Marvel's new series Wonder Man on Disney+ appears to be accepting the idea of breaking the fourth wall and, as best it can, the superhero trope we've come to know. It has a director, Destin Daniel Cretton of Shang-Chi fame, and is co-created with writer Andrew Guest, who is also a writer from Hawkeye. The show stars Yahya Abdul Mateen II as Simon Williams. Simon, an actor, is attempting to land or try to land the role of his life — to play Wonder Man in an in-universe remake of the superhero film, Wonder Man. Thus, it is funny that the whole premise says there is a "king-size" argument to be made, or the ongoing texts on the topic of superhero fatigue, but serious sarcasm and self-referentiality. 

STORYLINE

The trailer introduces us to Simon Williams, an unemployed actor trying to change his life by playing Wonder Man in the big-budget superhero film: Wonder Man. Simon’s primary competition is Trevor Slattery (Sir Ben Kingsley), the absurdly pretentious actor we meet from Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, who seems washed up. Cretton even makes fun of the tropes of the big-budget superhero with the trailer clips that show a kooky, whimsical, unpredictable rivalry based on Simon’s earnest desire to take on the part and Trevor’s absurdly incredulous behavior about the role!

Positive Points

The trailer's greatest asset is its novelty. In an era when the superhero genre feels homogenized and basic, Wonder Man appears self-aware in ways that few superhero stories have been. The humor is, at least to me, witty and character-driven; Cretton balanced the absurd comedy with the show's emotional weight wonderfully. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is so sharp with his charisma and just enough nuances that viewers feel a sort of desperation coming from this artist living in a fame-obsessed culture. Ben Kingsley's cameo as Trevor Slattery from Iron Man 3 is delightful. He nails the comedic timing. I also think the visual styling, mixing the behind-the-scenes aspect with the comically flashy Marvel embellishments significantly enhances the viewing experience. 

Also Read: Tron Ares Movie Review: Visually Dazzling but Narratively Glitched

Negative Points

The meta angle, however, might be tricky. If it does not land, it might come off as self-indulgent, in-joke or even alienating for casual MCU audiences. Some audiences may be put off if the tone is too satirical to be taken seriously as a superhero project. And of course, there is always the risk that the commentary on superhero "fatigue" may come off as tired/overdone.

Overall: Wonder Man looks like it could be Marvel's boldest and most experimental show to date — part Hollywood satire, part superhero parody, and part character study. If it lives up to the trailer, Wonder Man could provide the MCU the self-reflecting, adventurous shock it desperately could use right now.