Wonder Man Preview Reveals Marvel's Most Self-Referential Series To Date
The Marvel studio is aware that viewers might be feeling some superhero exhaustion, so they've decided to incorporate that very concept into their next superhero show.
Indeed, the first trailer for Wonder Man has arrived, and it promises a self-referential angle on the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The trailer, which premiered on Oct. 10, also quietly moved the Wonder Man launch 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 whole category of storytelling.
The interviewer replies: "Have you considered about the cast?"
The preview then transitions to series star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, who's watching the interview on his phone, and the trailer concludes.
What We Know Regarding 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 Simon Williams, a Hollywood actor who transforms into a superhero (Wonder Man).
The rest of the cast features Ben Kingsley returning as Iron Man 3's Trevor Slattery, Demetrius Grosse as Eric Williams (also known as Grim Reaper), Ed Harris as Simon's agent Neal Saroyan, and Arian Moayed coming back as DODC agent P. Cleary.
The Studio's Meta-Humor Strategy
We have limited information about the plot of Wonder Man, but it's clear that Marvel intends to laugh at its own tropes.
In the aftermath of Deadpool & Wolverine, it seems like the studio is fully committed on meta-humor. Will this approach succeed without the celebrity appeal of Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman? Only time will tell.
