Wonder Man is the latest and greatest series the MCU has to offer. Wonder Man is more character focused than typical MCU installments, but that doesn't mean there aren't plenty of references to the larger franchise. Like any MCU project, Wonder Man is full of Easter Eggs and callbacks that might go unnoticed on a first watch. Not every reference is ground-breaking, but they help cement Wonder-Man in the larger MCU and tie it to the other shows & movies.
Since Wonder Man primarily revolves around acting, there are also significant references to other projects usually outside the scope of the MCU. The series alone canonized at least a dozen different films and series, while also proving what makes the franchise unique. There are many references made in the season that simply wouldn't be possible if the MCU were owned by a different parent company.
10 Josh Gad Plays Himself With Several References to a Popular Disney Film
Gad Even Sings a Not Safe For Work Remix of Olaf's Only Song in Frozen 1
Josh Gad is an extremely accomplished comedic actor. The talented celebrity typically sticks to voice acting, but has branched out with several recent live-action projects. Gad actually plays a large part in Wonder Man, but not as a character. The Frozen alumnus actually plays himself, with a plethora of references to his role as America's new favorite snowman.
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Not only does Gad sing a terribly risqué remix of his song In Summer from Frozen, but he is referred to as Olaf directly more than once. Gad's fate in the series is a pivotal minor plot point and further proof the events of the real-life earth don't always align with the MCU. Gad's performance is absolutely top-notch and is just icing on the cake for what is already packed full of incredible performances.
9 A Key Line From Captain America's Previous Films Is Referenced
Williams Calls Captain America "Just a Guy With a Shield"
Steve Rogers is the original Captain American, who receives the Super Soldier serum before his career even begins. His replacement, Sam Wilson, has just as much heart, but he's just a regular human. This has caused many of his detractors to simply label him "a man with a shield." This line is referenced by the protagonist after his brother suggests he do something worthwhile with his life like the Superhero.
This is just one of the many references the series makes to The First Avenger, but it's definitely the most poignant. Most of Simon William's struggles come from within, so his curt response to his brother is most likely his projecting more than anything else. Hopefully, this moment gets referenced again if the pair ever interact in the larger MCU.
8 They Are Many Mirrors to the Classic Film, Midnight Cowboy
Williams and Slattery Perfectly Mirror the Movie's Protagonists
There are an incredible number of references and parallels to the classic buddy dramedy, Midnight Cowboy. Trevor Slattery and Simon Williams mirror the duo of Ratso Rizzo and Joe Buck in many ways. Wonder Man's finale even contains the hit single from the classic film. There are several key differences between both duos, but they are also shockingly similar.
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Midnight Cowboy wasn't as popular at the time of its release, but has developed a vast following in the modern day. Given that Wonder Man has acting at its center, it makes perfect sense to include constant references to what many consider the quintessential movie of the late '90s. The movie is heavily reflective of the time it was released in the same way Wonder Man mirrors today's thirst for the artificial.
7 Rogers: The Musical Is Preparing For its Theater Debut
Fans Have Seen the Film Go From the Stage to the Silver Screen
Rogers the Musical is one of the longest running gags in the MCU, and Wonder Man confirms the project is heading to the silver screen. Several filming warehouses bare the logo of the theater production fans saw back in Hawkeye and many are convinced we'll get to see parts of the production in later seasons. If Wonder Man continues to focus on acting, him taking a role as Sam Wilson could be the perfect bridging point to their meeting.
Given the relevancy of Wonder Man in the comics, having him left out of major team-ups would be a waste. The series left it extremely open-ended how that could happen and only time will really tell. The MCU has been open about most of its major players, but it still has several twists the franchise is trying to keep secret.
6 Doorman Is An Actual C-Tier Superhero in Marvel
Doorman Has Even Fought Alongside The Fantastic Four
Doorman is a minor character in Wonder Man, and the main reason why actors cannot have superpowers. The character is barely anything like his comic counterpart, which is probably for the best. His comic version is a member of the West Coast Avengers and one of the weirdest and most obscure characters in the Marvel mythos.
