The character Wonder Man is coming to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) with a new Disney+ miniseries set to premiere on January 27, 2026. The series, which will star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams, is expected to be a funny short series show that stars the return of the Mandarin from Iron Man 3.
The upcoming live-action Wonder Man series, part of Phase Six of the MCU, will tell the origin of a struggling actor who is trying to get the part in a superhero movie until he discovers he has real powers of his own. The show centers on Simon Williams, an actor in Hollywood who is trying to land the lead role in a fictional “Wonder Man” movie while secretly grappling with the development of genuine superpowers of his own. The show will include commentary on “superhero fatigue” and the inner workings of the film industry–a notable departure from previous MCU series.
In the comics, Simon Williams begins as the son of a wealthy industrialist whose company, Williams Innovations, falls into decline due to competition from Stark Industries. Blaming Tony Stark, Simon accepts a deal from the villainous Baron Heinrich Zemo, who transforms him with an “ionic ray” treatment that grants him formidable strength, durability, and other powers. Initially intended as an infiltrator to destroy the Avengers from within, Simon has a change of heart and sacrifices himself to save the team during their first encounter.
Simon’s story doesn’t end there, as his unique ionic physiology prevents true death, and he returns from a coma-like state years later. His brain patterns were famously used by the robot Ultron to create the synthezoid Vision, forming a deep, complex connection between the two characters, who consider themselves “brothers.” After his full revival, Wonder Man becomes a long-standing member of the Avengers and a founding member of the West Coast Avengers. Eventually, he moves to Hollywood to pursue a successful career as a stuntman and actor, which is where the MCU series draws inspiration for its meta storyline.
