Marvel Studios is taking one of its most unconventional swings yet with Wonderman, a six-episode limited series set to premiere on Disney+ in late 2026. Starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams/Wonderman, the show is not a traditional superhero origin story — it’s a dark, satirical, emotionally raw exploration of fame, identity, Hollywood excess, and the price of power in a world that worships celebrity.

Simon Williams, a struggling actor with a promising career derailed by bad luck and worse decisions, agrees to undergo an experimental procedure funded by Baron Zemo (reprised by Daniel Brühl in a chilling, charismatic performance). The process gives Simon superhuman strength, energy projection, and near-invulnerability — but it also slowly poisons him from the inside. The catch? The powers are unstable, the corporation behind the experiment wants to control him, and Simon’s newfound fame as a superhero comes with a reality show contract that turns his life into a 24/7 spectacle.

Abdul-Mateen delivers what early reviews are calling a career-defining performance — charismatic, wounded, and increasingly unhinged. Simon is not a noble hero; he’s a man who wanted to be famous more than he wanted to be good, and now he’s trapped in the very spotlight he chased. The series leans hard into satire: Simon’s “heroic” missions are staged for cameras, his costume changes are sponsored, and his personal life is broadcast to millions. The line between reality and performance blurs until Simon can no longer tell which version of himself is real.

The supporting cast is stacked. Olivia Cooke plays Simon’s ex-girlfriend and the only person who ever saw the real him, now working as a journalist determined to expose the corporation’s secrets. Walton Goggins is the sleazy reality-show producer who treats Simon’s life like a scripted drama. Ben Kingsley returns as Trevor Slattery (the fake Mandarin from Iron Man 3), now a washed-up actor mentoring Simon through the Hollywood machine. And Brühl’s Zemo is colder and more calculating than ever, pulling strings from the shadows.

Visually, Wonderman is a striking departure from typical Marvel fare. Directors Destin Daniel Cretton and Rachel Talalay use a glossy, almost soap-opera aesthetic for the “reality show” segments — bright lights, dramatic zooms, confessional-style interviews — contrasted with gritty, handheld footage of Simon’s real missions and private breakdowns. The action is brutal and grounded: Simon’s powers are powerful but painful, leaving him bleeding from the eyes after every major fight. The series doesn’t shy away from the physical and psychological toll of superhuman strength.

The tone is dark satire with genuine heart. It skewers celebrity culture, corporate greed, and the superhero industrial complex while still delivering emotional punches. Simon’s relationship with his estranged family, his struggle with addiction to fame and adrenaline, and his growing realization that heroism isn’t glamorous — it’s lonely and destructive — give the show real weight.

Early buzz from test screenings and festival previews has been strong. Variety called it “Marvel’s most mature, most adult series to date — a biting satire wrapped in a superhero skin.” The Hollywood Reporter praised Abdul-Mateen’s “magnetic, tragic performance” and the show’s “fearless willingness to critique the very machine that made it.” With a reported R rating for violence, language, and mature themes, Wonderman is clearly aimed at adult audiences tired of sanitized superhero stories.

The series is not connected to the larger MCU in any major way — it exists in its own corner, allowing for bolder storytelling and darker outcomes. No cameos from Avengers, no post-credits teases for Phase 7. Just a standalone story about a man who wanted to be a star and got his wish — at a terrible cost.

For fans of The Boys, Succession, or darker Marvel projects like WandaVision and Moon Knight, Wonderman looks like the next must-watch. It’s funny, brutal, heartbreaking, and deeply uncomfortable — exactly what a superhero story about fame and power should be in 2026.

All six episodes will stream on Disney+ in late 2026. If you’re ready for Marvel to stop playing it safe, this is the series that’s going to hit hardest.