The tragic one-trick pony is one of the latest characters to receive an MCU makeover. It's entirely possible that his comic version will receive the same treatment. Many seemingly unimportant or more unknown Marvel characters have defaulted to the MCU version of thier characters as that is the most well known.
5 Several Real-Life Shows and Actors Were Canonized by WonderMan
Many Popular Films and Shows Have Been Officially Brought into the MCU
Twilight and many other popular projects like The Rookie are referenced many times throughout Wonder Man. Since the series is a show about acting, many characters' acquaintances or work history involve some of the greatest projects in history. The series does a perfect job of confirming certain projects while keeping its earth distinct. For example, Wonder Man confirms that Megan 3.0 has already been greenlit in the MCU.
Many actors, writers, and directors were also confirmed to exist within the MCU. This isn't exactly groundbreaking, but helps the MCU feel more lived-in. Giving the MCU a larger identity and landscape has been severely missing from other iterations of the popular franchise.
4 The DODC SuperMax Prison From She-Hulk Makes a Large Appearance
The Prison Is a Major Threat For Both the Series' Protagonists
The largest antagonist in Wonder Man is easily the DODC. The DODC Super Max prison from She-Hulk makes a reappearance and is a consistent threat to both Trevor Slattery and Simon Williams. Neither wants to go to prison, but only one character is actually aware how close they are to the iron gates.
The DODC has received somewhat of an upgrade in the modern MCU, but has remained fairly consistent otherwise. The company is likely trying, and failing, to take the place of Shield. That can only go so far, before the original secret government agency makes its rightful MCU return. Fans don't get a great view into the prison's roster, but they do know there is a cell open and waiting for Emil Blonsky, based on the events of She-Hulk.
3 The Shady Company Roxxon Is Responsible for the Doorman Fiasco
Roxxon First Appears in The First Iron Man Film
Roxxon, the shady company that has appeared since the beginning of the MCU, makes another appearance. They are one of the worst companies for the environment in the history of Marvel Comics. They don't care how their products affect the larger globe, or its inhabitants, so long as they get paid. The Roxxon company is actually responsible for the whole Doorman fiasco.
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The company leaves illicit chemicals which DeMarr Davis gets exposed to. The chemicals give him his powers, but they also end up ruining his life. True, Doorman does play a part in his own downfall, but he wouldn't have had a choice if Roxxon actually picked up their hazardous waste.
2 Morris, From Shang-Chi, Is Referenced in a Throwaway Line
Morris is the Faceless Creature From a Pocket Dimension
At one point when Trevor is spying on Simon Williams, he receives a phone call from the DODC. Unwilling to say who is calling him, Trevor quips that it was his friend from a pocket dimension. This might seem like a throw-a-way line, but Slattery actually has a friend from a pocket dimension. It just might not be the person many fans were expecting.
Major Marvel fans and those who remember Shang-Chi will recall that Trevor only survived that film due to the character, Morris. Morris is a lovable furry creature who also doesn't have a face and happens to be from a pocket dimension. It's unlikely that Trevor has him on speed dial, but it's not unrealistic to think they talk occasionally. Morris might even make an appearance in Wonder Man Season 2 if that's the direction the series wishes to go in.
1 Wonder Man's Family Ties Could Bring a Terrifying Villain into the MCU
Simon's Brother Eric Is a Supervillain Called the Grim Reaper in the Comics
Simon Williams has a lot of trouble with his brother Eric. However, this could be setting up a larger conflict within the MCU. In the comics, Eric's brother is actually a super villain known as the Grim Reaper. It's entirely possible that he could suffer the same fate within the Wonder Man franchise.
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There is barely any indication that this might happen other than their brotherly conflict, but there's really no telling with the MCU. Characters get shifted and twisted so often that it's sometimes hard to keep track. Ultimately, if the MCU decides to have Eric transition into a villain, great. However, if they don't then that's great too. The actor has more than proved he can be a compelling minor antagonist to Simon, without any spandex.
Wonder Man
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- January 27, 2026
- Network
- Disney+
Cast
-
Yahya Abdul-Mateen IISimon Williams -
Ben KingsleyTrevor Slattery -
Demetrius GrosseEric Williams -
Ed HarrisNeal Saroyan
