Given Wonder Man‘s affiliation with the Avengers in the comics, fans have wondered why the character, established to already have powers in the Disney+ show, did not join the superhero team in the MCU. Now, in a recent interview, series star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II candidly revealed why Simon Williams never became part of the superhero group. Consisting of eight episodes, the series follows Williams and fellow actor Trevor Slattery as they try to land roles in Hollywood’s remake of Wonder Man.
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II on why Simon Williams never joined the Avengers
While speaking with The Direct, Abdul-Mateen II was asked about Simon Williams’ decision to portray a superhero on-screen instead of using his powers to establish a superhero career in a world inhabited by the Avengers.
The Candyman actor replied, “Well, that makes me ask the question, ‘What does that say about Simon?’” He continued, “You know, it says that he’s an artist… He’s described as a sensitive soul, and I believe that he is…”
Abdul-Mateen II cut himself off before he could elaborate and turned to Ben Kingsley — who plays Trevor Slattery in the Disney+ show and was also present for the interview — asking him if he used the term “heroic acting.” When he admitted he forgot the context, Kingsley reminded him, “The context was: Would you rather be a hero or an actor? As if the two are not interchangeable or can never occupy the same person at the same time. But I believe they can.”
Hearing this, Abdul-Mateen II stressed that “heroic acting” was what Williams was after.
Wonder Man, which hits Disney+ on January 27, 2026, currently boasts a certified fresh score of 90% on Rotten Tomatoes. Moreover, critical reviews for the series, which surfaced ahead of its release, are primarily positive.
Destin Daniel Cretton and Andrew Guest co-created the series. The former previously helmed Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and more recently directed Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
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