Before becoming known for his role as Wonder Man, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II made his superhero debut as Black Manta in Aquaman, after receiving key guidance from Hugh Jackman. This advice shaped how Abdul-Mateen approached his first major comic book film role, marking a pivotal moment in his career.
Hugh Jackman’s Insight on Playing a Superhero
In a conversation with Sean O’Connell from CBR on the Heroes Journey podcast, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II described how Jackman prepared him for the demands of a superhero role. The actor recalled the excitement when he auditioned for Aquaman, stating it felt like a life-changing opportunity. He shared,
“The superhero thing was big in 2016 when I auditioned for Aquaman, late 2016 and early 2017. I think, ‘This is going to change my life.’ You know what I mean? And I wanted it. I did want it. I wanted it in the pure way. It felt like I put in a lot of hard work, and I wanted to have a moment,”
Abdul-Mateen II said.
When he received the confirmation of landing the role while on the set of The Greatest Showman, the experience was overwhelming. Jackman offered a memorable piece of advice about the advantages of playing a villain in superhero films:
“So when I got the call, I mean, I was on the set of The Greatest Showman. And I remember people clapping and cheering for me, and things like that. And Hugh Jackman gave me some advice. He’s like, ‘It’s always better to play the villain.’ He said, ‘You win all the fights except for the last one. You work the least amount of days. And you get to say all the cool lines!’ And I was like, ‘Yeah!’ I was on top of the world,”
the actor explained.
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II’s Role in Aquaman and the DC Universe’s Future
Abdul-Mateen II reprised his role as Black Manta in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, which serves as a conclusion to the DC Extended Universe’s (DCEU) current saga. The DCEU has sparked mixed reactions from critics and fans, leaving the future of characters like Black Manta uncertain under the upcoming leadership of James Gunn and Peter Safran’s new DC Universe. Despite this ambiguity, the Aquaman franchise marked the beginning of Abdul-Mateen II’s impressive journey in superhero cinema.
Critical Acclaim for Abdul-Mateen II as Wonder Man
Transitioning to Marvel, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II now stars as Simon Williams, the lead character in the Marvel series Wonder Man, where his performance has drawn significant praise. Reviewer Jamie Parker from CBR highlighted the actor’s ability to forge an emotional bond with viewers.
“One of the better aspects of the show is the casting of Mateen as Simon. Mateen creates a deep connection with the audience in the first episodes through Simon. He is empathetic, easy to connect with, and easy to understand. Simon wants love, respect, and to have someone actually believe in him, and each time he is knocked down, it’s a blow to the audience and the character,”
Parker observed, also noting the return of Ben Kingsley’s character Trevor Slattery as a welcome addition.
Collider’s Aidan Kelley echoed this sentiment, asserting that Abdul-Mateen II’s compelling portrayal is likely to make him a standout favorite among Marvel fans:
“Abdul-Mateen’s performance is so compelling that he is all but assured to become a Marvel fan favorite,”
Kelley wrote, emphasizing the actor’s strong presence on Disney+.
Audience Connection Driven by Powerful Character Performances
Screen Rant underscored the strong character-driven narrative as a core strength of Wonder Man. Reviewer Ben Gibbons praised both Abdul-Mateen II and Ben Kingsley for elevating the story with their performances.
“At the core of any great story are the characters that make it worth following. For Wonder Man, those characters are Simon Williams and Trevor Slattery… Of course, this is thanks to the incredible performances of Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Ben Kingsley, who bring immense talent to the roles,”
Gibbons explained in his review.
Wonder Man is set to premiere on Disney+ on January 27, inviting viewers to engage with this fresh Marvel narrative centered on complex characters and intense emotions.
