Wonder Man just made Robert Downey Jr. MCU canon

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The new Disney+ show Wonder Man is connected to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, meaning it’s filled with hidden references for fans. Interestingly, one of these references actually goes against established storylines.

The Marvel show Wonder Man isn’t focused on typical superhero action. Instead, it’s a satire that pokes fun at Hollywood and how the movie business works.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II stars as Simon Williams, an actor having a hard time finding work, who is determined to land the lead role in an upcoming Wonder Man film.

I was chatting with Andrew Guest, one of the creators and showrunners of Wonder Man, and he gave me the lowdown on how they approached the source material. He also teased some cool Easter eggs hidden towards the end of the series – one of them is especially tricky! So, heads up, there might be some very mild spoilers coming up…

Robert Downey Jr. is now a character in the MCU

The show Wonder Man makes many references to other films, and one of these creates a bit of a contradiction within the established rules of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as Andrew Guest points out.

One of the biggest challenges in putting this show together is finding actors who haven’t appeared in a Marvel project already, aren’t scheduled to appear in one soon, or haven’t been involved with something we might mention in the script. We actually had that happen with one casting – someone slipped through the cracks.

We mentioned the movie Igby Goes Down, which starred Robert Downey Jr., and someone pointed out the connection – I’d completely forgotten! It’s tough though, because the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been running for so long and featured so many talented actors, it’s hard to find anyone who hasn’t been involved in it at some point.

Two more Easter eggs to look out for in Wonder Man

According to showrunner Noah Guest, the series features more references to classic films than to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He encourages viewers to look for these subtle nods and inspirations, believing they’re the most enjoyable discoveries to be made.

As a huge fan, I was really picking up on some cool references! The director mentioned there’s a shot near the end that’s a nod to The Shawshank Redemption, which was awesome. And get this – the finale actually borrows from another one of my favorites, The Player! He said the ending of The Player directly influenced how this one wraps up. It’s those little details that I really appreciate!

You can find more celebrity interviews on our ScreenTime YouTube channel. If you enjoyed Wonder Man, we’ve got details on what happened with Josh Gad’s character, updates on a possible second season, and our review – giving it two stars.

If you’re interested in Marvel, we’ve compiled rankings of all their shows and movies, from the lowest-rated to the highest. You can also find a complete list of everything Marvel has planned for the future.

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2026-01-28 19:50