Josh Gad and the ‘Wonder Man’ team on ‘Doorman,’ cautionary tales and his wild cameo

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This story contains spoilers for “Wonder Man” Episode 4, “Doorman.”

Josh Gad never imagined he would be asked to play himself in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Then, the team making “Wonder Man” contacted him with a surprising proposal: they asked him to play a wild, fictionalized version of himself in a story warning about the dangers of fame and power in Hollywood.

Gad, a longtime fan of the series, loved the funny script and quickly agreed to join the project, with one request.

Josh Gad explained that he agreed to a project with Marvel Studios as long as he could play a different character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe later on, not just his current one. Kevin Feige, the head of Marvel Studios, agreed, and Gad said they then decided to move forward with the unusual project.

Review

‘Wonder Man’ shows, again, why the MCU is superior on TV with a grounded Hollywood story

I’m really enjoying Marvel’s new show! It stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Ben Kingsley, and it’s a surprisingly clever story about the acting world in Hollywood. The best part is, you don’t need to be a huge MCU fan to get it – it’s just a really good show on its own.

The new Disney+ series “Wonder Man,” created by Destin Daniel Cretton (known for “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”) and Andrew Guest (“Hawkeye”), centers around Simon Williams, an actor struggling to make it big in Hollywood. His life takes an unexpected turn when he meets Trevor Slattery, a former actor famous for portraying a villain in propaganda films. Simon then discovers a well-known director is planning a remake of the superhero movie, “Wonder Man.”

The show originally focused on a single friendship, according to Guest. The idea was to portray two self-absorbed people who gradually learn to care for someone other than themselves – each other – over the course of the season.

“Wonder Man” stands out as one of the more realistic Marvel movies. It’s less about a superhero becoming powerful and more about a love for Los Angeles, the process of making movies, and the struggles of artists pursuing their ambitions. Director Destin Daniel Cretton, along with production designers Cindy Chao and Michele Yu, wanted to authentically portray the city they know – a vibrant, caring place where the dream of Hollywood success feels both attainable and distant.

Gad first appears in the fourth episode of the show, called “Doorman.” This episode is unique because it’s filmed entirely in black and white and has a dark, atmospheric feel. It centers on DeMarr Davis, a nightclub worker played by Byron Bowers, who unexpectedly develops the ability to function like a doorway – people can literally walk through him. After using this power to rescue people, including his friend Gad, DeMarr quickly becomes famous.

DeMarr is having trouble moving beyond his role as ‘The Doorman.’ After an accident during a movie stunt – one that depended on his powers – the character he plays, Gad, becomes trapped inside him. Following the incident, Hollywood decides to completely prohibit the use of people with superpowers in films.

The story of the Doorman, which explains why Simon must hide his abilities, was designed to explore his greatest fear, explains Guest. The writers discussed how some people become known for just one thing, and how that might seem like success from an outside perspective, but isn’t truly fulfilling.

DeMarr’s experience reminded Bowers of stories he heard growing up about talented people who faded away for various reasons. He hoped both this particular story and the series as a whole would encourage viewers to consider those whose potential goes unnoticed because society doesn’t give them a chance to succeed.

According to Bowers, many of us are actually afraid of our own abilities. We hesitate to take risks because we’ve heard stories of people who failed after achieving success. He’s glad to share a story about someone who experienced both success and failure, because it can help others who feel ‘ordinary’ learn how to manage their own talents and potential.

James Ponsoldt, the director of “Doorman,” was drawn to the episode right away. He felt it was a particularly creative, quirky, and self-contained story – almost like a short film within the larger series.

What sets DeMarr apart is that he’s not ambitious,” explains Ponsoldt. “He’s genuinely happy with how things are – he has a job at a club, working as a bouncer, and then unexpectedly finds himself in the spotlight.

He explains that enjoying acting, enjoying movies, and being fascinated by celebrities are all separate things. The show looks at both the art of acting and the experience of fame, and he believes Episode 4 specifically shows how rewarding and challenging sudden celebrity can be.

The contrast between DeMarr and Simon’s ambitions and career trajectory are very intentional.

Guest explained they appreciated that DeMarr didn’t seek out this situation; it arose because of a heroic act, and he’s unprepared for the consequences. He also noted that simply having a career in Hollywood is challenging.

According to Cretton, DeMarr doesn’t struggle with expectations about his potential the way Simon does. That is, until Josh Gad’s character inspires him to dream big. We then see that dream flourish beautifully, but also how easily it can fade and become destructive if not handled carefully.

It was a natural choice for the ‘Wonder Man’ team to approach Gad. Both Cretton and Feige admire him as an actor, and Gad is also a popular and well-liked figure at Disney.

Cretton says it was particularly enjoyable to have him play a character different from his known persona as a kind and pleasant person.

Gad was delighted that the show embraced the ridiculousness of the character, creating this over-the-top, ‘bats—’ version of himself who frequently appears at a nightclub.

Gad says he finds it amusing that, for some reason, he now needs full-time security. He jokes that the idea of needing a whole team around him was the first thing that really made him laugh.

The show playfully includes Olaf from “Frozen,” not just as a character within the world of “Wonder Man,” but surprisingly as a popular figure in its dance clubs. The episode even features a high-energy club remix of Olaf’s song, “In Summer,” performed by Josh Gad.

Gad explained he had significant creative freedom while working on the story, and he spoke very highly of Bowers.

Taking on such an unusual project really relies on trust,” Gad explains. “To be able to improvise and have fun with the script, I needed to fully trust my co-star, Byron. If he hadn’t been open to collaboration, things could have easily gone wrong.

Gad, the character, says he’s surprisingly still alive after being trapped inside DeMarr.

Gad describes the process of getting into character as DeMarr, saying he fully immersed himself in the role during ADR sessions. He hopes to eventually move past that intense connection, and he’s looking forward to discovering what comes next for him personally.

Guest promises they’ll find a way to free his character. He says if the show gets renewed for a second season, Josh Gad will no longer be stuck as the Doorman.

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2026-02-02 14:02