Wonder Man Is the Best Disney+ Marvel Series Yet

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While casting for his latest film, director Von Kovak (Zlatko Buric) had a surprising thought. He told the actors auditioning at his home that focusing on grand ideas of heroes and gods makes things too complicated. He wanted them to find the relatable human side of their characters. This might seem simple coming from an acclaimed director, but it feels fresh in the new Disney+ Marvel series Wonder Man, as the Marvel Cinematic Universe usually leans into those larger-than-life concepts.

You know, I kept asking myself, what’s this guy’s deal? Well, he’s central to a show that’s surprisingly grounded. Forget outer space or collapsing cities – it’s set in a pretty believable Los Angeles, where Hollywood is still… Hollywood. Wonder Man, hitting Disney+ on January 27th, is different from other Marvel shows on the platform. And honestly, it’s different from those shows that promised to be different (remember Wandavision?), but then fell back on the usual CGI battles and endless setups for the next big movie. Just that alone could’ve made it the best Marvel show they’ve done so far. But it’s more than that – the casting is spot-on, the writing is clever, the directing is energetic, and the characters actually feel real. As one of the creators put it, they really dug into the humanity beneath the superhero stuff, and it totally works.

Despite featuring a large and talented cast, Wonder Man at its core is a story focused on two main characters. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, known for his roles in films like Aquaman and the Watchmen series, plays Simon Williams, an actor who constantly undermines his own success. We first meet him being fired from American Horror Story for overanalyzing a small part. Simon is deeply passionate about acting, to the point of obsessing over minute details – like what his character would read – and expects everyone around him to share his level of dedication. This self-absorption ultimately leads his girlfriend (Olivia Thirlby) to unexpectedly leave their apartment.

While watching a movie, he notices another actor – one Marvel fans will recognize by his distinct British voice. It’s Ben Kingsley, playing Trevor Slattery, who first appeared as the villain, the Mandarin, in Iron Man 3. In the movie, Trevor appeared in videos taking credit for terrorist attacks. There’s a lot of information online about this character, but the key thing is that Trevor wasn’t actually responsible for any bombings. He was a struggling actor with a drug problem who didn’t even realize he was the face of a terrorist organization – he was simply paid in drugs to perform the role.

The last ten years have been hard on Trevor, especially with all the conspiracy theories going around. When Simon meets him, Trevor immediately grumbles, “Everything you’ve read online is a lie.” He insists he wasn’t involved in Pizzagate, isn’t part of the Illuminati, and definitely didn’t have his hands replaced with baby hands. Simon’s unexpected response? “I always enjoyed your work as the Mandarin.” Ultimately, both men connect through a shared love of performance and pop culture, discussing everything from serious playwrights like Pinter to Trevor’s time on a medical drama with Joe Pantoliano. (Mentioning Pantoliano on that show often led to an actual appearance by the actor.) Both are also facing similar struggles, finding themselves on the sidelines of their careers due to past mistakes.

Unlike many previous Marvel shows that were hard to follow, the creators of this series quickly explain Trevor’s past. It’s not a spoiler to say that Trevor and Simon meeting at the movies wasn’t random – escaping a history with a dangerous terrorist group isn’t easy. However, Simon is also keeping things hidden. Because the world is cautious around people with superpowers, Simon’s job relies on him staying emotionally stable.

Simon quickly tries to get Trevor to reveal he’s auditioning for a remake of the 1980s superhero movie, Wonder Man. Simon is a huge fan and is determined to land the lead role. His agent, Janelle (played by X Mayo), is supportive but honest with him, telling him he’s talented but also difficult to work with. Despite this, Simon manages to get a casting call. There, he reconnects with Trevor, and their friendship grows through genuine experiences. Simon brings Trevor home to meet his family, where his enthusiastic mother (Shola Adewusi from Bob Hearts Abishola) and critical brother (Demetrius Grosse from Justified) highlight the family pressures that fuel Simon’s need for success.

Wonder Man isn‘t simply set in Hollywood; it genuinely embraces the city and its culture. Director Destin Daniel Cretton, known for his independent film Short Term 12 and the Marvel film Shang-Chi, and writer Peter Guest, a veteran of the sitcom Community, clearly have a fondness for the setting. The show’s director character, brilliantly played by Buric, feels like a classic European artist navigating the American film industry, with a touch of the dark intensity seen in Werner Herzog’s work. His home is a lavish display of old Hollywood glamour. The series also cleverly satirizes the modern movie business. One scene involves Simon taking Trevor to a rundown, sea-themed studio called Ahoy Tapes to record an audition. And in a particularly funny episode featuring guest star Josh Gad playing himself, a nightclub doorman gains unexpected fame after touching a strange substance that transforms his body into a literal doorway.

It seems screenwriters are really embracing the advice to write about what they know, as we’re seeing a lot of movies and shows set on movie studio lots. Wonder Man arrives shortly after Apple’s well-received The Studio, which also playfully satirizes Hollywood with fun cameos. (One character vying for the Wonder Man role actually started as a surfing instructor for director Paul Thomas Anderson!) Marvel’s take on the “show within a show” concept also feels a bit behind; Watchmen and Amazon’s The Boys both premiered in 2019, and HBO’s cynical take on superhero universes, The Franchise, aired briefly in 2024. What sets Wonder Man apart is the thoughtful and nuanced portrayal of Simon and Trevor’s complicated relationship by the actors and creators. Compelling, well-developed characters like these are rare in any genre, but especially within the superhero world.

Despite its strengths, the show isn’t perfect and falls into some common Marvel traps. Many of the female characters aren’t developed enough, which is disappointing when the show has talented actors like Thirlby who aren’t given much to do. While the show isn’t afraid to use mature language, it still relies on the tired trope of superpowers being a stand-in for personal growth. However, these flaws are easy to overlook, especially in the satisfying season finale, which prioritizes character development over action-packed battles. More than any other live-action Marvel series on Disney+, Wonder Man manages to appeal to viewers who aren’t necessarily superhero fans—much like Netflix’s Jessica Jones and FX’s Legion, but with a lighter tone. It gives people a reason to watch, even if they aren’t interested in superheroes for the sake of it, and keeps them engaged until the very end.

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2026-01-26 21:07