The 'Matrix Resurrections' actor will play Simon Williams, who later transforms into the superhero, on 'Wonder Man' that will also seen Ben Kingsley reprising Trevor Slattery.
- Nov 1, 2022
AceShowbiz - Marvel has found its Wonder Man in Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. "The Matrix Resurrections" actor has been tapped to play Simon Williams, who later transforms into the superhero, on an upcoming Disney+ series titled "Wonder Man".
"Wonder Man", which is said to have a comedic tone, will be directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, who helmed "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings". Cretton will also exec produce with "Hawkeye" co-producer Andrew Guest serving as head writer.
Created in the 1980s, Wonder Man is a key member of the West Coast Avengers. He's related to Wanda and Vision, a fact that excites fans considering that "Vision Quest", a "WandaVision" spin-off centering on Vision, is currently in the works.
In the comic book, Williams is depicted as the son of a wealthy industrialist whose company, Williams Innovations, runs out of business due to competition from Stark Industries. Simon then turns to Baron Zemo, who gives Simon superpowers and directs him to infiltrate and then betray the Avengers. That being said, Simon sincerely joins the Avengers and becomes a founding member of the spin-off team, the West Coast Avengers.
It was previously revealed that the series will see the return of Oscar winner Ben Kingsley's Trevor Slattery, the supervillain-turned-good guy who is also known as The Mandarin. The character previously appeared in 2013's "Iron Man 3" and "Shang-Chi". According to reports, Slattery "will play a major role" on "Wonder Man".
Meanwhile, it's not the first time for Abdul-Mateen II to play characters from major comic books. DC fans might be familiar with the actor as he played Black Manta in 2018's "Aquaman". He is set to reprise the role of the villain in "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom", which is currently scheduled for Christmas 2023.
He also portrayed Dr. Manhattan on HBO's 2019 series "Watchmen". The actor even earned an Emmy for his performance on the series.
In addition, Abdul-Mateen II appeared in films, including "Ambulance", Nia DaCosta's "Candyman" sequel, Aaron Sorkin's Oscar-nominated drama "The Trial of the Chicago 7, Jordan Peele's "Us" as well as Michel Gracey's "The Greatest Showman". His additional TV credits include "Black Mirror and "The Get Down".
