Wonder Man creators confirm full creative freedom in shaping Simon Williams

Marvel Studios’ upcoming Disney+ series Wonder Man takes a fresh approach to Simon Williams, with creators Destin Daniel Cretton and Andrew Young reimagining the longtime comic character for the MCU.

The duo confirmed they were given broad creative freedom to shape his story without being tied to a specific comic run.

Simon Williams, portrayed by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, debuted in Marvel Comics in 1964’s Avengers #9. Despite his long history, the creators say the series is not directly adapting any specific comic run. Instead, Marvel encouraged them to focus on a character-driven story centered on the entertainment industry.

Andrew Young explained that there was no mandate to follow established comic arcs, allowing the team to explore Simon’s complicated relationship with Hollywood and his superhuman abilities. In the comics, Williams is both a superhero and a successful actor, a dual identity that inspired the show’s more grounded and unconventional tone.

Rather than presenting a traditional superhero narrative, Wonder Man emphasizes Simon as an artist who happens to possess extraordinary powers. That perspective is further reflected in the show’s focus on Simon’s dynamic with Trevor Slattery, played by Ben Kingsley, positioning the series as a character study rather than a spectacle-driven MCU entry.

One major question left intentionally unresolved is the origin of Simon’s powers, which appear to trace back to his childhood. This ambiguity has sparked speculation about whether Simon Williams could be an undisclosed mutant within the MCU. When asked directly, both Cretton and Young declined to clarify, suggesting the mystery remains open for future storytelling.

Cretton has emphasized that viewers expecting a conventional superhero series may be surprised, but believes the emotional depth and character exploration will resonate over time. According to the creators, the genre is used as a framework to explore internal conflict rather than constant action.

All eight episodes of Wonder Man premiere January 27 on Disney+.