The new Marvel series “Wonder Man” finds its soul not in cosmic battles, but in the dusty glow of a revival movie theater. The show makes a brilliant, foundational reference to the Oscar-winning film “Midnight Cowboy,” using it as the literal and thematic meeting point for its two lead characters. This choice is far more than a simple Easter egg; it is the key that unlocks the series’ deeper story about friendship, artistry, and survival in a cutthroat world.
The “Midnight Cowboy” Meeting That Started It All
The reference occurs in the series’ first episode. Simon Williams (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), a struggling actor with big dreams and destructive superpowers, meets Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley), the washed-up thespian formerly known as the fake Mandarin, at a repertory screening of “Midnight Cowboy”. The film is a perfect, slightly subversive pick for a Disney-branded show, as it remains the only X-rated film (equivalent to today’s NC-17) to ever win the Academy Award for Best Picture.
Their paths cross during a screening of ‘Midnight Cowboy,’ a film that, like ‘Wonder Man,’ ends with a bittersweet dream of a brighter future.
This setting immediately establishes shared ground. Both Simon and Trevor are film lovers, and this obscure, gritty classic reveals their authentic passion for the craft beyond just fame. It is the first hint that their unlikely connection will be the show’s central focus.
Why This Oscar Winner is the Perfect Mirror for Simon and Trevor
The brilliance of the “Midnight Cowboy” reference lies in its direct thematic parallel. The 1969 film tells the story of two hustlers—a naïve Texan named Joe Buck (Jon Voight) and a sickly conman nicknamed Ratso Rizzo (Dustin Hoffman)—who form an unlikely bond while desperately trying to survive the brutal landscape of New York City.
“Wonder Man” transplants this dynamic to Hollywood. Simon is the naïve newcomer, full of hope and artistic integrity but constantly getting in his own way. Trevor is the grizzled veteran, a figure clinging to the margins of the industry after a very public fall from grace. Like Joe and Ratso, they are two outsiders thrown together, navigating a relentless and often demeaning system just to get by. The show consciously mirrors the cinematic beats of “desperately trying to survive the relentless grind of big city living,” but through the lens of working actors.
More Than a Nod: How the Reference Develops Character
The “Midnight Cowboy” scene does crucial character work. For Simon, his choice of film shows he is a true artist, the type of actor who frequents revival houses to experience movies on film. It humanizes him before his powers are even fully explored.
For Trevor, it re-contextualizes his entire Marvel Cinematic Universe history. Once a punchline, he is now framed as a seasoned, if eccentric, veteran of both acting and life’s hardships—the “Ratso” figure to Simon’s “Joe Buck”. Their ensuing “bromance” is shaped by a mutual, unwavering devotion to acting and the shared experience of being pushed to the sidelines. This bond gives the series its emotional core, making their story more compelling than any superhero plot.
A Foundational Piece of the Show’s Hollywood Satire
“Wonder Man” is Marvel’s sharpest satire of the entertainment industry itself. By rooting its central relationship in a classic, gritty film about survival, it immediately signals its more mature, character-driven intentions. This aligns with the series’ place under the Marvel Spotlight banner, which denotes lower-stakes, personal stories.
The reference grounds the show in a legacy of serious cinema, creating a stark and often funny contrast with the absurdities of the Hollywood machine it depicts—from humiliating self-tape auditions to deals with shady government agencies like the Department of Damage Control. It announces that this is a story about people first and superheroes second.
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The Deep-Cut Comic Book Connection
For dedicated Marvel fans, the “Midnight Cowboy” reference has an even deeper layer. In the comics, Simon Williams’ greatest achievement wasn’t saving the world as an Avenger; it was winning an Academy Award for Best Actor.
The film he won for? A provocative, gritty drama titled “Midnight Cowboys“ (note the plural). This in-universe award was controversial, with some believing he won due to his celebrity as a superhero rather than his talent. The show’s use of the real “Midnight Cowboy” is a clever, meta-joke precursor to this comic book destiny, highlighting Simon’s ultimate desire for validation as a true artist.
“Wonder Man” is a show built on the love of performance. Its inspired choice to use a controversial Oscar winner as the bedrock for its central friendship is a testament to its smart writing. It proves that in Hollywood, as in life, the most powerful alliances are often formed between those just trying to make it to the next day, whether on the streets of New York or the backlots of Los Angeles.
All eight episodes of “Wonder Man” are available to stream exclusively on Disney+.
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