Marvel's Wonder Man Preview Unveils Marvel's Most Self-Referential TV Show To Date
The Marvel studio is aware that audiences could be experiencing some superhero fatigue, so they've decided to include that very concept into their upcoming superhero show.
Indeed, the first preview for Wonder Man has been released, and it promises a meta twist on the MCU.
The trailer, which debuted on Oct. 10, also quietly pushed the Wonder Man launch date later from its original end of 2025 slot into early 2026.
Why one more superhero film? Everyone is weary of superhero content. Why watch them in the theater? Wonder Man resonated with me on a profound level. There is an opportunity to surprise viewers. To reimagine the whole category of narrative.
The reporter replies: "Have you given any thought about the cast?"
The preview then cuts to series star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, who's viewing the interview on his mobile device, and the preview concludes.
Key Details About Wonder Man
We already knew that Wonder Man would be a meta take on the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The show stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as the character Simon Williams, a film star who becomes a super-powered being (Wonder Man).
The supporting cast includes actor Ben Kingsley reprising his role as Iron Man 3's Trevor Slattery, Demetrius Grosse as Eric Williams (also known as Grim Reaper), Ed Harris as Simon's manager Neal Saroyan, and Arian Moayed coming back as Department of Damage Control agent P. Cleary.
The Studio's Meta-Humor Strategy
We have limited information about the storyline of Wonder Man, but it's evident that Marvel intends to laugh at its own tropes.
In the aftermath of Deadpool & Wolverine, it appears like the studio is all in on self-referential comedy. Will that work without the celebrity appeal of Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman? Only time will tell.
