Marvel's 'Self-Aware' Hollywood-Set TV Show Wonder Man Includes 'Commentary About Superhero Fatigue'

Marvel volition admit the never-ending merchandise of caller superhero movies and TV shows successful Wonder Man, the latest caller superhero TV amusement of its own.

Set wrong Hollywood, the Disney+ bid volition travel young histrion Simon Williams (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) arsenic helium attempts to get formed successful a large caller superhero movie. The twist? Williams secretly has superhero powers himself.

Speaking to Empire, Abdul-Mateen said Wonder Man would amusement Marvel blessed to poke amusive astatine itself, with meta commentary connected audiences' existent "superhero fatigue" that has seen Marvel's ain movies and bid falter.

"We're doing thing that, tonally, feels overmuch antithetic than truly immoderate different Marvel show, oregon immoderate different films," Abdul-Mateen said. "We're doing thing that's fresh, and a spot tongue-in-cheek, a spot self-aware." Indeed, Marvel itself precocious announced the casting of Frozen prima Josh Gad successful the bid — playing a fictional mentation of himself.

But arsenic good arsenic knowing nods to Hollywood accumulation headaches and jokes astir the existent glut of superhero franchises, Abdul-Mateen suggested that Wonder Man besides had a beardown heart: its absorption connected the cardinal narration betwixt Williams and Sir Ben Kingsley's returning MCU character, the seasoned histrion Trevor Slattery.

"The amusement is self-aware, without looking straight into the camera," Abdul-Mateen continued. "There'll beryllium commentary astir superhero fatigue and things similar that, but to me, it's conscionable dressing. That's not truly the purpose of the show. The absorption of the amusement is astir an actor's journey. It's astir a travel of friendship."

Disney volition merchandise each 8 episodes of Wonder Man via Disney+ connected January 27, 2026, kicking disconnected a large twelvemonth for Marvel. Daredevil: Born Again's 2nd play volition motorboat connected March 4, with WandaVision sequel VisionQuest acceptable to debut aboriginal successful the year. On the large screen, Spider-Man: Brand New Day launches July 31, earlier Avengers: Doomsday arrives connected December 18. Now, what was that astir superhero fatigue?

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You tin scope Tom astatine [email protected] oregon find him connected Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social