Marvel's Wonder Man Preview Unveils The MCU's Most Self-Referential Series To Date
The Marvel studio has heard that viewers could be feeling some superhero fatigue, so they've opted to incorporate this exact concept into their next superhero show.
Indeed, the first trailer for Wonder Man has been released, and it promises a self-referential angle on the MCU.
The preview, which premiered on Oct. 10, also subtly pushed the Wonder Man release date later from its initial late 2025 window into early 2026.
Why another superhero movie? Everyone is weary of superhero content. Why watch them in the cinema? Wonder Man spoke to me on a deep level. There is an opportunity to surprise viewers. To reinvent the entire category of narrative.
The interviewer replies: "Have you given any thought about the cast?"
The trailer then cuts to lead actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, who's watching the conversation on his phone, and the trailer ends.
Key Details Regarding Wonder Man
We already knew that Wonder Man would be a self-referential interpretation on the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The series stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams, a Hollywood actor who transforms into a super-powered being (the hero Wonder Man).
The supporting cast includes actor Ben Kingsley reprising his role as Iron Man 3's Trevor Slattery, Demetrius Grosse as Eric Williams (aka Grim Reaper), Ed Harris as Simon's agent Neal Saroyan, and Arian Moayed returning as Department of Damage Control agent P. Cleary.
The Studio's Meta-Humor Strategy
We don't know much else about the plot of Wonder Man, but it's evident that Marvel plans to laugh at its own tropes.
In the wake of Deadpool & Wolverine, it seems like the studio is all in on self-referential comedy. Will this approach succeed without the star power of its previous leads? Only time will tell.
