title: Wonder Man (TV series)
text: # Wonder Man (TV series)
  
  Wonder Man is an upcoming American television series created by Destin Daniel Cretton and Andrew Guest for the streaming service Disney+, based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. It is intended to be part of the television series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) produced by Marvel Studios, sharing continuity with the films of the franchise. Guest serves as head writer. The series is also produced by Family Owned.
  
  Yahya Abdul-Mateen II will star as Simon Williams / Wonder Man, alongside Ben Kingsley, Demetrius Grosse, and Ed Harris. In December 2021, Cretton signed an overall deal with Marvel Studios to create television series for Disney+, with a comedy series already in development at that point. In June 2022, the series was revealed to be centered on Wonder Man, with Guest involved, and Cretton set to direct episodes of the series. Abdul-Mateen joined the cast that October, with Stella Meghie set to also direct in February 2023. Filming began in early April 2023 in Los Angeles and was expected to conclude in early August, before production was shut down in late May due to the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike.
  
  Wonder Man is expected to debut on Disney+ during the 2023–24 television season.
  
  ## Cast
  
  * Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams / Wonder Man: An actor who gains superpowers to become the hero Wonder Man.
  * Ben Kingsley as Trevor Slattery: A failed actor who previously took on the guise of the Mandarin and was abducted by the Ten Rings, becoming Xu Wenwu's "court jester".
  * Demetrius Grosse as Eric Williams / Grim Reaper: Simon's brother.
  * Ed Harris as Neal Saroyan: Simon's agent.
  
  Additionally, Lauren Glazier has been cast in an undisclosed supporting role.
  
  ## Production
  
  ### Development
  
  In December 2021, Destin Daniel Cretton signed a multi-year deal with Marvel Studios to develop television projects for Disney+, with a comedy series already in development at that point. Cretton would produce the series through his newly created production company, Family Owned. This was in conjunction with Cretton returning to write and direct the sequel to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021). In June 2022, the series was revealed to be in early development and titled Wonder Man, centered on the character Simon Williams / Wonder Man, with Andrew Guest joining to develop the series along with serving as head writer; he previously served as a consulting producer on Hawkeye (2021). Cretton was also expected to direct episodes of the series, and was set as a director that October. Joe Otterson at Variety noted the series had the possibility to be a "Hollywood satire", which he felt made sense given the character's history in the comics as an actor and stuntman. In February 2023, James Ponsoldt entered negotiations to direct episodes of the series, while Stella Meghie was hired to direct multiple episodes of the series by the end of the month.
  
  ### Writing
  
  Kira Talise, Madeline Walter, Paul Welsh, Anayat Fakhraie, Zeke Nicholson, Roja Gashtili, and Julia Lerman worked on the series.
  
  ### Casting
  
  In August 2022, Ben Kingsley was revealed to be reprising his MCU role of Trevor Slattery in the series, which was said to be a "major role". In October, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II was cast as Simon Williams / Wonder Man. Nathan Fillion appeared on movie posters as Simon Williams in a cut sequence from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017). James Gunn, the director of that film, enjoyed Wonder Man from the comics, and felt Fillion could portray "a sometimes douchey actor/superhero" that the character is, and even though their appearance was cut, he still considered them canon to the MCU. Lauren Glazier was cast in an undisclosed supporting role in February 2023. The following month, Demetrius Grosse was cast as Simon's brother Eric Williams / Grim Reaper, while Ed Harris was cast as Simon's agent Neal Saroyan. By the end of April, Josh Gad had reportedly joined the cast.
  
  ### Filming
  
  Principal photography began by April 5, 2023, in Los Angeles, under the working title Callback, with Cretton directing the first episode and others, and Meghie directing multiple episodes of the series, and Brett Pawlak serving as cinematographer. Soundstage work occurred at Radford Studio Center in Studio City, Los Angeles. Filming was taking place around Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles on May 4, 2023, when picketers participating in the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike attempted to shut down production; however, filming for the series was still continuing during the strike at that time and was not expected to be impacted by the strike. It was reported that Marvel Studios was planning to shoot what they could during principal photography and make any necessary writing adjustments during the series' already scheduled reshoots. Picketers stopped production when it returned to film at Radford Studio Center on May 8. Production was shut down by the end of the month, with plans to resume after the strike concluded. Filming was expected to conclude by early August.
  
  ## Release
  
  Wonder Man is expected to debut on Disney+ during the 2023–24 television season.
  
  