TV Series Review: Wonder Man (2026) - Disney+ *No Spoilers*

For those of you that aren't adverse to your superhero content being a little more character driven and a lot less big action set pieces then Marvel's TV series, under the 'Marvel Spotlight' banner, Wonder Man, is a real underrated gem.

Wanna-be actor, Simon Williams (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) is a suspected superhero in hiding who believes, he was born to play the title role in a new superhero movie, Wonder Man.

A chance meeting with fallen actor, Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley), formerly known as 'The Mandarin', at an audition, puts them both on a path to success but, everything isn't quite as it seems.

While you will certainly relate very quickly to Trevor if you know his past from the movie Iron Man III, or, to a lesser extent, Shang-Chi, neither are essential viewing. You get all you need to know about Trevor as the series unfolds.

That said, Ben Kingsley must have jumped at the chance to play Trevor a little less as the comic relief, and a little more as the cooler level headed mentor to an actor on the rise.

Trevor still has his comic moments (this is more comedy/drama than comedy) but here we get a much deeper understanding of Trevor's acting past. He really does know his craft, taking it seriously, but knowing when to not push things. Just turn up, hit your marks, and say the lines.

Considering the last time I saw Yahya Abdul-Mateen II was in DC's Aquaman sequel I was not expecting the understated but intense performance he gives as Simon Williams. I'm not actually sure what I was expecting? He's just so over the top and big in both Aquaman movies it's hard to believe it's the same actor.

Yahya is so good here. He's the least superhero-like character yet in a title role, yet totally believable that he's hiding some serious power that outside forces should be concerned for if left unchecked.

If you like your superheroes to be big, flashy, and with lots of action, Wonder Man may not be for you. However, I'd still recommend giving it a try. The episodes are short, at just over 30 minutes each. You may be drawn into the characters, and particularly the bond being formed between Simon and Trevor. It's kind of a buddy, acting comedy (as opposed to a buddy, action comedy).

I enjoyed it immensely. There's a kind of grounded realism to it, more inline with what Matt Reeves is doing with The Batman, and The Penguin, than the colorful, quippy Marvel Superheroes films we're more familiar with.

I certainly hope it gets a second season but I'm not holding my breath. Simply because it falls under the Spotlight banner, which is usually reserved for one off specials. However, I'm there for it if they do. 

This really is an understated, hidden gem.