Wonderman officially releases on Disney +

BY: JAMES SGOUPIS / STAFF WRITER

Warning: this article will reference some aspects of the season.

(Photo Credits: IMDB)

Marvel has released their first project of 2026, releasing Wonderman on Disney+ in the past few weeks.

Wonderman brings a new superhero to life into the Marvel universe. Compared to other projects revolving around one singular hero like Ironheart or She-Hulk, Wonderman flips the script(pun intended) on the typical superhero story. 

This show features Yahya Abdul-Mateen ll as Wonderman. While he previously played Black Manta in Aquaman, he now steps into the role of the one, the only, Wonderman. Ben Kingsley returns as Trevor Slattery, last seen in other Marvel movies such as Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Iron Man 3. Josh Gad even makes an appearance in his first Marvel project.  

As alluded to in the trailer, the show would not particularly capture a hero versus villain like most shows would. Wonderman's plot revolves more around a struggling actor rather than a superhero origin story and the awakening and mastery of their powers. In addition to that, it also takes on the tale of Trevor Slattery’s deal with the Department of Damage Control to capture Wonderman. 

The driving factor that connects episodes switches between acting, auditions, and the Department of Damage Control. Seen in multiple other movies, the Department of Damage Control has a way of… controlling damage. They would make for an interesting plot that could be brought into upcoming Marvel projects. 

Now to talk about the show and major plot points. One major episode that depicts an ultimate struggle in this show is episode four. Before this episode, a mysterious Chekhov's Gun was introduced, called the “doorman clause.” To put it simply, the “doorman clause” came to be after an event with the Doorman during the filming of another movie. Why would this be a problem for our new hero? This clause acts to prevent superpowered beings from working on a movie set. If  anyone found out that Wonderman has powers, his dreams of becoming a professional actor would be over.

 It becomes evident throughout the eight episodes that Wonderman has a little problem with stress and anger. As one could imagine, it wouldn't be the best idea to bring an ionic being onto a set who can “explode” at any moment. If you’ve ever played Marvel Superheroes 2, there is a Gwenpool Mission called “Hank-ger Management" containing Wonderman, Hulk, and A-bomb, all characters with anger-related problems.

(Photo Credits: IMDB)

Ratings for the show have been relatively high compared to other MCU projects. According to Rotten Tomatoes, the show has a rating of 90% freshness. Comparing it to Moon Knight, which had a rating of 86%, Marvel Zombies, which had a score of 66%, and Hawkeye, which had a score of 92%, Wonderman sits pretty highly amongst other Marvel shows as well as critics and fans alike. With this coming out a short time before the second season of Daredevil: Born Again, it gives Marvel the opportunity to capitalize on this win and run with it into the next project and through the year. 

According to reviews of the show, The Guardian has labeled this a “gem of a series, about an actor with superpowers, is a clever, tender take on male friendship and the film industry. It’s a triumph of storytelling – and a masterclass in acting.” It is definitely something worthwhile to watch and enjoy whenever you wish.  

Forgot your lines? Don’t worry, catch Wonderman today on Disney+