Wonder Man Preview Reveals Marvel's Most Meta TV Show To Date

The Marvel studio has heard that audiences could be experiencing some superhero exhaustion, so they've opted to incorporate this exact concept into their next superhero show.

Indeed, the first preview for Wonder Man has arrived, and it promises a self-referential angle on the MCU.

The trailer, which debuted on Oct. 10, also subtly moved the Wonder Man launch date back from its initial end of 2025 window into early 2026.

Why another superhero movie? People is tired of superhero content. Why watch them in the cinema? Wonder Man spoke to me on a profound level. There is an opportunity to surprise audiences. To reinvent the entire category of storytelling.

The interviewer replies: "Have you considered about casting?"

The trailer then cuts to series star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, who's watching the interview on his phone, and the preview ends.

Photo: Marvel

Key Details Regarding Wonder Man

We already knew that Wonder Man would be a meta take on the MCU. The show stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as the character Simon Williams, a Hollywood actor who becomes a super-powered being (the hero Wonder Man).

The supporting cast features actor Ben Kingsley reprising his role as Iron Man 3's Trevor Slattery, Demetrius Grosse as Eric Williams (aka Grim Reaper), Ed Harris as Simon's agent Neal Saroyan, and Arian Moayed returning as DODC officer P. Cleary.

Marvel's Meta-Humor Strategy

We don't know much else about the plot of Wonder Man, but it's clear that the studio intends to laugh at its own tropes.

In the wake of Deadpool & Wolverine, it appears like the studio is fully committed on self-referential comedy. Will this approach succeed without the celebrity appeal of its previous leads? Only time will tell.

Sandra Cook
Sandra Cook

Tech enthusiast and digital strategist with a passion for emerging technologies and startup ecosystems.