Marvel Studios’ Wonder Man Disney+ series will introduce several new faces to the MCU. It was revealed in June 2022 that a series focusing on Simon Williams, a.k.a. Wonder Man from Marvel Comics, would be developed for the MCU. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings director Destin Daniel Cretton was attached to the project after signing a multi-year deal with Marvel Studios to develop new series for the MCU, and Hawkeye producer Andrew Guest was also brought on board to pen the story. Though there is currently no scheduled release date for Wonder Man, production got underway in early 2023 under the working title “Callback.”
Simon Williams debuted in Marvel Comics in 1964’s The Avengers #9, and though the character originally started out as a villain, gaining his ionic powers from Baron Heinrich Zemo, Williams soon became a staunch ally to Earth’s Mightiest Heroes as Wonder Man. Over the years, Williams’ connection to Vision would be explored, as well as his troubling dynamic with his supervillain brother, Eric Williams, aka the Grim Reaper, and Wonder Man would even be a founding member of Hawkeye’s West Coast Avengers team. Wonder Man is expected to debut in the MCU’s Multiverse Saga, introducing several new characters to the franchise ahead of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars.
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams, A.K.A. Wonder Man
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II was cast in the lead role for Marvel Studios’ Wonder Man series in October 2022. Though Abdul-Mateen II is a relatively new name in Hollywood, only getting his first professional role in 2016’s The Get Down, Wonder Man won’t be the actor’s first foray into the world of superheroes, as he portrayed Black Manta in Aquaman and its 2023 sequel The Lost Kingdom, and starred as Doctor Manhattan in HBO’s Watchmen series. In Wonder Man, Abdul-Mateen II’s Simon Williams is an actor who gains superpowers and must learn to balance his professional and personal lives while also going head-to-head with a new MCU villain.
Demetrius Grosse as Eric Williams, A.K.A. Grim Reaper
No story featuring Simon Williams can be told without also introducing his brother, Eric, who is set to be played by Demetrius Grosse in Wonder Man. Eric grew up resenting the love his parents showed his brother while he was abused and belittled, leading to him exploring a life of crime. He later became the villain Grim Reaper, equipped with a technologically advanced scythe that allowed him to send his victims into a coma. Grosse is perhaps best known for his previous work in Straight Outta Compton, Justified, and Fear the Walking Dead, and is the most recent addition to the Wonder Man cast, announced on March 29, 2023.
Ben Kingsley as Trevor Slattery
Currently, Ben Kingsley is the only returning MCU actor for Marvel Studios’ Wonder Man series, as he’ll reprise his role of Trevor Slattery from Iron Man 3, the All Hail the King One-Shot, and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. The legendary actor debuted as Slattery in Iron Man 3, a British actor hired by Aldrich Killian to portray the Mandarin, scaremongering the United States. Slattery was later taken captive by the true Mandarin, Xu Wenwu, though he helped Shang-Chi, Xu Xialing, and Katy reach Ta Lo in the MCU’s Phase 4. His appearance in Wonder Man suggests that Slattery might finally become a successful actor in the MCU.
Ed Harris as Neal Saroyan
Ed Harris was cast in Wonder Man in March 2023, set to portray a character known as Neal Saroyan, Simon Williams’ agent. Though this role might seem small for an actor of the caliber of Harris, a surprise will likely be in store, particularly since his Marvel Comics counterpart is a secret assassin who can control others’ minds. Prior to his appearance in Wonder Man, Harris has had a remarkable career, being featured in projects such as Apollo 13, The Truman Show, and A Beautiful Mind, and has recently starred as the mysterious Man in Black in HBO’s smash-hit series Westworld.
Wonder Man Supporting Cast & Characters
Lauren Glazier – Perhaps best known for her role as Kay Manz in Mindhunter season 2, Lauren Glazier has been featured in films such as The Chicago 8, Red Sparrow, and Gone Girl, as well as taking a role in The Walking Dead spinoff series, Tales of the Walking Dead. Glazier was cast in Marvel Studios’ Wonder Man in February 2023, though her supporting role hasn’t been disclosed.
