All the Easter Eggs We Spotted in WONDER MAN

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Marvel shows often include hidden details and nods to the original comic books. However, the new series Wonder Man, starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Sir Ben Kingsley, focuses more on references to the world of filmmaking and acting. This makes sense, as both main characters are working actors! Here’s a rundown of all the film industry Easter eggs – and a few from Marvel Comics – we found throughout the eight episodes of Wonder Man.

Episode 1: “Matinee”

American Horror Story

The first episode features Simon Williams briefly working on the show American Horror Story before being fired. It makes you wonder what American Horror Story would be like if it existed within the Marvel Cinematic Universe – maybe even an episode about what happened during the Blip?

Rogers: The Musical

In the first episode, as Simon walks through the studio backlot, a billboard advertises “Rogers: The Musical.” This is a Broadway show based on the life of the original Captain America, Steve Rogers, and it’s great to see it’s become a long-running hit with both a Broadway run and a tour within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Sons of Anarchy, Castle Rock, and Twilight

Simon praised Ashley, the director of his American Horror Story episode, for her work on shows that have now been confirmed to exist within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including Sons of Anarchy and Castle Rock. He also mentioned Twilight. This means the world of Blade shares a universe with Twilight, which opens up exciting possibilities for future stories.

Midnight Cowboy

Simon and Trevor first meet at a classic movie theater showing the 1969 film Midnight Cowboy, with Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight. This film subtly hints at the unusual bond that will develop between them as the story unfolds.

Deadline

The industry news website Deadline is actually part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We find this out when Simon reads an article saying they’re searching for a new actor – not a famous star – to lead the Wonder Man movie.

Episode 2 “Self-Tape”

Damage Control

Okay, so this week’s episode throws a curveball with the return of Damage Control – you might remember them from the Spider-Man and Ms. Marvel shows. They show up and basically give poor Trevor Slattery a deal he can’t refuse. He’s got to help them track down Simon Williams, who’s operating with powers off the books, or he’s going straight back to jail for that whole Mandarin hoax from Iron Man 3. It’s a classic ‘help us and stay free’ scenario, and it immediately raises the stakes.

M3GAN

A Damage Control agent suggests using an audition for M3GAN 3.0 as bait to draw Simon out into the open. It’s ironic because when this scene was filmed, a third M3GAN movie seemed very likely. Now, the joke feels different given current circumstances.

Coronation Street

Trevor’s apartment is decorated with a poster for King Lear and a Coronation Street VHS tape, hinting that he may have appeared in either of these productions at some point.

Joe Pantaliano Movies

During Trevor and Simon’s visit to Joe Pantaliano’s home, they noticed posters for two of his films. One was the dramatic 1982 film Monsignor, and the other was the 1994 comedy Baby’s Day Out, which wasn’t well-received by critics. These posters highlight the varied nature of Pantaliano’s career, with both successes and failures. Unfortunately, there wasn’t a poster for The Goonies to be seen.

Sarah Paulson

This episode includes a mention of Sarah Paulson, which isn’t surprising considering the popularity of American Horror Story within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Episode 3: “Pacoima”

The Rookie

The third episode reveals that Simon’s ability to create concussive blasts accidentally caused a portable toilet to explode while filming the TV show The Rookie. It’s a truly terrifying thought!

Eli and Peyton Manning

Simon’s representative says they’ve reached an agreement with Eli and Peyton Manning, likely for a sponsorship deal.

The Go-Go’s

Trevor references Belinda Carlisle and her iconic Go-Go’s hit from 1981, “Our Lips Are Sealed.”

YouTube

Simon’s mom recently asked about watching American Horror Story on YouTube, showing how unfamiliar many older adults are with different streaming services. She, like a lot of parents, depends on her children to help her figure out how to use them.

Captain America

At his mother’s birthday, Simon’s cousin raved about Captain America, saying he had everything you could want in a hero. Simon playfully dismissed him, pointing out that Captain America is basically just a normal person who throws a shield. They’re likely talking about the current Captain America, Sam Wilson, and not the original, Steve Rogers, who had super strength.

Episode 4: “Doorman”

Josh Gad/Frozen

In this episode, Josh Gad plays a funny, exaggerated version of himself. He tries to turn his popular song “In Summer” from Frozen into a hip hop track, and the results are pretty amusing.

