Wonder Man Star Addresses Why Simon Williams Didn’t Become an Avenger In the MCU (Exclusive)

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Marvel’s upcoming series, Wonder Man, is a unique addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II plays Simon Williams, an actor who lands a life-changing audition – the lead role in a movie within the MCU called Wonder Man. This film is presented as a remake of a beloved classic from the Marvel world.

What’s particularly compelling about Simon’s story is that he’s born with his abilities – he’s had them since he was a kid. Even though he lives in a world filled with superheroes like the Avengers, he’s never felt the urge to become one himself and start helping people.

In a recent TopMob interview, actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II explained his character Simon Williams’ decision to avoid becoming a superhero and why he never joined the Avengers in the main Marvel universe (Earth-616).

Someone asked a question, and Matten immediately replied, “That makes me ask the question: What does that say about Simon?” He then described Simon Williams as a really sensitive person, and praised his work in movies as incredibly brave and heroic. I thought it was a lovely thing to say!

TopMob interviewed Sir Ben Kingsley, who reprises his role as Trevor Slattery, a character from the Marvel Cinematic Universe first appearing in Iron Man 3 and most recently in the 2021 film Shang-Chi. Each time Trevor Slattery returns, his character undergoes a significant change, and this time is no exception.

Kingsley explained that when they last saw Trevor, he was still in recovery from substance abuse, and that his journey to recovery is reflected in the film Wonder Man.

You can find more from our interviews with Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Sir Ben Kingsley, and Wonder Man showrunner Andrew Guest below. All eight episodes of Wonder Man—which has been heavily promoted—will be available on Disney+ starting January 27, 2026.

Why Didn’t Simon Williams Ever Join the Avengers?

“What Does That Say About Simon?”

  • TopMob: “When the show starts, Simon already has his powers. Why do you feel like he never took the steps to become a hero in a world with the Avengers and where they’re so prominent, and instead, he only wants to portray one on the big screen?”

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II wondered what Simon’s character reveals about him. He sees Simon as a sensitive artist, and believes he has the potential to be a hero. He recalled Sir Ben Kingsley using the phrase “heroic acting” earlier and felt that perfectly describes what Simon is striving for.

I was so intrigued by this question posed to Sir Ben Kingsley: would he rather be a hero or an actor? It felt like it presented them as two separate things, but he brilliantly pointed out that they absolutely can be the same person. He believes you can be both, and I totally agree! It really made me think.

How Trevor Slattery’s MCU Evolution Continues in Wonder Man

“Trevor Recovering Is What You See In ‘Wonder Man.'”

  • TopMob: “Sir Ben, you played Trevor Slattery. Obviously, we’ve seen this character a few times. Every time we see him, though, he goes through a big evolution. He’s very different than the last time. That remains the same in ‘Wonder Man.’ Can you talk about how this Trevor is very different from every other time that we’ve seen him in the MCU?”

Sir Ben Kingsley describes his character as someone who has been through a lot. He believes the character was still dealing with the effects of past substance abuse when we first met him, and that this stemmed from a lifelong struggle to please his mother. At his lowest point, he found himself in difficult circumstances, almost like a character from the Bible. Ultimately, Kingsley sees the story of ‘Wonder Man’ as one of recovery, and that’s what his character, Trevor, is undergoing.

I’m really starting to see how genuine Trevor is with his recovery. As we talk about him, it’s becoming clearer that he’s truly committed. It’s actually quite touching. I think a lot of people dismiss him or don’t take him seriously because they don’t really get him, but I’m understanding now that he’s completely sincere.

Wonder Man Showrunner on How the Series Addresses Superhero Fatigue

“Marvel Was Sort of Open to Poking Fun at Themselves…”

  • TopMob: “I think it’s awesome how superhero fatigue has played into not only the marketing, but it’s also a meta aspect of the show. Can you talk about how that concept has influenced the unconventional superhero story that you’re telling with this series?”

Andrew Guest explained that Marvel was willing to playfully critique itself and wanted to create something truly unique. He felt this was a big part of what made the project so appealing, and he believes that the cast – including Destin Cretton, Sir Ben Kingsley, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II – might not have collaborated on it if it hadn’t felt so special and different.

As a huge movie fan, one of our main goals was to create something realistic about the film industry itself. Honestly, let’s be real – I think a lot of us are starting to get a little tired of superhero movies. So, when a character like Von Kovak suggests another superhero remake, you’re supposed to feel that groan – we wanted to reflect how audiences are feeling. But even within a genre that feels overdone, there’s always room to shake things up and tell fresh, original stories, and that’s what really excited us about this project.

You can watch the complete interview with Russ Milheim from TopMob, along with the cast and crew of Wonder Man, here:

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2026-01-27 02:06