Marvel Studios is preparing to launch its next Disney+ series, Wonder Man, under the “Marvel Spotlight” label, which the company claims allows new viewers to jump in without needing background on past stories. Yet, as with Echo, the so-called standalone project already leans heavily on characters and connections from earlier Marvel titles. And also like Echo, every episode of the show will be released on the same day. That usually means the streamer isn’t very confident in the product.
Ben Kingsley reprises his role as Trevor Slattery, introduced in Iron Man 3, seen again in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and featured in the short film “Hail to the King.” Arian Moayed returns as Damage Control agent P. Cleary from Spider-Man: No Way Home and Ms. Marvel. With familiar faces threading through yet another “independent” series, Marvel’s promise of a fresh start rings a bit hollow.
According to Disney’s official synopsis, the show follows aspiring actor Simon Williams, who meets aging performer Trevor Slattery and learns that legendary director Von Kovak is remaking the superhero film “Wonder Man.” The two men—one chasing fame, the other clinging to it—pursue roles that could change their lives, offering what Disney calls a behind-the-scenes look at the entertainment business.
That premise might sound clever, but early buzz suggests viewers expecting an actual superhero adventure may see little of the classic Wonder Man character. Instead, the story appears focused on a self-aware critique of Hollywood and the comic-book movie machine it continues to feed. Marvel has turned inward before, but audiences may have grown weary of the “superhero fatigue about superhero fatigue” theme.
Marvel Television’s Wonder Man | Official Trailer | Disney+
The studio’s choice to race-swap the lead role has also drawn some attention. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, known from Aquaman and HBO’s Watchmen, stars as Simon Williams, a character that has been Caucasian since his first appearance in Avengers #9 way back in October 1964, evolving from a supervillain to becoming one of Marvel’s most interesting and beloved characters; a guy with a convoluted history, even by superhero standards. While some viewers may welcome the change, or not notice it all because they don’t know the character, others view it as another example of Marvel steering away from the source material at a time when longtime fans are rapidly tuning out. To be fair, Wonder Man was never a major draw in the comics, and Disney’s own internal data may show that the audience isn’t interested in this new series either.
The show also features Zlatko Burić as the eccentric director Von Kovak, Demetrius Grosse as Simon’s brother Eric (better known as the Grim Reaper), Ed Harris as Simon’s agent, and X Mayo, Olivia Thirlby, and Byron Bowers in supporting roles. It is a strong lineup on paper, though mixed reaction from early viewers hints that star power may not be enough.
In what some industry watchers see as a telling move, Disney+ plans to release all eight episodes of Wonder Man at once on Tuesday, January 27, at 9 p.m. Eastern, 6 p.m. Pacific. The decision to forgo weekly rollouts, a strategy previously used to build audience engagement, indicates the company doesn’t expect much staying power from the series. Dropping the entire season in one night should help minimize negative chatter and let Marvel quietly move on to the next project.
Whether Wonder Man turns out to be an overlooked gem or another brief and forgettable entry in Marvel’s overstuffed catalog, it will test just how much interest remains for new characters in a universe running low on surprises. For now it looks like Disney is ready to get past this show as quickly as possible. Watch the whole thing when it debuts January 27.
***
English (US) · 