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The Hollywood superhero Wonder Man is coming to the Marvel Cinematic Universe

Marvel Comics' Wonder Man is finally getting his shot at Hollywood

Wonder Man #1 cover by Jeff Johnson
Image credit: Marvel Comics

Marvel Comics' Hollywood hero, Wonder Man, is finally getting his chance in actual Hollywood.

Marvel Studios is developing a live-action Wonder Man series for Disney+, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Director Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) is reportedly heading up the project, with Andrew Guest (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Community) as head writer.

Wonder Man #1 cover by BIll Sienkiewicz
Image credit: Marvel Comics

(This would be Guest's second Marvel project as well, as he was a consulting producer on Hawkeye.)

WHat will Cretton's role be exactly? Executive producer of the entire project, with the option to direct an episode or two - essentially to set the tone of the series. Cretton signed an overall deal with Marvel Studios in 2021, locking him in for continued work with the company.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Marvel Studios hopes to begin filming in 2023 - so that could mean a late 2023 or 2024 debut.

So who is Wonder Man?

Wonder Man Actually one of the Avengers' earliest enemies (and soon after, most ersatz members). Creeated in 1964's Avengers #9 as a one-off villain, he was resurrected a decade later and began a path of redemption that culminated in Avengers membership. His brain waves were actually the basis for the original Vision in comics - something that has gone on to be a unique situation brought up in subsequent storylines.

What Marvel Studios appears to be capitalizing on in Wonder Man's transition to the MCU is his other life, as a Hollywood movie star in Marvel Comics. It wouldn't be the first time, as Nathan Fillion was cast (and even filmed) scenes for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 as Wonder Man, but they were cut from the finished film.

Wondering about the connection between Wonder Man and Wonder Woman?

Marvel's Wonder Man isn't the first Wonder Man in comics - he was actually beaten to the name by a year with DC's Wonder Man, introduced in 1963's Superman #163 as a male version of Wonder Woman. According Marvel's Wonder Man co-creator Stan Lee, DC sued Marvel when their version debuted - which resulted in Lee aborting bigger plans for Marvel's Wonder Man in the '60s. Eventually things seemed to resolve themselves, as Wonder Man began appearing regularly in Marvel comics in the mid '70s.


As Marvel Studios plans the next decade of the MCU, it's time for them to forget phases and think bigger.
Chris Arrant

Chris Arrant: Chris Arrant is the Popverse's Editor-in-Chief. He has written about pop culture for USA Today, Life, Entertainment Weekly, Publisher's Weekly, Marvel, Newsarama, CBR, and more. He has acted as a judge for the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, the Harvey Awards, and the Stan Lee Awards. (He/him)

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