Fans have been curious about why Wonder Man, a character with established powers in the Disney+ show, didn’t join the Avengers in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, especially considering his comic book history with the team. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, who plays Simon Williams, recently explained the reason in an interview. The eight-episode series centers around Williams and fellow actor Trevor Slattery as they attempt to find work in Hollywood, specifically with a Wonder Man remake.
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II on why Simon Williams never joined the Avengers
In an interview with The Direct, actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II discussed his character’s choice to become a public superhero in a world where heroes like the Avengers already exist, rather than secretly using his abilities to build a career behind the scenes.
The actor, known for his role in Candyman, responded by wondering what that revealed about the character Simon. He explained that it showed Simon to be an artist – someone described as sensitive, which the actor felt was accurate.
Abdul-Mateen II stopped mid-sentence and asked Ben Kingsley, who plays Trevor Slattery in the Disney+ series and was also at the interview, if he remembered using the phrase “heroic acting.” Kingsley confessed he’d forgotten the original conversation, then explained it was about whether someone would rather be a hero or an actor – suggesting the two roles aren’t mutually exclusive. He believes a person can be both.
Hearing this, Abdul-Mateen II stressed that “heroic acting” was what Williams was after.
Wonder Man is coming to Disney+ on January 27, 2026, and early reviews are very positive! It currently has a ‘Fresh’ rating of 90% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Destin Daniel Cretton and Andrew Guest created the series together. Cretton is known for directing the movie Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and recently directed Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
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2026-01-27 13:56