Of all the areas explored throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Hollywood is uncharted territory. How does the entertainment industry fare in a world full of superpowered beings? Given his time as a movie star in the comics, the character of Simon Williams, also known as Wonder Man, is the best focal point to answer that question. In the context of this Disney+ series, Simon (played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) is vying for the lead role in a remake of his favorite childhood superhero film, "Wonder Man". His journey to stardom results in another unique tale within the MCU.
It should be stated from the get-go that "Wonder Man" is not a superhero show. It's a story about a struggling actor who just happens to have superpowers. There's even a slow buildup in showcasing what those powers are. But they don't define Simon or move him to use them for good or evil. All he wants to do is follow his passion of acting, though that passion often results in ostracization. He lacks full support from his family, and his process makes him hard to work with. Things change though when he meets a familiar face from the MCU, Trevor Slattery, once again played by Ben Kingsley. Compared to his appearances in "Iron Man 3" and "Shang-Chi", we get to see Trevor in his element as an actor. The relationship between Simon and Trevor is the best part of the show. Their bond over the craft creates a mentor/mentee dynamic with Trevor helping Simon get out of his head and reach his full potential.
While there's no big villain to overcome and Simon's main conflict is internal (he only gets in one physical fight the whole season), there is an outside antagonizing force that could derail his life. Damage Control is secretly investigating Simon due to his powers, though their reasoning doesn't appear altruistic. Things seem to have escalated since "Ms. Marvel" and their focus on enhanced people has less to do with public safety and more about justifying a new prison they've built. Not only does this evoke the "profits over people" societal issue that is very relevant today but also strengthens my previous theory that Damage Control will play a role once the X-Men are rebooted within the sacred timeline.
"Wonder Man" seems to be a one-and-done series but they leave it open to a second season with a very meta tease. I do hope we see more of Simon in the future because there's a lot more to explore with the character, particularly the origin of his powers. Another season could follow Simon as he deals with his new celebrity and having a harder time hiding his powers from the public, possibly leaning into traditional superhero territory. For a non-traditional superhero story though, "Wonder Man" captures the blood, sweat, and tears that go into climbing to the top in show business. And much like the old saying about show business, the success here could lead to more later.
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