“Wonder Man” looks like Marvel’s self-aware reset button.
Marvel Television is betting on a different kind of superhero story with its new trailer for “Wonder Man,” an eight-episode Disney+ series that puts the entertainment industry under a microscope. The project leans hard into a meta setup. It follows Simon Williams, an aspiring Hollywood actor who can’t get his career moving. Then he crosses paths with Trevor Slattery, a performer whose biggest moments sit in the rearview mirror.
Their lives shift when Simon learns that legendary director Von Kovak plans to remake the superhero film “Wonder Man.” Both actors chase what could be life-changing roles, while the series promises a peek behind the curtain of show business. Marvel’s marketing line spells out the vibe: “He was born to play this role, but the spotlight reveals everything.”
A superhero story that knows the room
Over the past few years, “superhero fatigue” has become a regular phrase in online debates and studio strategy talk. “Wonder Man” looks ready to address that head-on, not by ignoring the conversation, but by building the series around it.
By making the core conflict about landing a role in a superhero remake, “Wonder Man” gets to comment on the machine that sells hero stories. It can poke fun at hype cycles, reboots, and the pressure to “matter” in a crowded franchise world, while still delivering Marvel-sized spectacle when it wants to.
That blend could be a smart play for Marvel right now. A show that admits the genre has baggage can feel fresher than one that pretends everything is still new.
Cast and creative team
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II stars as Simon Williams, with Ben Kingsley returning as Trevor Slattery. The cast also includes Arian Moayed, X Mayo, and Zlatko Burić.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day director Destin Daniel Cretton and Andrew Guest created the series. Executive producers include Kevin Feige, Brad Winderbaum, Cretton and Guest, among others. Cretton directs the first two episodes. James Ponsoldt, Tiffany Johnson, and Stella Meghie direct later chapters.
“Wonder Man” premieres Jan. 27 at 6 p.m. PT, only on Disney+.
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Sean Tajipour
Sean Tajipour is the Founder and Editor of Nerdtropolis and the host of the Moviegoers Society and Reel Insights Podcast. He is also a member of the Critics Choice Association. You can follow on Twitter and Instagram @Seantaj.
