Marvel's Wonder Man Preview Unveils Marvel's Most Self-Referential TV Show Ever
The Marvel studio is aware that audiences could be experiencing some superhero exhaustion, so they've decided to incorporate this exact idea into their next superhero show.
That's right, the first preview for Wonder Man has been released, and it promises a meta twist on the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The preview, which premiered on October 10th, also subtly pushed the Wonder Man release date back from its initial end of 2025 slot into early 2026.
Why another superhero film? People is weary of superheroes. Why watch them in the theater? Wonder Man resonated with me on a deep level. There is an opportunity to surprise audiences. To reinvent the whole category of storytelling.
The reporter responds: "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 ends.
Key Details About Wonder Man
We already knew that Wonder Man would be a meta take on the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The series features Abdul-Mateen II as the character Simon Williams, a Hollywood actor who transforms into a superhero (Wonder Man).
The supporting cast features Ben Kingsley returning as Iron Man 3's Trevor Slattery, Demetrius Grosse as Eric Williams (aka Grim Reaper), Ed Harris as Simon's manager Neal Saroyan, and Arian Moayed returning as DODC agent P. Cleary.
The Studio's Meta-Humor Approach
We don't know much else about the storyline of Wonder Man, but it's clear 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 this approach succeed without the celebrity appeal of Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman? We'll have to wait and see.
