Phantom Planet, at the beginning of episode 8, "Yucca Valley." Creators Destin Daniel Cretton and Andrew Guest, both fans of the early '00s teen drama that made Ben McKenzie, Adam Brody, Mischa Barton, and Rachel Bilson superstars, confirm it was an intentional needle drop.

"Particularly the opening credits of *The O.C.,* I remember watching and just thinking was so incredible," Guest says. "It was a great show and really, I got excited about the idea of using another show's theme song as our theme song for one episode, because it's where our credits play."

Guest adds that they used that song with the goal of viewers recognizing it and remembering *The O.C. *"Hopefully there are some audiences out there who will have their heartstrings pulled as they connect with that theme," he says.

The creators also loved how the lyrics perfectly line up with Simon's (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) situation at the start of the finale, having just accidentally destroyed the *Wonder Man *set — and any chance he had at Hollywood success — with his no-longer-secret powers.

"To me, the theme works because of the placement of it," Cretton says. "It is almost scoring the facade that this dreamer, in that moment, is never going to reach. That song just has come to represent so much of what the dream of this place feels like, but in that moment, it actually feels really tragic."

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in 'Wonder Man'.

Courtesy of Marvel Television

After a flashback to Simon's childhood when he saw the original *Wonder Man* in theaters, the finale jumps back to the present as he reels from losing control of his powers on the set of the *Wonder Man *remake. As Simon drives through Hollywood, the unmistakable opening piano notes of Phantom Planet's hit that became best known as *The O.C*.'s theme song start playing.

The lyrics kick in as Simon's best friend and *Wonder Man* costar Trevor (Sir Ben Kingsley) arrives on set, shocked to see the damage that could have only been wrought by Simon's powers. As the *Wonder Man* opening credits flash onscreen, Simon continues driving through Hollywood, grappling with the thought that he not only just exploded his once-promising acting career, but also that he's about to be arrested and locked up by the Department of Damage Control, who are already on their way to investigate the incident.

'Wonder Man' stars and creators reveal alternate finale ending, season 2 wishes

'Wonder Man' creators explain Josh Gad and Joe Pantoliano's hilarious cameos

Simon is angry, regretful, and disappointed at his lack of control. He hits his steering wheel repeatedly as he makes his getaway, while DODC agents arrive on the scene. Simon finally arrives home by the time that news reports announce a manhunt is underway.

He, of course, assumes he's the one being hunted, but he's unaware that Trevor already filmed and released a manifesto video, becoming the Mandarin once again, publicly taking credit for what he calls a terrorist attack on Hollywood, all so he can save Simon.

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter***.

By the end of the finale, Trevor was fired from the *Wonder Man *remake, and his role was recast with Joe "Joey Pants" Pantoliano. The movie was a success, launching Simon's career as an A-list actor. But he can't stop thinking about Trevor, who was locked up by the DODC.

Simon ultimately stages a jailbreak, busting Trevor out of the top-secret desert prison and flying them both away to safety.

California, here they come.

- Superhero TV Shows

Original Article on Source

Source: "EW Superhero"

Read More

---

Source: Superhero

Published: January 30, 2026 at 03:57AM on Source: PRIME TIME

#ShowBiz#Sports#Celebrities#Lifestyle