Marvel Studios' upcoming Disney+ seriesWonder Manis shaping up to be one of the most intriguingprojects in the MCU’s latest phase, and according to Marvel’s Head of Streaming, Television, and AnimationBrad Winderbaum, it’s something truly special. Speaking exclusively with Collider’sSteve Weintraub, Winderbaum confirmed that theDestin Daniel CrettonandAndrew Guest-led series will consist of eight episodes and deliver a completely fresh take within the Marvel Universe.
The series starsYahya Abdul-Mateen IIas Simon Williams, an actor-turned-superhero known as Wonder Man. It also featuresBen Kingsley, reprising his role as Trevor Slattery, andDemetrius Grosseas Eric Williams (Grim Reaper).Ed Harrisis set to play Neal Saroyan, Simon’s agent. When asked about the tone of the series and how it compares to previous Marvel outings, Winderbaum was quick to highlight how uniqueWonder Manwill be:
“Wonder Man is eight episodes. It’s a very new flavor for Marvel.It’s straight from the minds of Destin Daniel Cretton and Andrew Guest. Honestly, it is one of my favorite things ever. I thinkit’s the best show no one’s ever seen, and I’m very excited to see the audience reaction to it. I think it’s a love letter to what we do as filmmakers. It’s a love letter to acting as a profession, andit’s a very sincere, beautiful show.”
The comment about the series being a love letter to acting certainly aligns with the earliest reports thatWonder Manwould exploreSimon Williams’journey in Hollywood, blending superhero spectacle with a satirical eye to the moviemaking business, which is certainly a new take on the Marvel formula.
‘Wonder Man’ Episode Lengths Will Vary
Marvel’s Disney+ shows have traditionally followed either a six-episode format with hour-long installments (likeLokiorThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier) or shorter, half-hour episodes across longer seasons (likeShe-Hulk: Attorney at Law).Wonder Man, however, will mix things up. When asked about the runtime for the episodes, Winderbaum explained:
“There’s a little bit of some streaming leeway in the episode runtimes, so I think our shortest episode is 20-something, and our longest is, like, 40-something.”
That also suggests thatWonder Manwill have a more flexible structure, allowing some episodes to be short and punchy while others take more time to develop storylines, and it should certainly allow the series to tell its story in the right amount of time.
Wonder Manwill drop sometime in 2025. Stay tuned to Collider for future updates.
Wonder Man
Wonder Man follows Simon Williams, a Hollywood stuntman and actor, who gains superpowers and becomes the superhero Wonder Man. The storyline provides a unique superhero perspective on the entertainment industry, highlighting the challenges and satire of Hollywood life.
