Wonder Man - Cast, Director And More Info
Have you been wondering about "Wonder Man"? You're in good company. Given the recent news that Marvel is slowing its roll on releasing new TV shows and revamping its television production process to, well, make more sense, the future of most MCU shows is a bit nebulous. It's not that these shows won't happen, but between SAG-AFTRA's ongoing fight for fair pay and the entertainment industry's general post-pandemic belt-tightening, any show that's not already on the release schedule feels a little bit up in the air.
Thankfully, one of the most intriguing upcoming Marvel shows, "Wonder Man," still seems to be in the works as of publication time. With a crowded slate of shows on the horizon, including "Hawkeye" spinoff "Echo," "WandaVision" spinoff "Agatha: Darkhold Diaries" (which, yes, did have two other titles before this one), Riri Williams-led series "Ironheart," and reboot "Daredevil: Born Again," it's hard to remember what phase of the MCU we're even in anymore, nonetheless what's releasing next. "Wonder Man" won't be dropping for a while, but that gives us plenty of time to sort through everything we know so far.
When does Wonder Man premiere?
"Wonder Man" does not yet have a premiere date. This is a fact that seems to be freaking people out and prompting rumors that the show will be scrapped, but it actually makes perfect sense given the situation in Hollywood right now. While members of acting guild SAG-AFTRA and producer-representing group the AMPTP continue to negotiate the terms of the former's next contract, production on all Disney-made shows must shut down. Since reports indicate that "Wonder Man" just began filming in April 2023 and had already shut down production by May, there's still a considerable amount of work that needs to be done on the series.
Couple this with the fact that back in February The Hollywood Reporter said Disney and Marvel's head honchos have plans to slow down their TV output, and it makes total sense that "Wonder Man" isn't currently on the release schedule. The show was first announced in June 2022, without a set release date but with a plan to shoot in 2023. With the production currently on hold, the release date for "Wonder Man" is anyone's guess — but its future should look clearer once Hollywood productions resume filming.
What are the plot details of Wonder Man?
Though the plot of "Wonder Man" is being kept under wraps in typical Marvel fashion, a few details about the show have trickled out over time. THR recently said that the show is meant to be a "behind-the-scenes look at Hollywood and a character study of Simon Williams, a superhero who has a side gig as an actor and stuntperson." This is a bit different than what Marvel Comics fans might already know about the character; in the comics, the ionically powered man (who's also the son of Tony Stark's business rival) spent some time as a villain working for the Masters of Evil, though he eventually switched sides and teamed up with the good guys. And yes, he did at one point work as a stuntman and eventually became a major celebrity.
The comic book version of Wonder Man also crossed paths with heroes and villains like Ultron, Zemo, Vision, and Scarlet Witch, even at one point falling in love with the latter. As Comic Book Resources reports (quoting Variety's Joe Otterson), Marvel's spin on "Wonder Man" might turn out to be a bit of a satirical look at Hollywood. Personally, I'm curious to see what a satirical story about the film industry would look like through the eyes of Marvel — the company that basically dominated it for a decade.
Who is in the cast of Wonder Man?
The (wonder) man of the hour is Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, who's set to star as Simon Williams in the upcoming series. You might know Abdul-Mateen from that time he played another impressive superpowered figure, Dr. Manhattan, in the HBO reimagining of "Watchmen." The actor also starred in Nia DaCosta's "Candyman" sequel in 2021, played Morpheus in "The Matrix Resurrections," and had memorable roles in "Black Mirror," "Us," "The Trial of the Chicago 7," and more.
Other confirmed "Wonder Man" cast members include "Fear The Walking Dead" actor Demetrius Grosse, "Mindhunters" actress Lauren Glazier, and Ben Kingsley. Yes, the same Ben Kingsley who we already know as washed-up actor Trevor Slattery from "Iron Man 3" and "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings." Trevor will appear in the series, though there's no word yet on if he'll bring his headless, furry winged turkey with him. While Grosse is reportedly playing Simon's brother Eric, other roles have not yet been revealed.
Who is the director of Wonder Man?
Destin Daniel Cretton, the man behind 2021's "Shang-Chi" and the upcoming "Avengers: The Kang Dynasty" movie, is set to helm some of the episodes of "Wonder Man" (per Collider). Before Cretton started working with Marvel, he was best-known for the heartfelt indie film "Short Term 12," and for true story adaptations "Just Mercy" and "The Glass Castle."
Filmmaker Stella Meghie is also on board to direct some of the new series. Meghie directed the 2020 romantic drama "The Photograph," 2017's "Everything, Everything," and episodes of shows like "Minx," "Insecure," and "Grown-ish." The upcoming Wonder Man series is set to be Meghie's first Marvel project.
Who are the writers and producers of Wonder Man?
To get a better sense of what the tone of "Wonder Man" might be, look no further than the filmography of head writer Andrew Guest. Guest has written for fantastic TV comedies like "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," "Community," and "30 Rock," and penned the second paintball episode of "Community." The description of "Wonder Man" as a Hollywood satire starts to make more sense with Guest on board.
In addition to working as a director, Cretton will also executive produce the series. It's worth noting that just last week, Marvel announced plans to start hiring showrunners to oversee its shows — a typical TV production practice that, until now, the studio oddly veered away from. There's no word yet on who will serve as showrunner for "Wonder Man."