Followers have been ready for extra footage from the Disney+ present “Marvel Man” for fairly some time, with information of the considerably difficult superhero getting his personal collection (starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams/Marvel Man) all the best way again in 2022. That footage is lastly right here (see beneath), and whereas it is solely a minute lengthy, it does give us an fascinating little style of what “Marvel Man” would possibly really be about.
“Have you ever given any thought of casting?” #WonderMan pic.twitter.com/UCOUb04c0Y
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) October 10, 2025
The Marvel Man character has gone by means of every kind of modifications all through his Marvel Comics historical past. He began because the nepo child of an arms vendor, however has extra not too long ago been a super-powered actor and stuntman. He is a good lesser-known superhero than the leads for Marvel Cinematic Universe collection like “Moon Knight” and “Ms. Marvel,” although that additionally provides “Marvel Man” the chance to get inventive and daring with its storytelling.
It seems that’s precisely what the present is doing. In actual fact, “Marvel Man” seems to be Marvel’s response to reveals like “Peacemaker” and “The Boys,” offering a meta-commentary on superhero media, though I doubt it should be fairly as essential as both of these reveals (given that is nonetheless the MCU). Within the footage for “Marvel Man,” nevertheless, we see the director of a brand new “Marvel Man” film, Von Kovak (Zlatko Burić — sure, the evil Boravian President, Vasil Ghurkos, from James Gunn’s “Superman”), speaking about reboot the franchise and addressing the commonest criticism of superhero tales immediately: “Why yet one more superhero movie?” It additionally reveals Williams watching Kovak’s interview as he is requested about casting, and we see that the unique Marvel Man was white. If Marvel goes to have a present that addresses not solely superhero fatigue but additionally doubtlessly fan reactions to a Black actor enjoying a traditionally white position, it may very well be one thing significant.
The MCU may use a little bit dressing down from Marvel Man
There nonetheless aren’t a ton of particulars about “Marvel Man,” nevertheless it looks like it should go heavy on the meta-commentary on the moviemaking business and Hollywood particularly as regards to superhero media. That would present the MCU with an opportunity to handle a few of its points and have a little bit enjoyable at its personal expense, which guidelines. This might additionally assist audiences really feel much less alienated by the large company machine that’s the MCU, reminding us there are human creatives behind the scenes with precise opinions to share. A little bit self-reflection can go a great distance, and having a humorousness about it undoubtedly helps. That is evident within the clip, which not solely contains Kovak speaking about his love of the Marvel Man franchise with some wonderful tokusatsu/classic “Star Trek”-style footage of the “authentic” Marvel Man combating some baddies, but additionally has a fast shot of a clapperboard on a movie set with the title “Money Seize 2.” If that is a touch of this present’s method to satire, depend me in. (Die-hard followers could keep in mind that Nathan Fillion was initially going to play Marvel Man in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” however these sadly hit the reducing room ground.)
Abdul-Mateen II is an outstanding actor who can completely nail the tone wanted right here, and it’ll lastly give him an opportunity to do extra within the superhero sphere since he did not get fairly sufficient to do as Black Manta within the DC Prolonged Universe. Ben Kingsley may also return as Trevor Slattery (aka the actor who pretended to be the Mandarin in “Iron Man 3”), which is a scrumptious selection. Truthfully, “Marvel Man” appears to be like prefer it may very well be quite a lot of enjoyable, and that is coming from somebody with severe superhero fatigue.
“Marvel Man” hits Disney+ in January 2026.
