Marvel Studios is preparing to introduce Wonder Man in an upcoming Disney+ series, with explicit nods to the MCU’s Tom Cruise comparison as a template for this new hero’s persona. The series, set to arrive in Winter 2025, will place Simon Williams—a character blending Hollywood ambition and superhuman abilities—at the heart of a story that brings Marvel’s universe to the world of Tinseltown.
Marvel’s Vision for Wonder Man and the Hollywood Connection
Though longstanding rumors linked Tom Cruise to Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Cruise’s actual involvement with the MCU never materialized. However, Marvel Studios clearly sees valuable star quality in Cruise’s image. In an interview for Disney’s D23 Magazine, showrunner Andrew Guest discussed how the new show draws inspiration from Cruise’s larger-than-life persona. Describing Simon Williams, Guest stated,
“He was this Tom Cruise type who did his own stunts and was also a superperson on the side.”
– Andrew Guest, Showrunner. This sentiment is central to both the character’s comic book roots and the new adaptation.
For Wonder Man, Marvel is crafting a Hollywood-set satire starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams, an actor navigating both stardom and heroics. The show’s plot centers on Williams as he competes for the lead in a film based on his own life, alongside Trevor Slattery—portrayed by Ben Kingsley. The supporting cast includes Josh Gad, and together the ensemble promises a blend of classic Marvel adventure with an insider’s view of industry fame, an area Tom Cruise himself often inhabits.
This duality defines Wonder Man’s appeal. While Williams pursues a career in film, his superhuman powers—including super strength, immense speed, and explosive ionic energy—set him apart in the MCU, enabling Marvel to explore both sides of his identity. Yet, his ambition draws him to acting rather than solely battling threats, creating a unique hero profile uncommon in previous MCU properties.
Behind the Scenes: From Trevor Slattery to Wonder Man
Before settling on Wonder Man, Marvel Studios had considered a spin-off focused on Trevor Slattery, especially after Ben Kingsley’s collaboration with director Destin Daniel Cretton on Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. This brainstorming session evolved into a broader Hollywood-based story, leading Marvel’s creative team—including Guest and other decision-makers—to realize that Wonder Man was a character who could anchor such a project, spotlighting the interplay between cinema and superheroics. According to Guest, Marvel’s team asked:
“At a certain point, Marvel thought, ‘What if [both concepts] are the same show?’ Marvel was in a place where they were willing to try new worlds they hadn’t explored. They’ve been to a lot of places, including space. But they’ve never done Hollywood.”
– Andrew Guest, Showrunner. This willingness to tread into new territory separated Wonder Man from other series set in the familiar settings of space or fictional nations.
The structure of Wonder Man will follow a “two-hander” approach, a narrative device centered around two primary leads with diverging personalities but a shared trajectory. In this series, the contrasting dynamic between Simon Williams and Trevor Slattery emerges as the core, much like the successful formats used in previous Disney+ projects such as WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and Hawkeye. This format enables the exploration of the characters’ friendship, rivalry, and combined struggles within both Hollywood and superhero realms.
Exploring Simon Williams’ Superhuman Side
The buzz around the MCU’s Tom Cruise comparison has frequently centered on the star power and charisma Cruise brings to his roles, but there is no indication that Cruise himself will appear in the new series. Instead, showrunner Guest’s remarks frame the show as a playful homage, with Williams exemplifying the mix of action-hero bravado and Hollywood flair.
The meta angle of the series could prove risky, leveraging humor and insight about auditions, stardom, and the peculiar machine of movie-making. Some critics have noted the challenge of striking the right tone using industry satire—a formula that found success with projects like Seth Rogen’s “The Studio” on Apple TV. Wonder Man will embrace a tight episode structure with shorter installments and a binge-friendly release plan, emphasizing comedy and brisk pacing to distinguish itself from prior MCU series. The chemistry between Abdul-Mateen II and Kingsley as co-leads is expected to drive much of the emotional and comedic interplay, supported by Josh Gad’s presence.
Expectations and What’s Ahead for Wonder Man
Marvel Studios is not positioning Wonder Man with the same weight as its most high-stakes Disney+ entries from 2021 to 2023. Nevertheless, the combination of two contrasting leads, a satirical Hollywood setting, and the introduction of superpowers within the film industry backdrop positions the series as a distinctive experiment in the ever-evolving Marvel Cinematic Universe.
If successful, Wonder Man could set a new precedent for blending meta-humor and superhero drama, capitalizing on the MCU’s willingness to parody itself and reimagine its own mythos. The approach reflects Marvel’s ongoing desire to innovate, stretching the boundaries of familiar genres and character types, while giving Simon Williams his moment alongside established figures like Trevor Slattery, as the franchise tests new “worlds” beyond space or traditional action set pieces.
With the show’s arrival on Disney+ scheduled for Winter 2025, Marvel fans and industry watchers will pay close attention to whether the MCU’s Tom Cruise comparison ignites a new wave of excitement for superhero storytelling in Hollywood’s own backyard.
