Wonder Man is a key part of the Marvel Universe. He’s played a role in many major storylines and has been involved with the Avengers, including working against them at times.
Baron Zemo offered Simon Williams superhuman powers through a dangerous and experimental process that transformed him into the ionic hero known as Wonder Man. Those abilities have helped him fight for good and have made him an iconic figure in the comics.
1. Character Origins
Yahya Abdul-Mateen is taking on a pretty deep-cut Marvel character in the Disney+ series Wonder Man. Created by Jack Kirby, Don Heck, and Stan Lee, Simon Williams first appeared in Avengers #9 in 1964, but he didn’t start out as a hero. He was actually a supervillain imbued with ionic energy who fought the Avengers, then was reborn into a hero through a complex scheme and sacrifice made to save the team against which he’d originally fought.
After being infused with the ionic energy, Wonder Man gained incredible strength and durability, as well as the ability to absorb and manipulate various forms of energy. He also had ionic blasts and the ability to fly, and he was essentially immortal, with a drastically slowed aging rate. He would go on to become a founding member of the West Coast Avengers, and developed close relationships with the Scarlet Witch and Vision (which could tie in with the reported Vision Quest series). These powers and backstory make Wonder Man a fascinating character to explore, and the series seems like it’s going to take full advantage of him.
2. Plot Expectations
With his ionic strength and durability, Wonder Man ranks among the MCU’s physically strongest heroes. But the character also boasts a unique blend of personal and public identities, allowing for superhero satire and commentary on celebrity culture. And the show’s premise—a struggling actor/stuntman seeking to land a superhero role—opens up opportunities for drama and comedy, with a metatextual edge.
Yahya Abdul-Mateen (Aquaman’s Black Manta, The Matrix Resurrections’ young Morpheus) stars as Simon Williams, an aspiring actor/stuntman auditioning for the lead in a superhero TV series. Apparently unaware that he has superpowers, Williams’ dogged pursuit of life-changing roles may set up some entertaining parallels with the real-life struggles of other actors.
The show debuts under the Marvel Spotlight label, which points to a focus on slice-of-life drama and humor over cosmic action. This echoes Marvel Studios’ new quality-first strategy and its move away from high-concept blockbusters to more intimate, personal storytelling.
3. MCU Connections
As the 17th TV series to be released under the Marvel Television banner and share continuity with the MCU movies, it seems likely that Wonder Man will tie into the larger world of superheroes. While it may be difficult to fit the story of an aspiring actor with powers into the Sacred Timeline, there are plenty of ways in which this could work.
For starters, Simon Williams’ ion-based abilities would allow him to connect with Vision. The government rebuilt the character after his destruction in WandaVision, and it would be a fun nod to the comics to have him reach out to Williams in hopes of helping him regain his powers.
There’s also the possibility of a cameo from Kingo, who was lifted into space by Arishem in The Eternals. He’s been referenced in several MCU projects since, and it wouldn’t be out of the question to see him bump into Williams or even join their team. As for a possible connection between Wonder Man and Sam Wilson, that’s an obvious one to consider as well. The two have a long-standing friendship in the comics, and it would be a lot of fun to see them go on missions together or just hang out with each other.
4. Possible Cameos
A new rumor suggests that Marvel might be changing its streaming approach to MCU stories. The upcoming Wonder Man series helmed by Shang-Chi director Destin Daniel Cretton and Community co-creator Andrew Guest is reportedly positioning itself as a satirical take on superhero movies, Hollywood writ large, and the nature of celebrity.
That might explain the absence of major MCU stars from the show. According to a scoop from MyTimeToShineHello, the series won’t feature cameos by any of the main MCU heroes. Instead, the show will be a self contained story.
However, Wonder Man’s connection to Baron Zemo might be a way for the show to break that rule. The villain’s ties to the Vision go back years, as the character was first copied by Ultron in order to create the android. Plus, the film’s Hollywood setting makes it easy for the show to visit Zemo in some capacity, especially given his close link with Hollywood.
5. Release Details
The Disney+ series has flown pretty under the radar, but it’s got a lot to offer. Starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams, a brash actor who auditions for the lead role of an in-universe superhero TV show, Wonder Man should add some levity to the MCU.
The first trailer for the eight-episode show was unveiled at New York Comic Con 2025, and it’s sure to catch your eye. It combines drama and comedy in a story about filmmaking, and it should be the perfect way to kick off the MCU’s 2025 slate.
The show is part of the Marvel Phase Six lineup, and it’ll arrive in January 2026. It was originally slated to debut in December, but it was moved back to avoid being lost amongst the holiday season binge-watching frenzy. It will be the first live-action series released by Disney+, and it could set the stage for future Marvel TV shows. Unless it’s a massive hit, though, this is likely a one-and-done project for Marvel. Its premiere may also help to boost subscription numbers for the streaming service.