“All superheroes are the kind of people that you or I would be if we had superpowers” — the late Marvel Comics chief Stan Lee gets candid about his journey from being a comic book enthusiast during The Great Depression to becoming the creator of iconic superhero characters like the Iron Man and Hulk in the latest trailer of the upcoming documentary Stan Lee.
Unveiled by Marvel Entertainment on Friday, the one-minute-28-second long trailer promises a look back at Lee’s origin story and what led him to unparalleled success in creating human-like superheroes that became a household name across the globe.
The video begins with the footage of his cameo in 2008’s Iron Man followed by a behind-the-scenes clip of director Jon Favreau announcing a wrap. We are then shown glimpses of Lee in various interviews. He narrates his story from childhood — his upbringing during The Great Depression and the impact of comic books on him as a child.
Featuring old clips of Lee’s appearances in different talk shows, the trailer voice-overs by his friends and colleagues, and quotes from the legendary comic book writer. “What I tried to do was write the kind of stories I would want to read,” Lee says in a previously recorded interview.
The trailer ends with portraits of the writer in various phases of his life.
“His origin story. His legacy. In his own words. In one week, Stan Lee, an Original documentary, begins streaming June 16 on @DisneyPlus. #StanLee100,” wrote Marvel Studios, sharing the trailer on Instagram.
Watch the trailer here:
Directed by David Gelb, Stan Lee will feature a collection of archival interviews, newsreels and a plethora of personal footage and recordings. It seems the documentary will mostly let Lee tell his own story, chronicling the rise of Marvel Comics and the changing landscape of society that was ultimately influenced by superheroes in books that were once considered only fit for children.
Five years after his death, this documentary will commemorate his 100th birth anniversary and keep alive the legacy of the legendary comic book creator. Stan Lee will first premiere at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival this week.
Stan Lee will be streaming on Disney+ from June 16.
