Written by Olivia Aiere
Marvel has finally produced a new, refreshing story from within their cinematic universe. Wonder Man dives deep into the world of acting, following Simon Williams (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Watchmen) as he chases after his dream role.
Simon and Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley, Shang-Chi), an actor who played The Mandarin in-universe, become fast friends when Trevor helps Simon at an audition. Despite Simon’s talent, his attention to detail gets in the way of his instincts when acting. Trevor, noticing this, becomes Simon’s mentor and helps him get out of his head. Besides that, there’s only one other problem for Simon: his powers. The “Doorman Clause” makes it nearly impossible for super-powered individuals to book gigs in Hollywood. The clause came into play due to DeMarr “Doorman” Davis’ experience entering the industry with powers, and gives weight to Simon’s desire to hide his biggest secret.
Abdul-Mateen and Kingsley nail the nuance of acting as actors. Kingsley’s performance tests Trevor’s easygoing nature when facing his reputation as The Mandarin. He is easily recognized as the terrorist, but manages to win over the hearts of many by displaying a laid-back demeanor. His wisdom about acting and gaining approval from others adds layers onto a character that hasn’t been touched since the Iron Man trilogy.
Abdul-Mateen manages to hold all of Simon’s troubles within the character at all times, exemplifying the actor that Simon himself is trying to be. Simon’s internal conflict is well-hidden to those around him, but is evident to the audience even when his powers aren’t on display. He is burdened with so much secrecy that he has trouble expressing himself, allowing for his eventual growth throughout the season to feel earned.
The story itself doesn’t focus too much on Simon trying to be a hero or using his powers for good. Instead, we see Simon’s drive to become a successful actor and his hardships on his journey to his dream role. There’s little connection between this show and other Marvel properties besides the shared universe, which allows for a more grounded story amidst the usual world-threatening tales of the Avengers. Simon just happens to have powers in a world that allows those powers to be plausible, but his arc focuses on the perfection of his craft. Wonder Man feels like a love letter to acting more than anything else.
Franchises like Marvel could tell so many stories from within their universes, yet they usually stick to a tried-and-true formula. Telling a story like Wonder Man within Marvel expands the cinematic universe and gives it more dimension outside of the stereotypical superhero stories.
