The Marvel Cinematic Universe is taking a self-aware detour, and we’re here for it. After dropping a teaser, Marvel dropped the first trailer for Wonder Man, giving us a refreshingly offbeat glimpse at one of Marvel’s most unconventional projects yet.
Starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams, a struggling actor trying to land the role of his childhood idol, Wonder Man, isn’t your typical superhero series. Instead of multiverses, explosive CGI battles, and endless capes, this Disney+ series leans into satire, self-parody, and the awkward hustle of Hollywood itself.
A Meta Marvel Moment
In the world of the show, Wonder Man isn’t a hero; it’s a cheesy, long-forgotten superhero film franchise now being rebooted by eccentric filmmaker Von Kovak (played by Zlatko Burić, best known for his turn as the Boravian President in Superman).
“We’re going to make the last movie on Earth,” Kovak declares in the trailer. “No one will have the balls to make another.”
It’s an audacious line that perfectly captures the tone of this series, bold, bizarre, and self-aware. Marvel seems to be taking a breather from its cosmic chaos and turning the camera inward, poking fun at the superhero machine it helped build.
The Return of Trevor Slattery
Fans of Iron Man 3 and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will immediately notice the return of Ben Kingsley as Trevor Slattery, the washed-up actor who once played “the Mandarin.” Here, Trevor takes Simon under his wing, guiding him through the wild world of fame, failure, and reinvention.
For longtime MCU followers, Trevor’s inclusion is a clever nod to Marvel’s more absurd and theatrical side, a reminder that not every hero needs to save the world to make an impact. As one fan put it online: “Finally, a Marvel show with more Trevor and less trauma.”
Behind the Scenes
Wonder Man is co-created and executive-produced by Destin Daniel Cretton, who directed Shang-Chi. Known for balancing emotional storytelling with stylized action, Cretton seems to be taking Marvel into an introspective, character-driven lane, one that examines what it means to perform heroism, rather than simply live it.
In the comics, Wonder Man (created by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Don Heck in 1964) began as an antagonist to the Avengers before finding redemption and fame as a Hollywood stuntman. This adaptation flips that arc into something more grounded, less about power and more about purpose.
Less Super, More Human
The trailer is light on explosions but heavy on existential humor. Abdul-Mateen’s portrayal of Simon feels equal parts earnest and satirical, a man chasing a dream in a world that’s lost touch with authenticity. It’s the kind of tonal shift that might just breathe new life into the MCU’s expanding universe.
Wonder Man premieres January 27 on Disney+, with all eight episodes available to stream.
