With tentpole releases like Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday on the horizon, 2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This makes it all the more ironic that the first MCU project of 2026 might be the smallest one to date. Marvel’s Wonder Man is the second Marvel Television series placed under the “Marvel Spotlight” banner, following Echo (2024). For those unaware, Marvel Spotlight promises much more “grounded” and “character-driven” stories meant to be enjoyed without audiences needing to know how they connect to the larger multimedia universe.
As a general rule, MCU entries that are self-contained tend to be of higher quality, and I have been positively drawn to some of these oddball outings in the past, such as Chloe Zhao’s Eternals (2021) or the underrated ABC series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013-2020). With its satirical premise and the always-great Yahya Abdul-Mateen II at the forefront, it’s clear Wonder Man had potential. Unfortunately, despite its good intentions, Wonder Man falls incredibly short. The new Disney+ original series is hollow, underwritten, and leaves too little of an impression by the time it’s over. It fails at a fundamental level by saying nothing of value about the film industry it’s choosing to satirize.
Wonder Man Boasts a Self-Contained and Promising Meta Concept
Wonder Man centers on Simon Williams (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), a struggling actor trying to make it in a time when Hollywood has banned powered individuals from the entertainment industry. When Simon learns that the prestigious director, Von Kovak (Zlatko Burić), is rebooting the 1980s superhero film “Wonder Man,” he attempts to land the iconic role that inspired him to pursue acting. His unpredictable and mysterious superpowers that manifest during emotional outbursts are his biggest setback. Simon’s path intertwines with the infamous Trevor Slattery (Oscar-winnerBen Kingsley), a washed-up actor trying to rebrand after portraying the terrorist known as the Mandarin. To salvage their careers, the unlikely pair decides to team up, forming a quirky friendship along the way.
Courtesy of Disney
Although Wonder Man is an established hero who has served as a prominent member of the Avengers in the comics, the show’s interpretation of Simon and his alter-ego are completely original to the MCU. Given the “Marvel Spotlight” label, it’s certain that, at least in the near future, fans will not be seeing this character fight alongside the franchise’s heavy hitters. While that is refreshing on some level, after watching all eight episodes of WonderMan, it was hard to ignore how inconsequential the series felt in the end. This was not because of a lack of cameos to establish Spider-Man or Doomsday, but rather because audiences don’t get to know who Simon truly is past a broad archetype.
Superficial and Out of Touch Attempts at Satire
Despite being hyped as a “character-driven” series, Wonder Man is disappointingly superficial; its characters and the world they live in lack authenticity. This is especially noticeable when the show is toothlessly attempting to satirize the entertainment industry (and sometimes Marvel Studios itself). There are tons of showbiz tropes, such as the nutty director or the sleazy entertainment journalist, jabs at “superhero fatigue,” and odd celebrity cameos. However, all of these call-outs are just that — references in place of any real sense of observational humor, critique of the machine, or self-awareness. Wonder Man wants to come across as sharp and witty, but by playing everything at surface level, it actually exposes itself as quite out of touch and corporate.
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The in-universe Wonder Man movie that inspired Simon Williams to pursue acting is an aesthetically lo-fi, Flash Gordon-esque space opera. It was released in 1980, though, which was notably post-Star Wars. Thus, it’s hard to fathom a cult film like this retaining the same level of cultural relevance today as it does in the series. “Disney Legend” Josh Gad guest stars in one episode, and the show treats him with an odd amount of reverence. Perhaps that’s the point, and Gad is more famous in the MCU than he is in real life? But the joke (including a club remix of “In Summer” from Frozen) isn’t developed enough for us to give it the benefit of the doubt.
These details not only lack specificity, but they also take you out of the show at every instance. Additionally, it calls to mind how well this sort of meta-humor is handled in Seth Rogen’s The Studio, which actually has a genuine grasp of the industry and its inner workings.
The Disney+ Formula Bogs Down Yet Another Show
As a Disney+ series, Wonder Man falls into all the same structural trappings that have been widely criticized in the past. Each episode runs for 25-30 minutes, excluding credits. Instead of following TV storytelling conventions, Wonder Man feels like another movie cut up into pieces. This could be forgiven as it’s being presented in the binge format, unlike previous Marvel shows. Sadly, the pacing is especially egregious in Wonder Man. The series finally finds its footing two episodes from the finale, only to quickly deflate all the story’s dramatic buildup in a rushed ending. It’s inexcusable, especially given how Agatha All Along and Daredevil: Born Again embraced the episodic format.
Courtesy of Disney
What Wonder Man does have, however, is a likeable cast. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, best known for the Aquaman films, Watchmen (2019), and Ambulance (2022), is a compelling enough actor who can often elevate the material. Simon is deeply repressed and emotionally volatile — a far cry from the normal Marvel power fantasy. His on-screen friendship with Sir Ben Kingsley has its occasional moments of sincerity. Wonder Man has a lot of respect for acting as a serious profession. The bond between Simon and Trevor, and how the two are internally changed by their relationship, represents the show at its best. Yet, I still wish this Marvel series had gone even deeper into their dynamic, both mechanically and dramatically.
Wonder Man has its heart in the right place, and it’s far from the superhero “slop” that has plagued the genre in recent years. Series creators Destin Daniel Cretton and Andrew Guest had a sincere vision. Be that as it may, this project needed more time to bake in the oven before it started shooting. As it is now, Wonder Man is a show that fails to reach its full potential. It is neither funny nor scathing enough to pass for satire; it is not specific enough to be a genuine character piece, and it ends before it really gets going. The strong talent involved can only do so much for a half-baked narrative.
★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
All 8 episodes of Marvel’s Wonder Man premiere January 27 on Disney+
Created by Destin Daniel Cretton & Andrew Guest.
Based on Wonder Man created by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, & Don Heck.
Showrunner: Andrew Guest.
Series Writers: Paul Welsh, Madeline Walter, Zeke Nicholson, Anayat Fakhraie, Roja Gashtili, Julia Lerman, & Kira Talise.
Series Directors: Destin Daniel Cretton, James Ponsoldt, Tiffany Johnson, & Stella Meghie.
Executive Producers: Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Brad Winderbaum, Destin Daniel Cretton, Andrew Guest, Stephen Broussard, & Jonathan Schwartz.
Main Cast: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Ben Kingsley, X Mayo, Zlatko Burić, Arian Moayed, Shola Adewusi, Demetrius Grosse, Béchir Sylvain, Olivia Thirlby, Byron Bowers, Joe Pantoliano, & Josh Gad.
Composer: Joel P. West.
Production Companies: Marvel Television, Family Owned, & Onyx Collective.
Network: Disney+.
Episode Count: 8 (Limited Series).
