The following review contains minor spoilers for Wonder Man now streaming on Disney +.
The MCU released its first television series in 2013, to somewhat rocky results. Since then, the studio has released a variety of different projects, but positively received and otherwise. Wonder Man is the latest project the MCU has to offer, and it could end up being one of the greatest. The incredible acting, score, unique premise, and realistic set design make Wonder Man an absolute must-watch for any Marvel fan.
Marvel's Wonder Man proves that comic accuracy isn't the only thing that fans look for in a series. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II gives the role of Simon Williams his all. Williams' incredible intensity is perfectly balanced by Ben Kingsley's performance as the odd ball Trevor Slattery. Their relationship is the crux of Wonder Man and proves Marvel is capable of giving even the most minor of characters, like Trevor, a compelling story.
Wonder Man is a Decidedly Unique MCU Television Series
The Series Is More Acting than Action— and That's For the Best
The MCU, at its core, is a franchise about Super Heroes. This previously meant that every performance would play "second fiddle" to the epic action. Wonder Man is a decidedly different change of pace for the Marvel franchise, and fans couldn't be happier. Most Marvel shows have been about action, but Wonder Man is ironically about acting.
The main premise of the show follows Simon Williams on his journey to become an actor. The series perfectly depicts the process' highs and lows, and features a genuinely compelling protagonist in Williams. His goal isn't to rid Hell's Kitchen of crime or repair the fractured MCU timelines.
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Compared to previous MCU series, Wonder Man is extremely character focused. The show manages to take one of the more obscure MCU mainstays, Trevor Slattery, pair him with the unknown Simon Williams, and make their friendship the most compelling part of the modern franchise. Wonder Man might lack a lot of action, but that doesn't mean it's devoid of it. There are several key scenes depicting Simon's abilities, which are all brilliantly executed.
The series isn't perfect, but it's the best thing the MCU has offered fans in a long time. The show is a slow burn, but that is a large part of its charm. Wonder Man is one of the essential titles which actually make the MCU world feel lived in. The show is the perfect example of how Marvel's earth parodies are own, but isn't an exact copy. Some fans will be disappointed with the lack of big flashy fights, but a more personal and down-to-earth story is exactly what the MCU has been missing.
The Stakes Are Low, But Much More Personal
Simon's Mission is Different Than Saving New York, or the World
Simon Williams is different. Wonder Man doesn't really go into why or how, but Williams has access to some incredible powers. Simon's main dream in life is to become an actor, but there is one huge caveat. Due to an incident involving Josh Gad and a super-powered individual, actors aren't allowed to have powers in the MCU. Williams is extremely introverted and has managed to keep his abilities a secret so far, but the DODC is hot on his tail.
The Department of Damage Control has had somewhat of an extreme makeover since its MCU introduction. Previously, the company's only purpose was to clean up after large-scale battles, but the MCU has clearly selected the group for a greater purpose. They now monitor, and experiment on, superpowered individuals who fall out of line within society. Worried that Simon WIlliams' powers could be a threat to society, the DODC recruits an unlikely ally to fully expose Williams.
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Trevor Slattery is one of the most interesting characters in the MCU. Slattery is an actor within the Marvel Universe responsible for taking the role of the faux-Mandarin in Iron Man 3. Wonder Man reveals that Slattery's tale isn't as cut and dry as audiences might have believed and actually makes them empathize with someone who was previously a comedic punching bag. The DODC forcibly recruits Slattery to watch Williams, or be forced to serve the rest of his jail sentence for " The Mandarin" incident. Slattery agrees, which is where the story truly begins.
Wonder Man Has Some of the Most Brilliant Performances in MCU History
Every Actor Is Clearly Giving it Their All
Easily the greatest part of the entire show is the friendship between Trevor and Simon. Trevor initially meets Simon with the intention of extracting his information and abandoning him forever. However, Trevor's fractured past causes him to empathize with Simon, as he quickly finds it more and more difficult to enact the will of the DODC. The characters play two sides of the same compelling coin which permanently decides their fate.
As Trevor starts to truly admire Simon and enjoy their time together, his circumstances begin to tear him apart. On the other hand, as Simon actually begins to find success, the public eye gets ever closer to learning his secret. This already interesting premise is further elevated by the incredible acting the show encompasses.
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Every actor truly brings their A-Game, even the ones who play themselves. Trevor originally moves closer to Williams in an attempt to gain information, but ends up genuinely enjoying his company. Ben Kingsley has done a fantastic job playing Trevor Slattery previously, but this is truly the character's magnum opus. His admiration for the young actor taperedYa by his consistent guilt provides one of the best performances in any Marvel show. It is only overshadowed by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II's unforgettable performance as the lead.
A show about acting has the potential to come off as incredibly disingenuous. It pulls back the curtain on the process, which can completely throw audiences out of the experience if not executed correctly. Abdul-Mateen II's performance does the exact opposite. Simon's desperation and his passion are visceral, his performance is more than believable, it feels more like fact than fiction. Audiences might not get a clear insight or view into the lead's powers, but they understand Simon Williams as a person even more than some classic MCU characters.
Wonder Man is a Fantastic Change of Pace For Marvel
The Studio Has Recently Seemingly Lacked Direction, Until Now
Wonder-Man's unique premise is exactly what the MCU has been missing from recent iterations. The heavy-character focus makes Williams' struggles feel real, rather than a stepping stone to the next big team-up flick. If the MCU can maintain this momentum, then the recent criticisms about the studio being out of ideas are completely unfounded.
Marvel's Wonder Man Series Needs To Do Two Things To Succeed
Marvel's Wonder Man series needs to be willing to poke some fun at superhero cliches, and avoid falling victim to those same cliches.
Wonder Man ultimately proves that Marvel's still got it. The show is not only an entertaining watch, it clearly fits into the larger universe without not-so-subtly pushing its character to the forefront. Wonder Man could be a big player in the coming MCU, but this series proves it doesn't matter. Marvel just revealed they can make a series about a struggling actor more compelling than any world-ending tale.
Ultimately, Wonder Man is a must-watch for fans of the MCU and otherwise. It is an extremely open-ended set of events that even the most uninformed fans could easily enjoy. It will obviously affect the larger MCU, but opens the door for other selectively focused tales to be told. Hopefully, the series' positive ratings will show showrunners that MCU fans are just as interested in compelling character-driven stories as large-scale out-of-this-world fights for the fate of the universe. Only time will tell if they decide to listen.
Wonder Man
- Release Date
- January 27, 2026
- Network
- Disney+
- Writers
- Andrew Guest
- Franchise(s)
- MCU
Cast
-
Yahya Abdul-Mateen IISimon Williams -
Ben KingsleyTrevor Slattery
- Creator(s)
- Destin Daniel Cretton
- Incredible character relationships
- Accurate anxiety depictions
- Unique take on super hero show
- Relative lack of comic accuracy
- A show about acting can feel disengenuous