Wonder Man Review: Not Your Typical Origin Story
- The Real Perspectives
- Jan 2
- 3 min read
Reel Perspectives
January 3, 2026
Marvel turns the camera inward with a superhero story about ambition, identity, and who gets to be seen.
Power, Perception, & the Price of Being Exceptional
If you’re already mapping out what deserves space on your 2026 watchlist, go ahead and circle Wonder Man — because Marvel’s next Disney+ series looks ready to shake things up in a very different way.
Premiering January 27, the eight-episode Marvel Television series stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams, an aspiring actor hustling for his breakthrough while quietly developing superpowers he never asked for. Created by Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) and Andrew Guest (Community, Hawkeye), Wonder Man blends superhero spectacle with a sharp, self-aware look at the entertainment industry itself.
And yes — Ben Kingsley returns as Trevor Slattery, the washed-up performer we first met in Iron Man 3 and later Shang-Chi, now serving as both mentor and mirror to Simon’s struggle.
Hollywood Dreams, Superpowered Consequences
In the official trailer, Simon is told, “You got this, man. You just gotta go out there and crush it.” It’s the kind of motivational mantra Hollywood thrives on — until the show starts peeling back what that pressure actually costs.
When Simon crosses paths with legendary (and possibly unhinged) director Von Kovak (Zlatko Burić), he’s pulled into a reboot of the in-universe superhero film Wonder Man — a role that could change his life. But as the trailer makes clear, Simon’s journey isn’t just metaphorical. His powers erupt at the worst possible time, putting him on the radar of the Department of Damage Control and Agent Cleary (Arian Moayed), who quickly brands him an “extraordinary threat.”
The result is a Marvel series that plays like a backstage pass to Hollywood ambition — where fame, fear, and identity collide under the brightest lights.
Why Wonder Man Hits at the Right Time
What makes Wonder Man especially compelling is how openly it wrestles with performance — not just on screen, but in real life. For BIPOC creatives in particular, Simon’s story hits close to home: the grind, the gatekeeping, the pressure to be exceptional just to survive, and the question of who gets labeled “dangerous” the moment they finally step into their power.
It’s also part of a growing pattern worth paying attention to. Disney+ has been quietly building some of its most interesting Marvel stories around BIPOC leads — from Ironheart to Wonder Man — yet these projects rarely receive the same sustained hype, discourse, or cultural patience as shows like WandaVision or Agatha All Along.
The ambition is there. The creativity is there. The spirit is ready and willing. What’s often missing is the collective rally to meet it.
Wonder Man isn’t just about saving the world. It’s about being seen in it — and deciding which stories we show up for when the spotlight isn’t automatically guaranteed.
When and Where to Watch
All eight episodes of Wonder Man debut January 27 at 6 PM PT / 8 PM EST on Disney+, with international release following shortly after. The series’ soundtrack, featuring an original score by Joel P. West, arrives January 30 via Hollywood Records.
Marvel has promised something bold, weird, and self-reflective — and if the trailer is any indication, Wonder Man might be one of the studio’s most quietly daring swings yet.
👉🏾 Watch the trailer below, and get ready — this one’s about more than capes.
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