Filled with action, humor, and Haitian-infused heart, you positively cannot negatively charge Wonder Man. This hit new series expertly leans into its meta portrayal of superhero fatigue while fully captivating the audience. The Nerds of Color had the opportunity to chat with Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Sir Ben Kingsley, and Andrew Guest about bringing Wonder Man to life onscreen.
This article contains spoilers for Season 1 of Wonder Man.
As a Haitian American, I was enamored with Simon’s origin story developed within the series, while also left wondering if his background will eventually tie into some of the Haitian plot points established in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. One thing is absolutely certain: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II portrays a deeply nuanced and intriguing version of a superhero trying desperately to keep his powers under wraps in a world rightfully weary of mighty beings. Sir Ben Kingsley returns as Trevor Slattery in a multi-layered depiction of his character as a troubled actor. While we’ve experienced the more comical side of Slattery’s involvement in the world of superheroes in previous projects like Iron Man 3 and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, the audience now gets to fully explore whether or not we can fully trust him in Wonder Man.
If you signed-up for Marvel’s Trevor Slattery text notifications back in November, then you’ve been clued into some of the emotional tones you can expect throughout the show. From questionable choices to deep character development, Simon Williams and Trevor Slattery give us a unique friendship we have yet to experience in the MCU. The cameos prevalent in Wonder Man’s world were a delightful surprise each, and Marvel deliberately embraces its ever-growing roots in Hollywood. As far as Haitian representation goes, we’re in for a treat. Actors Béchir Sylvain (Jurassic World Rebirth), Karina Bonnefil (The Walking Dead: Dead City), Jean Elie (Send Help, Insecure), and more appear as Williams’ family, friends, and crew team. Notably, Jean Elie not only appears as a part of the cast, but was also a Creative Consultant behind the scenes, providing the guidance required during development to amplify the authenticity and groundedness of filming Haitian American culture.
When assessing this series in relation to its comic book origins, the decision to bring us into Williams’ life during his personal reinvention in Los Angeles as an actor is wise, as it’s a pivotal portion of this hero’s run. It aligns Williams’ introduction perfectly with the events taking place across the MCU. While the show only scratches the surface of his abilities, the finale had me grinning like a kid in the theater: I had just witnessed one of the most powerful Marvel characters come to life onscreen. Most importantly, this series examines the difference between doing what’s right versus doing what’s best in a way that makes you wonder exactly who you should be rooting for.
Tune into our full discussion with the cast and crew of Wonder Man below.
You can watch all eight episodes of Wonder Man on Disney+ on January 27.
