Marvel's Wastelanders is an interconnected series of six radio dramapodcasts produced by Marvel New Media and SiriusXM in association with Wave Runner Studios and launched in June 2021. The series' podcasts are set in a variation of the Old Man Logan universe, a future timeline where the world's supervillains, led by Doctor Doom, Red Skull, and Baron Zemo, teamed up to kill almost all superheroes and establish a new world order. Those heroes who survived — including Wolverine, Hawkeye, and Black Widow — are largely in hiding or broken shells of their former selves. A series of events, beginning with the return to Earth of Star-Lord and Rocket Raccoon on a mission for The Collector, leads to a final assembling of heroes for one last mission.[1]
The series was originally announced in May 2021 as four, 10-episode podcasts featuring seperatedly on Star-Lord, Hawkeye, Black Widow, and Wolverine, along with a fifth team-up series.[2][3][4] The first series, Marvel's Wastelanders: Old Man Star-Lord, launched in June 2021.[5]
Originally, the series were to be styled as Old Man Star-Lord, Old Man Hawkeye, Old Man Wolverine, and Grey Widow, but in September 2021, in announcing the launch of Marvel's Wastelanders: Hawkeye, the "Old Man" styling was dropped. At the same time, an additional solo title in the series, Marvel's Wastelander's: Doom, was announced. Episodes were released first to Apple Podcasts subscribers with a general release a week later.[6] In the credits of the final episode of Wastelanders: Doom, the team-up series featuring Star-Lord, Hawkeye, Black Widow, and Wolverine, as well as Doom, was teased with the final series in the Wastelanders "audio epic" launching in December 2022.[7]
The series of podcasts have been noted for their writing and voice acting, as well as the well-known stars associated with the project, including series leads Timothy Busfield as Star-Lord, Stephen Lang as Hawkeye, Susan Sarandon as Black Widow, Robert Patrick as Wolverine, and Dylan Baker as Doom.[8]
^Originally released as 'Marvel's Wastelanders: Old Man Star-Lord.
Star-Lord
Star-Lord and Rocket Raccoon crash land in the American Midwest, a barren wasteland controlled by Doctor Doom, where they must find for The Collector an ancient cosmic relic, the Black Vortex. However, they soon encounter a number of challenges, including Kraven the Hunter, outlaw Ghost Riders, and Emma Frost.[5] When released, the series was titled Marvel's Wastelanders: Old Man Star-Lord, but with the release of Marvel's Wastelanders: Hawkeye, it was retitled without the "Old Man" moniker.[10]
30 years after Baron Zemo, the Thunderbolts, and the other villains killed the Avengers and rid the world of heroes, a blind and broken Hawkeye relives the final battle nightly as part of the Brotherhood Traveling Circus, Carnival and Ringmaster's Road Show. When his 17-year-old daughter, Ash, shows up seeking his help avenging the death of her best friend, Hawkeye's own efforts to avenge his lost friends are complicated.[13] For Rachel Chavkin, Hawkeye is the first podcast she has directed.[21]
Originally announced as Marvel's Wastelanders: Grey Widow. The mysterious Helen Black moves into a New York City apartment building owned and monitored by S.H.I.E.L.D.[15][14]
Since the villains took over, Wolverine has wandered in a daze of survivor's guilt and self-loathing, but now he must help a young mutant in hiding reach safety.[16] Jenny Turner Hall was originally hired just to direct Wolverine, but she as the project got started her role expanded to being both writer and director for the series.[22]
After being betrayed by the other villains on V-Day, Doom is free and has teamed up with Valeria Richards to seek revenge. The story immediately follows the end of Marvel's Wastelanders: Star-Lord.[18]
With the Wastelands in a state of chaos following President Red Skull's death, Hawkeye, Star-Lord, Black Widow, Wolverine, and Doom team up to stop Valeria Richards who now has the power of the Cosmic Cube.[19][24]
"Chapter 1: Marching Towards the End of the World"
December 5, 2022
2
"Chapter 2: Road to Nowhere"
3
"Chapter 3: Heroes of Old"
December 12, 2022
4
"Chapter 4: Marvels"
December 19, 2022
5
"Chapter 5: The Old Familiar Places"
December 26, 2022
6
"Chapter 6: Assembled"
January 2, 2023
7
"Chapter 7: Fractured"
January 9, 2023
8
"Chapter 8: Shattered"
January 16, 2023
9
"Chapter 9: Crossfire"
January 23, 2023
10
"Chapter 10: Ultimate Power"
January 30, 2023
Production
Marvel's Wastelanders: Star-Lord is the first scripted joint production from Marvel New Media and SiriusXM, and was described by Marvel New Media executive Stephen Wacker as "the tip of the iceberg" for the new Marvel Audio Universe.[25] The Wastelanders podcasting project was originally planned to launch in 2020 as part of a new agreement with SiriusXM and its Pandora streaming service;[9] however, in July 2020, SiriusXM acquired Marvel's previous scripted podcasting partner, Stitcher, in July 2020 in an effort to bolster its portfolio of podcasts.[26] Stitcher and Marvel previously produced two seasons of the Wolverine podcast along with a Marvels podcast. Author Benjamin Percy, who scripted the Wolverine: The Long Night and Wolverine: The Lost Trail podcasts, was brought on board to script Wastelanders: Star-Lord.[27]
Beyond the Scenes
Starting with Marvel's Wastelanders: Hawkeye, additional behind-the-scenes bonus episodes featuring conversations with each podcast's actors and creative teams were released via the Apple Podcasts subscription service. Dubbed Beyond the Scenes, the episodes are hosted by Tamara Krinsky.
Marvel's Wastelanders: Star-Lord has been praised for its casting and writing. Mike Mack at Laughing Place called Busfield and Elliott's chemistry as Quill and Rocket "hilarious," but noted that Malouf as Cora "steals the show" by providing both explanations and comedy.[28] Taylor Bauer at Comic Years credits Percy's experience with both Marvel Comics and writing audio dramas for successfully setting up the world of Marvel's Wastelanders in the first episode without making it feel like a "detail dump."[29]
Writing in The Guardian, Graeme Virtue lauded Marvel for attracting "top-notch acting talent and developing its superhero canon into such interesting new formats." He noted that for Wastelanders: Hawkeye and Wolverine, "Their chief aural pleasures come from the lead performances, with Avatar baddie Stephen Lang performing every hard-luck Hawkeye line as if he is auditioning for Deadwood. Terminator 2's Robert Patrick gives Hugh Jackman a run for his money as an even more grizzled Wolverine." And he described Wastelanders: Black Widow as the "standout story," noting "why Black Widow wants to infiltrate this place is the central mystery but it fires up the surveillance department, sparking a witty workplace conflict that feels more like Office Space than Avengers: Infinity War."[8]
