Wonder Man Series Coming From Marvel, Our Scoop Confirmed
Our reports have been confirmed: a Disney+ Wonder Man series is in development as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The realm of Marvel’s on-screen superheroes continues to grow, as a Wonder Man series is given the green light by the studio. Giant Freakin Robot was first to confirm the news when Disney+ hinted that the classic character could make an appearance in WandaVision. Since the show is in the early stages of development there’s no information about who will star as Simon Williams. But if everything goes according to plan, filming could begin as early as 2023.
The Wonder Man series is being developed by Destin Daniel Cretton along with Andrew Guest who will serve as head writer and executive producer. Cretton, who is best known for his work on Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, will also executive produce the project and possibly direct an episode or more. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the filmmaker is currently working via his overall Marvel Studios deal which he signed following Shang-Chi’s success.
Guest is no stranger to the Marvel Cinematic Universe either. He most recently worked as a consulting producer on Hawkeye, which was released in the latter part of 2021. The writer also boasts an impressive list of comedy credentials, having worked on hit shows like Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Community, and 30 Rock. Along with John Riggi, the Woman Man series creative also won the WGA Award for episodic comedy for his work on a season two episode of 30 Rock called “Succession.” He is the latest writer to join the expanding roster of MCU shows at Disney+, Variety reports.
First introduced in a 1964 early issue of Avengers, Wonder Man is one of the oldest characters in Marvel’s long history. Created by Stan Lee, Don Heck, and Jack Kirby, Simon Williams was initially introduced as a villain who fought Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. But he was reimagined as a hero in the late 1970s, joining them in their quest for good. It’s still unclear if Disney will feature Wonder Man’s redemption in the series. While he has not yet appeared in the MCU, Nathan Fillion was cast to appear as Simon Williams in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 in the form of several Easter Egg movie posters but deleted from the final cut.
In the comics, Simon Williams began his journey as the son of a wealthy industrialist whose company falls on hard times due to competition from Stark Industries. When he accepts an offer from the evil Baron Zemo, Williams accepts his role as a pawn required to infiltrate the Avengers. He is then transformed into an ion-powered being with superhuman abilities. As his powers are tested, Wonder Man displays incredible strength and durability, even defeating the Executioner. This would also be an excellent angle for the series to follow.
However, it wasn’t until the 1980s that Wonder Man found his flair. He was a founding member of the Los Angeles-based West Coast Avengers, with a look that included a turtleneck, a red jacket, and sunglasses He also became a celebrity thanks to his day job as an actor and stuntman. He also developed strong ties to Vision and the Scarlet Witch after he was tied to the android by ionic energy and brainwaves. Williams even developed feelings for Wanda, after Vision had been dismantled. But for now, takes on Wonder Man for the Disney+ series have not been revealed.
