The latest look at Marvel’s Wonder Man series shows a main character who has everything he wants and none of the control he needs. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II stars as Simon Williams, an actor desperate for his big break, who suddenly develops explosive superpowers. A new trailer confirms his abilities are volatile, secret, and could ruin his Hollywood dreams before they even start. The series, which also brings back Ben Kingsley as the eccentric actor Trevor Slattery, will be released in full on Disney+ on January 27, 2026.
Wonder Man Plot and Premise: Hollywood Dreams Meet Superhero Reality
Wonder Man follows Simon Williams, a struggling actor in Los Angeles who can’t seem to land a meaningful role. His luck appears to change when he meets Trevor Slattery, an actor whose career peaked with his infamous, villainous role as the “Mandarin”. Slattery tells Simon about a major opportunity: a legendary, reclusive director named Von Kovak (played by Zlatko Buriฤ) is remaking a classic superhero film called Wonder Man. Simon sees this as his chance for stardom and auditions for the lead role.
The catch is that Simon is simultaneously developing real, unpredictable superpowers. This creates a major conflict in a world where, according to the series’ backstory, superpowered individuals are banned from Hollywood by something called the “Doorman Clause”. Simon must hide his growing abilities to even have a shot at the career he wants, all while navigating the competitive and often absurd world of the entertainment industry. The show is described as a peek behind the curtain of Hollywood, framed within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The New Trailer Reveals Simon’s Dangerous and Uncontrolled Powers
The official trailer for Wonder Man provides the clearest look yet at Simon Williams’s predicament. In it, he tries to project confidence, telling himself, “You got this, man. You just gotta go out there and crush it”. However, this self-assurance shatters when his powers violently erupt without his command.
A key moment in the trailer features Arian Moayed reprising his MCU role as Agent Cleary of the Department of Damage Control (DODC). The DODC is the government agency tasked with cleaning up incidents involving superpowered individuals. Cleary approaches Simon, likely to have him sign official documents, when Simon’s secret powers burst out uncontrollably. In response, Agent Cleary immediately labels Simon an “extraordinary threat,” setting the stage for a major conflict between the aspiring actor and the authorities.
Showrunner Andrew Guest has described Simon as “incredibly powerful in a way that even he is not fully aware”. Marvel Studios executive Brian Gay added that the character “doesn’t even know the extent of what his powers are”. The powers showcased in the comics and hinted at for the show include superhuman strength, speed, and the ability to create powerful energy blasts.
Trevor Slattery’s Return as a Central Figure
While Simon is the titular hero, the series also serves as a deep exploration of Ben Kingsley‘s Trevor Slattery. Kingsley has revealed that the show acts as a “real biography” or “biopic” for his character, exploring his life both before he was hired to play the Mandarin in Iron Man 3 and after the fallout from that role.
Ben Kingsley stated, “[This] series does see Trevor before he got the role of Mandarin, and then of course after, so itโs a real biography”.
Kingsley also teased a complex dynamic between Trevor and Simon. While they become friends and colleagues, Trevor also sees Simon as “someone he can absolutely exploit for his own ends”. The actor hinted that his character faces a “terrible dilemma” in the series, where he can finally reach his acting ambitions, but only “at a terrible cost”. Marvel executive Brad Winderbaum has said Wonder Man will conclude a trilogy for the Slattery character, following his appearances in Iron Man 3 and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
Full Cast and Character Details for the Upcoming Series
The series features a mix of new faces and familiar MCU actors in key roles.
- Yahya Abdul-Mateen II leads the cast as Simon Williams / Wonder Man. Abdul-Mateen has said the role allows him to explore a “three-dimensionality” in the character’s relationship with his family and past, balancing that with superhero action.
- Ben Kingsley returns as Trevor Slattery, the actor still trying to recover his career after his disastrous stint as the fake Mandarin.
- Demetrius Grosse plays Eric Williams / Grim Reaper, Simon’s older, more stable brother who works in the insurance industry.
- Arian Moayed reprises his role as Agent P. Cleary of the Department of Damage Control, who is determined to manage the threat he believes Simon represents.
- Ed Harris joins the cast as Neal Saroyan, a Hollywood agent.
- The supporting cast includes X Mayo as Simon’s agent, Janelle Jackson; Zlatko Buriฤ as the director Von Kovak; and Olivia Thirlby and Byron Bowers in undisclosed roles.
Also Read:
Wonder Man Release Date and Streaming Information
Wonder Man is scheduled for a complete season release on Tuesday, January 27, 2026. All eight episodes of the series will be available to stream at once on Disney+ starting at 6:00 PM Pacific Time. This marks a departure from the weekly episode releases used for many past Marvel Disney+ shows. The series is part of Phase Six of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and will be released under the “Marvel Spotlight” banner, which signifies stories that are more character-focused and may not require extensive knowledge of the wider MCU to enjoy.
Also Read: Idris Elba Explains The Big Twist In Hijack Season 2
