Wonder Man’s Comics History Points to a ‘Hollywood Hero’ Series

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As a longtime comic book enthusiast and moviegoer with a soft spot for Marvel heroes, I’m thrilled about the upcoming Wonder Man series on Disney+. Having followed Simon Williams’ journey from the pages of my favorite comics to the big screen, I can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia mixed with anticipation as we approach December 2025.

In the upcoming MCU, one of Marvel Comics’ most resilient Avengers is set to join the action. Actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II will portray Simon Williams, aka superhero/movie star, in the new Disney+ series “Wonder Man,” premiering in December 2025. The acclaimed director of “Shang-Chi,” Destin Daniel Cretton, and Andrew Guest, producer of shows like “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” and “Community,” are collaborating to bring the character to life in this new series. With Guest’s involvement, we can anticipate a more comedic approach for the MCU’s Wonder Man series, reminiscent of Marvel Studio’s upcoming comedy-focused show “She-Hulk.

You may find yourself questioning the identity of Marvel’s Wonder Man and whether there’s any connection to DC’s Wonder Woman. To clear things up, she’s a DC hero, while he belongs in the Marvel universe. Although they did have a brief arm-wrestling match during a crossover event (and let’s face it, Diana is quite formidable), they are from different worlds. Let me fill you in on the details about this character known as “The Ionic Avenger.” Now, let’s speculate on what an MCU Disney+ series about Simon Williams and his adventures as Wonder Man could entail.

Marvel’s Wonder Man: The Seventh Avenger

Wonder Man was actually one of the earliest Marvel heroes ever inducted into the Avengers. He first appeared in Avengers #9, way back in 1964, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Technically, he was the seventh member to be inducted into the team. However, Wonder Man seemingly died in the very issue Marvel introduced him. He didn’t come back to life on a more permanent basis for another 12 years, in 1976. As for why he was sidelined for so long, Stan Lee insisted that DC Comics threatened legal action due to Wonder Woman. But once DC introduced a Power Girl after Marvel introduced Power Man (Luke Cage) first, it seemed they had no legal legs to stand on. And thus, Wonder Man returned to the pages of Marvel Comics. We assume the MCU won’t follow this precedent when Wonder Man finally arrives on our screens.

A Wonderous Origin Story for Wonder Man

Simon Williams, scion of Sandford Williams’ company and fortune, was once a pampered trust fund kid, but his reckless business moves bankrupted Williams Innovations. Blaming Stark Industries, the main competitor, he agreed to Baron Zemo’s proposal for an experiment that granted him ionic powers. This transformation led to the emergence of Marvel Comics’ Wonder Man. Over time, his abilities evolved to include superhuman strength, invincibility, and eventually flight and energy projection. As of now, it remains uncertain which powers the Wonder Man portrayed in the MCU will possess.

As Simon Williams, I stepped into the shoes of Marvel’s latest superhero, Wonder Man. But under Zemo’s commands, I infiltrated Tony Stark’s heroic squad, with the ultimate goal of bringing down Iron Man and the Avengers from within. However, my time spent among Earth’s Mightiest Heroes sparked a change in me, and I found myself unable to betray those I had come to respect and call teammates.

From Bad Guy to Essential Avenger

Indeed, it’s true that Simon, the Marvel character, didn’t meet his end permanently. Instead, he entered an “ionic coma,” a state where Hank Pym captured Wonder Man’s brainwaves. These brainwaves were instrumental in creating the consciousness of the android known as Vision. Eventually, Simon awoke from his coma and resumed his role with the Avengers.

Additionally, he forged strong friendships with Beast from the X-Men team. Moreover, Wonder Man established the West Coast Avengers and embarked on a prolonged acting career in films, leveraging his superhero identity to break into acting. Since then, he’s been managing both roles successfully.

Nathan Fillion as Wonder Man? (It Almost Happened)

Almost made an appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, albeit briefly, was Wonder Man. In the backdrop of Earth scenes in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, you could spot Easter egg movie posters showcasing Marvel’s Wonder Man. Interestingly, these posters used the face of Nathan Fillion, an actor known for his roles in Castle and Firefly. However, these particular scenes were ultimately removed from the final version of the film. It seems that even then, Kevin Feige had different plans for the popular Avenger character.

Marvel’s Wonder Man in the MCU

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it appears that Yahya Abdul-Mateen’s Wonder Man origin story will be quite distinct from his comic book counterpart. Based on the brief sneak peek in the Marvel Studios 2025 teaser trailer, it seems Simon Williams was an actor first and then transformed into a superhero later, unlike the comics where he became a hero before becoming an actor. In this new version, we see him trying out for the role of “Wonder Man” in a movie or TV show that shares the same name. This is a major shift from the original storyline, as it suggests that the character of Wonder Man could be an actor who eventually takes on the role of the fictional superhero he’s portraying.

It’s clear why Marvel Studios chose to alter Wonder Man’s origin story. Without detailed (and costly) flashbacks, it’s hard to understand how the comic book backstory, where Baron Zemo bestows powers on Simon to target Tony Stark, fits in. Reuniting Daniel Bruhl and Robert Downey Jr. for this would be quite unexpected. As a result, Wonder Man’s MCU debut necessitates a significant reworking. However, in the trailer sneak peek, we do see Simon wearing his iconic red jacket, black turtleneck, and red sunglasses from the ’80s comics, which at least maintains some comic book accuracy.

With a new “Vision” series on the horizon, Marvel might manage to intertwine Wonder Man and Vision in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as seen in the comics. Here’s an idea: In an attempt to regain a more human-like personality without the Mind Stone, Vision could merge with Wonder Man’s ion-powered mind. This would create a connection between the two characters that mirrors their comic book relationship. If Scarlet Witch reappears, this setup might lead to a captivating love triangle. In Marvel comics, Wanda once resurrected Wonder Man after one of his numerous deaths as an energy being. Of course, Simon Williams is capable of standing alone as a character. However, with Wanda and Vision being two prominent figures in the MCU, it seems unlikely that Marvel Studios would pass up the opportunity to involve them in future stories.

Wonder Man Could Be Marvel Studios’ First Hero-Turned-Star in His Series

Up until now, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), we’ve portrayed superheroes as celebrities, such as Iron Man. Interestingly, all Avengers have identifiable public personas except Spider-Man. However, no character has yet exploited their fame for roles in films or endorsements like Wonder Man might in the MCU. Wonder Man represents the epitome of celebrity and heroism. He navigates the absurdities of Hollywood stardom while still aiding people, making his story an intriguing prospect for an MCU Wonder Man series.

As a passionate fan, I’ve noticed that shows like “The Boys” have tackled the concept of heroes with a satirical twist, but they haven’t delved deeply into the dual role of being a hero and a movie star. A “Wonder Man” series could be the ideal platform to explore this intriguing dichotomy. Given its comedic potential, we might witness over-the-top film portrayals of Marvel Cinematic Universe heroes, making it all the more exciting! Yaya Abdul-Mateen II, who played a supervillain in “Aquaman” and a super god in “Watchmen,” has demonstrated his versatility, making him an excellent choice for embodying a Marvel super movie star in a “Wonder Man” series.

Wonder Man officially drops on Disney+ in December, 2025.

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2024-10-30 22:03