In a year that will feature iconic characters like Daredevil, Spider-Man, Punisher and the inevitable debut of Dr. Doom, Marvel’s inaugural 2026 hero is none other than Wonder Man.
“Wonder Man,” directed and overseen by Destin Daniel Cretton, is a refreshing take on the superhero genre that puts acting first and the typical action-based plot in the backseat.
The show follows Simon Williams (Yahya Abdul-Mahteen II), a struggling actor looking for his big break in the cutthroat film industry, when he meets long-time actor and convict Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley), who fans will remember from “Iron Man 3” and “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.” Through Trevor, Simon learns of an audition for a remake of the fictional 1980s film “Wonder Man,” his childhood favorite. Together, the actors set out to be the next Wonder Man and Barnaby.
In addition to Simon’s audition for his dream role as Wonder Man, he must be wary of anyone figuring out he has powers, as super-powered people have been banned from working in Hollywood by the Doorman Clause. Early on, the audience learns Trevor is well aware of Simon's powers because he cut a deal with the Department of Damage Control to dig up evidence on Simon, who they consider dangerous and unstable.
Abdul-Mateen and Kingsley carry the show with their immediate connection. Kingsley’s role as Slattery showcases his charm and dedication to the art as he mentors Abdul-Mateen’s lonely, worrisome yet confident Williams. Kingsley, having to weigh the importance of the act within the act, was some of the most genuine acting in recent Marvel history.
Without a doubt, the best performances came from episode six titled “Callback.” Trevor’s ability to erase the doubts Simon had was something special. The eventual payoff when the pair sat in their car, mute and shocked after learning they had gotten the roles, had me hyped.
Comedy-wise, nothing felt corny or too forced and the cameos by Josh Gad and Joe Pantoliano served a real purpose. My favorite bit of humor was Josh Gad guest-starring as himself (or J-Gad if you really know him) in the unique “Doorman” flashback episode where he claims that “Radioactive” by Imagine Dragons is the “most important song of the last three years.”
The risky but well-received “Doorman” episode, which explains how the clause came to fruition, focuses on Demarr “Doorman” Davis’ rise and fall from stardom. Ignoring the implications for Simon’s career, the episode recognizes how easily Hollywood can fail its actors. After appearing in “Cash Grab” with Josh Gad, Demarr is quickly forgotten by fans. In an attempt to revitalize his career, he joins Gad in filming “Cash Grab 2.” Usually, Demarr’s power is being a human door, but when Gad performs the escape stunt, he doesn’t come out of Demarr, thus causing the ban.
It’s worth mentioning that “Wonder Man” benefits from its lack of connectivity to other Marvel projects, making it more accessible for those who may not be die-hard Marvel fans. There are only two characters who have been in previous works, but watching those is not essential to understanding the plot, and there are some built-in explanations for the two of them.
The most conflicting concept was Simon’s powers. On one side, Simon’s powers are something never seen before in the MCU. His body begins to quake as he becomes stressed and agitated, and his eyes reveal mystic shades of red and purple, releasing powerful bursts of energy and Hulk-like strength if not contained. On the other side, there aren’t many scenes where his powers are actually on display. Besides a few times, there are only hints of his power spread throughout the show. The visual design behind his powers was appealing, but the superhero fan in me wanted to see him use his powers more.
It’s also worth noting that the show was relatively short, with under four hours of run time for eight episodes, and the pacing was slightly confusing. By the final episode, the “Wonder Man” movie is released, even though he just received the part in episode six. There’s another time jump in the finale that could’ve used some sort of indication of time passed as well.
While I’m excited to see what Dustin Deniel Cretton does with “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” this summer, I hope his crew and the writers can push for a “Wonder Man” season two, as the show left important questions unanswered, like: where does Simon’s power come from? Is he a mutant? Does Wonder Man affect the broader future of the MCU? Will Simon be able to act again after the events of the finale? And where is J-Gad?