Doorman

This episode focuses on DeMarr Davis, also known as Doorman. He’s a relatively unknown Marvel character with the power to create portals, and he’s likely to be another mutant appearing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In the comics, Doorman was part of a quirky superhero group called the Great Lakes Avengers.

Imagine Dragons

This episode reveals that the band Imagine Dragons is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe – their DJ apparently works at the same nightclub as DeMarr Davis. Whether this is a welcome addition or not is a matter of personal opinion.

Mario Lopez

Just like here, Mario Lopez is a TV host in another universe! It appears some things stay the same no matter where you go in the Multiverse.

Episode 5: “Found Footage”

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Trevor pretends he’s getting a call from a friend who lives in another dimension. Interestingly, as seen in the movie Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, people really do live in a dimension called Ta Lo, and Trevor knows them. However, it’s unlikely they’d be quick to call him.

The Hollywood Bowl

Trevor recalls spotting Cher and Chaka Khan at the Hollywood Bowl. He’ll mention Chaka Khan again later, which shows he clearly appreciates great music.

Wicked

While Trevor and Simon are searching for the person with the GoPro in Hollywood, you can see a billboard advertising the musical Wicked.

Beavis and Butthead

Esteban jokingly refers to Trevor and Simon as “Beavis and Butthead,” but we disagree – we see them as much more like the friendly duo Bert and Ernie.

Episode 6: “Call Back”

Christopher Nolan

During auditions for the Wonder Man series held at a private home, an actor let slip that they had recently finished working on a Christopher Nolan film. It was a smart move for Marvel to casually mention Nolan, even though he’s highly unlikely to ever direct a Marvel Cinematic Universe movie.

Paul Thomas Anderson

The conversation at Kovak’s house turned to famous directors who probably wouldn’t direct a superhero film, and someone mentioned they used to give surfing lessons to Paul Thomas Anderson.

Creedence Clearwater Revival

Von Kovak is playing Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “The Midnight Special” for the actors auditioning, explaining it will be the opening song for Wonder Man. It seems like a knowing nod to Guardians of the Galaxy, doesn’t it? We believe it is.

Pretty Woman

At Kovak’s home, Simon playfully acted out a scene from Pretty Woman, doing the lines from the argument between Vivian and Edward. Kovak immediately recognized the movie.

Chaka Khan

Trevor began recalling a beach concert from 1986. He wasn’t particularly interested in seeing Robert Palmer, but was excited about Chaka Khan. Hopefully, Chaka Khan performed her famous 1984 song, “I Feel For You,” which was written by Prince, at that show.

Episode 7: “Kathy Friedman”

Shonda Rhimes

During dinner with Janelle and Simon’s colleagues, he received an exciting offer: a role in a new Netflix show produced by Shonda Rhimes – possibly a spin-off of Bridgerton! It’s clear that, just like in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Shonda Rhimes is a major force in television.

Joseph Godron-Levitt

A New York Times writer once jokingly criticized Joseph Gordon-Levitt for something that happened with a pigeon when he was in fifth grade. If he ever joins the Marvel Cinematic Universe, bringing up that old story would be hilariously disastrous.

Glenn Howerton

A New York Times writer previously reported that Glenn Howerton, the star of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, once stabbed an arugula salad.

Planet of the Apes

A poster for the 1968 film Planet of the Apes is visible in Trevor’s trailer. This isn’t just a nod to the famous science fiction movie; it’s also a connection to Shang-Chi. In that film, the character mentions being inspired to become an actor after seeing Planet of the Apes as a child. It seems he still hasn’t figured out the apes were actually people in costumes.

Episode 8: “Yucca Valley”

Pierce Brosnan, Antonio Banderas, and Robert DeNiro

After Simon helps Trevor escape from prison, Trevor curiously asks him who took over his role as Barnaby in the film Wonder Man. He wonders if some famous actors—like Pierce Brosnan, Antonio Banderas, and even Robert De Niro—might have been considered for the part.

Wonder Man, the Marvel Comics Hero

As a comic book fan, I really appreciated the attention to detail in the movie! Simon’s Wonder Man costume was spot-on – they nailed his classic black and red look. And the way he busted Trevor out of prison, flying with that ionic energy? That was straight out of the comics, and it was awesome to see it brought to life on screen.

All 8 episodes of Wonder Man are now streaming on Disney+.

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2026-01-28 09:09