There is nothing quite like Marvel Studios’ new series Wonder Man. Starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Sir Ben Kingsley, the series is as much of an inside look into the world of Hollywood as it is the introduction of Marvels latest superhero.
Wonder Man was developed as a Disney+ series by Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings director Destin Daniel Cretton and Andrew Guest, who previously worked on Hawkeye. Together, they crafted a tale that shifts the focus away from the typical action and big special effects, and offers an intimate, character-driven story about a struggling actor whose goal is not to save the world, but to pursue his dream of making it in Hollywood.
The result is a relentlessly charming and refreshingly human story. Abdul-Mateen and Kingsley form one of the best TV duos ever. Their talent and chemistry leap off the screen and elevate the show to one of Marvel’s best.
All 8-episodes of Wonder Man release January 27th on Disney+.
Official Synopsis
Aspiring Hollywood actor Simon Williams is struggling to get his career off the ground. During a chance meeting with Trevor Slattery, an actor whose biggest roles may be well behind him, Simon learns legendary director Von Kovak is remaking the superhero film “Wonder Man.” These two actors at opposite ends of their careers doggedly pursue life-changing roles in this film as audiences get a peek behind the curtain of the entertainment industry.
Review – Simon Williams and Trevor Slattery are the Next Great TV Duo
The character of Wonder Man, Simon Williams, was created by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Don Heck in 1964 for Marvel Comics. First appearing in “The Avengers” #9, Wonder Man was originally a powerful supervillain wielding ionic energy; he was later reinvented as a hero with Hollywood aspirations. Wonder Man has never been your typical superhero who simply exists to save the world from the bad guys. Instead, he has goals and ambitions of his own, which primarily focus on being famous and dating other celebrities.
Of course, when a character is adapted into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), they are almost always changed to fit the new medium. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is clearly someone born to play a superhero. Standing at an imposing 6‘3“, Abdul-Mateen is one of the few actors who has technically appeared in both DC and Marvel TV series; he previously played Doctor Manhattan in the Damon Lindelof adaptation of Watchmen.
Here, Abdul-Mateen trades God-like powers for a movie script, as Simon Williams is a super-powered being who simply wants to pursue his passion for acting. It’s an inspired and somewhat unexpected pivot for both the actor and Marvel Studios, introducing a character and focusing almost exclusively on his personal life. Interestingly, the series seems intent on not telling an origin story, never even revealing how Williams got his powers. His superhero origin is irrelevant. What really matters is that Williams grew up loving TV and film, and is determined to not let his super-powered secret hold him back from achieving his dreams.
At this point inside the MCU, it seems not everyone in the public appreciates people with special abilities. For Hollywood in particular, they have instituted the “Doorman clause,” which strictly prohibits super-powered individuals from being cast in Hollywood. It makes a lot of sense in a post-Endgame, post-Blip, world, where superheroes and supervillains alike have caused a lot of destruction and suffering. Although, in this series, the superpower prohibition is limited to Hollywood, one can’t help but wonder if this is a sign of larger restrictions and anti-superpower sentiment to come, especially with the imminent introduction of the X-Men into the MCU.
Just like every hero’s journey must include a mentor to help them realize their potential, Simon Williams meets actor extraordinaire, and former faux terrorist, Trevor Slattery (Sir Ben Kingsley). Slattery, of course, has been on quite the epic journey of his own, from Iron Man 3, to the All Hail the King one-shot, and most recently Shang-Chi.
Slattery’s character arc is yet another example of Marvel Studios’ incredible long-game story-telling achievements. They successfully took a character who was, in many ways, a MacGuffin, and turned him into one of the most delightful individuals in all of the MCU. It doesn’t hurt that Slattery is played by a talent like Kingsley, who brings a perfect balance of charisma and humility. Together, Williams and Slattery quickly form one of the best duos in all of television, perfectly bouncing off each other with humor and vulnerability that feel like they’ve been together for years. The pair is truly a masterstroke of casting and chemistry.
While the story of Wonder Man is about two lost souls who come together to heal and elevate each other, this is still at least somewhat a superhero story, and thus there must be a villain. Enter the Department of Damage Control (DODC), yet another cloak and dagger government agency with nefarious intentions. Here, the organization is represented by Agent Cleary (Arian Moayed). Cleary and the DODC are designed to neutralize super-powered threats to humanity (sounds like the beginning of larger efforts in the future), and they have identified Simon Williams as a potential threat. Moayed, who previously appeared in Ms. Marvel and Spider-Man: No Way Home, perfectly fits in with the overall dramatic humor of the show, blackmailing Slattery and badgering Williams, all with a humorously exasperated approach.
An added layer that makes this show even more special is the choice to race-bend Wonder Man from a Caucasian character in the comics to a Haitian American one. The change is not just a superficial one, as the series explores Williams’ Haitian background and family dynamics, and how they impact his career goals. When we see Williams’ mother, fully devoted to her son despite his many flaws, and his disapproving older brother, who resents Williams for not helping to financially support their family, we gain insight into the unique challenges that those from immigrant families face when trying to pursue the near impossible dream of Hollywood success.
For all its strengths, Wonder Man is not the kind of superhero series that fans have come to expect. It’s noticeably light on action, with only a few scenes that involve super powers. Viewers may find themselves waiting for Williams to unleash, which doesn’t quite happen in the way that they might expect. It’s a delicate balance to tell a refreshingly unique story that subverts expectations and still satisfy increasingly demanding genre fans.
Further, because the story centers around the acting world, it can feel a little too “inside baseball” when it comes to its depiction of Hollywood. Everything from self tapes to the audition process is so genuinely authentic to what countless actors go through on a regular basis, but those elements may be lost on those who don’t really know the industry and don’t care to know it.
However, Marvel’s approach with Wonder Man is one that the studio should follow with all of its TV series going forward. The Disney+ shows should focus on telling character-focused stories that are light on costly special effects and instead rely on great writing and performances. That is what will make fans connect with the characters and set the stage for them to later transition into more expensive feature films.
Ultimately, the most important part about Wonder Man is that you fall in love with Simon Williams, while the love affair with Trevor Slattery continues. Cretton, who directed the first two episodes of the series, is known for his character centered approach to story. He and co-creator Andrew Guest, have expertly developed a world that clearly fits into the larger MCU, and yet stands so uniquely apart. Their Simon Williams can certainly fight side-to-side with the Avengers (or the New Avengers), but you almost don’t want to see that because it would take him away from his acting pursuits.
Rating – 4.5/5 Pocky
Ron is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of POC Culture. He is a big believer in the power and impact of pop culture and the importance of representation in media.
