We’re now over two years into Marvel’s promised “reshuffling” of its TV productions, and the results are mixed. The goal was to create more programming focused on being an actual TV show and not a movie split into episodic chunks. So far, we’ve got Daredevil, which returns next month, and Ironheart, a holdover from before the restructuring. The latter followed the movie model and suffered for it. Consequently, I had low expectations upon hearing about Wonder Man, another holdover.
A product of Marvel regulars Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi) and Andrew Guest (Hawkeye), Wonder Man is less a superhero story and more a buddy comedy about two struggling actors. The series follows Simon Williams (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) a superpowered actor desperate for his big break. A chance encounter with Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley), an actor mostly known as the fake terrorist The Mandarin, leads the duo to try out for a remake of sci-fi classic Wonder Man. This leads to some jokes at the expense of Marvel, but the satire is only part of the series’ charm.
The show plays more like a character study than a typical Marvel product. Simon Williams is not a hero. In fact, his powers are a burden to his life and career. Because of the Doorman Clause, superheroes are prohibited from working in the industry. This means Simon has to hide a key part of himself from everyone, a struggle that affects his acting. It’s an obvious metaphor, but one that works well because the writing doesn’t make it the character’s sole focus. Instead, the series takes the time to show us all the facets of Simon’s life and how they can help shape his future. It’s no coincidence that Simon comes into his own as an actor when he learns to accept his powers.
For their part, Abdul-Mateen and Kingsley prove to be a terrific duo to center a show around. Kingsley continues to take the bit role of Slattery and imbue him with a genuine sense of pathos. The best scenes simply involve the two discussing their love of acting. It’s that shared passion that forms their bond and makes them such an endearing pair. Simon overthinks everything, constantly in his own head, but Abdul-Mateen still showcases his charisma and skill. There’s brief moments where Simon shows his true personality and we get glimpses of the Wonder Man comic fans might know. By the end, he’s fully come into his own.
Wonder Man ends up being the perfect example of what Marvel’s TV output can look like moving forward. It doesn’t all have to be epic superhero stories. Sometimes a fun romp through Hollywood with some charming characters is enough. Not everything requires a big CGI fight in the last episode. Conflicts can exist within and still be compelling, even if the person in question can move mountains. The struggle is just as important as the triumph.
Wonder Man is currently streaming on Disney+.