Disney+’s upcoming live-action Wonder Man series has enlisted James Ponsoldt, director of The Spectacular Now, to helm several episodes.
According to Discussing Film, Ponsoldt is currently negotiating with Marvel Studios to become one of the Wonder Man series’ directors. He will collaborate on the project with executive producer Destin Daniel Cretton. Additionally disclosed is the studio’s current plan to begin filming by the end of March 2023. Ponsoldt has previously directed episodes for critically acclaimed shows like Shameless and Master of None, but this is his first foray into the superhero genre.
Following the box office success of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, the series is a component of Cretton’s overall contract with Marvel Studios. Since he was chosen to helm Avengers: The Kang Dynasty in 2025 and a Shang-Chi sequel later on, he is now a significant member of Marvel’s creative staff. Along with Cretton, Brooklyn Nine-Nine producer Andrew Guest is working on the project as the chief writer. Additionally, the Wonder Man series will mark Guest’s second partnership with Marvel Studios after serving as an executive producer on the Hawkeye series starring Jeremy Renner.
The Marvel Avenger known as Wonder Man, sometimes known as Simon Williams, was developed by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Don Heck. He debuted in The Avengers #9 from 1964, making him one of Marvel’s first heroes. He acquired his superhuman traits in an experiment carried out by Baron Zemo, including strength, stamina, and speed. Before Vision arrived in the comics, Wonder Man and the Scarlet Witch—a character presently played by Elizabeth Olsen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe—had a legendary romantic relationship.
Wonder Man’s cast members
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, a newbie to the MCU, will star in Disney+’s Wonder Man as the show’s title hero. The Matrix Resurrections actor has experience with the superhero genre, having previously played Black Mamba in DC Films’ Aquaman and Cal Abar/Doctor Manhattan in HBO’s critically acclaimed drama Watchmen. He received his first Emmy Award for Outstanding Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for the latter thanks to his work on it.
Ben Kingsley, the Oscar winner, will also make a third appearance in the live-action series in his beloved role as Trevor Slattery. His character was last seen by MCU viewers in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, when viewers admired his strange friendship with Morris, a cuddly faceless Dijiang pet. Only Abdul-Mateen and Kingsley have received official confirmation for the project thus far. But according to recent reports, Marvel Studios is allegedly in discussions with actors Courtney Cox from Scream and Bob Odenkirk from Better Call Saul to play significant roles on the Disney+ series.
