Fans have been waiting for more footage from the Disney+ show “Wonder Man” for a while, with news of the somewhat complicated superhero getting his own series (starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams/Wonder Man) since 2022. These images are finally here (see below), and even though they’re only a minute long, they give us an interesting little taste of what “Wonder Man” is all about. Man” could actually be.
“Have you thought about casting?” #WonderMan pic.twitter.com/UCOUb04c0Y
-Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) October 10, 2025
The character of Wonder Man has gone through all kinds of changes throughout his Marvel Comics history. He started out as an arms dealer’s nepo baby, but has more recently become a high-powered actor and stuntman. He’s an even lesser-known superhero than the protagonists of Marvel Cinematic Universe series like “Moon Knight” and “Ms. Marvel,” although that also gives “Wonder Man” the opportunity to be creative and daring in its storytelling.
It seems that’s exactly what the show is doing. In fact, “Wonder Man” seems to be Marvel’s answer to shows like “Peacemaker” and “The Boys,” providing a meta-commentary on superhero media, although I doubt it’s as critical as either of those shows (given that it’s still the MCU). However, in the “Wonder Man” footage, we see the director of a new “Wonder Man” film, Von Kovak (Zlatko Burić – yes, the evil Boravian President Vasil Ghurkos, from James Gunn’s “Superman”), talking about rebooting the franchise and directly answering the most common criticism of superhero stories: “Why one more superhero movie ?” It also shows Williams watching Kovak’s interview as he is asked about casting, and we see that the original Wonder Man was white. If Marvel wants to deliver a show that not only addresses superhero fatigue, but also potential fan reactions to a black actor playing a historically white role, that could be something meaningful.
The MCU could use a little Wonder Man disguise
There still aren’t many details about “Wonder Man,” but it looks like it’s going to weigh heavily on meta-commentary on the film industry and Hollywood, especially when it comes to superhero media. This could give the MCU a chance to iron out some of its problems and have a little fun at its own expense, which is what rules. It could also help audiences feel less alienated by the giant corporate machine that is the MCU, reminding us that there are human creatives behind the scenes with real opinions to share. A little introspection can go a long way, and having a sense of humor certainly helps. This is evident in the clip, which not only includes Kovak talking about his love for the Wonder Man franchise with amazing tokusatsu/vintage “Star Trek” style footage of the “original” Wonder Man fighting bad guys, but it also features a quick shot of a clapperboard on a movie set with the title “Cash Grab 2.” If that’s any indication of this series’ approach to satire, count me in. (Hardcore fans may remember that Nathan Fillion was originally going to play Wonder Man in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” but those unfortunately hit the cutting room floor.)
Abdul-Mateen II is a phenomenal actor who can absolutely set the tone needed here, and this will finally give him a chance to do more in the superhero sphere since he didn’t get enough to play the role of Black Manta in the DC Extended Universe. Ben Kingsley will also return as Trevor Slattery (aka the actor who posed as the Mandarin in “Iron Man 3”), which is a delightful choice. Honestly, “Wonder Man” looks like it could be a lot of fun, and that’s coming from someone with serious superhero fatigue.
“Wonder Man” will be released on Disney+ in January 2026.
