Shortly following the news that a Thunderbolts film is being developed, Marvel also announced that a Wonder Man Disney+ series will soon be coming too (via The Hollywood Reporter). Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings director, Destin Daniel Cretton, will also be directing this series with Andrew Guest as writer.
Supposedly, it will be a Hollywood satire, a fitting genre for Simon Williams (aka Wonder Man), a stunt man turned superhero. Already, many fans are hoping that Nathan Fillion will take on the role – since he was set to do so in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 through in-universe movie posters (via Cinema Blend). While there isn’t more news or information available, there is still plently to speculate or theorize over, including who else could feature.
Grim Reaper
One of the most likely options is Simon William’s brother, Eric. When they were kids, Simon was always the center of attention (which led Eric down some dark paths, including joining the Maggia). Following his brother’s transformation into Wonder Man, Eric became the Grim Reaper, with a powerful scthye that could put his enemies into comas.
He was importantly responsible for resurrecting Wonder Man following his death, but the brothers eventually turned on each other. He’s also formed his own team, the Lethal Legion, to go against the Avengers at time. Interestingly, his helmet is included in the title sequence for episode two of WandaVision, thus teasing the character and his brother’s connection to Vision and the Scarlet Witch.
Baron Zemo
Another character integral to Wonder Man’s origins is Baron Zemo, and thankfully with the new of Thunderbolts, he is coming back in an important way. Simon landed himself in jail after embezzling his own company, Willaims Innovations, but Zemo was instrumental in getting him out. Zemo then manipulated Simon to seek revenge on Tony Stark – for being Williams Innovations biggest and more successful competitor – and he transformed him into the ion-powered superhuman that is Wonder Man.
Wonder Man for a time was a villain opposing the Avengers as part of the Masters of Evil. If Zemo is involved in Thunderbolts as suspected, Wonder Man could be roped in too. Depending on which is released first, Zemo could very well appear in Wonder Man – though his morality opposing superhumans could alter how he is involved.
White Vision
Wonder Man and Vision are incredibly connected in the comics. While Wonder Man was in a coma, Ultron copied his brainwave patterns and used them to create Vision, whose body was built from the original Human Torch android. They spent many subsequent years as both enemies and allies, with Wonder Man eventually accepting Vision as his brother.
Vision’s creation is obviously different in the MCU, but he could still come into play somehow in Wonder Man. Following WandaVision, the Vision fans first met in Avengers: Age of Ultron is no more, replaced now with White Vision (a far more dangerous and lethal version). He has yet to be featured again, so perhaps Wonder Man is the place and maybe a brotherly connection established here could help restore Vision to his best self.
Scarlet Witch
Wonder Man could also be a great place to bring back Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff (aka Scarlett Witch), if she hasn’t returned already by that point. Audiences are led to believe she is dead following Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (which saw her give an incredible performance as one of the best villains thus far in the MCU), – however, no body was ever seen, and that’s a rule with stories like this.
Shortly following the film’s release, it was also revealed that they still want to do a Scarlet Witch solo film, which many fans have wanting for years (via The Direct). Regardless, with the multiverse coming into play more and more, Olsen is surely not done with this role, and given her connection to Wonder Man, even beyond Vision, she could also feature in this show in some capacity.
Count Nefaria
With Wonder Man’s dealings with the Maggia in the comics, they could also come into play in Wonder Man. They are already part of this universe from Agent Carter and Daredevil, but those were years ago, so they could do with a revamp. Even though this show will largely take place on the West Coast, most likely, their involvement here could also carry over into likes of Spider-Man 4 or the former Netflix series (of which there are many theories how those characters might return to).
Similar to the comics, they could’ve taken over Williams Innovations, and, at the helm could be Count Nefaria. He is an Italian crime boss, who is also incredibly powerful with ionic abilities like Wonder Man. This would make him a perfect antagonist, and he could be joined by his wife Guilietta Nefaria (aka Madame Masque).
Hawkeye
After some time as a villain and anti-hero fighting against the Avengers, Wonder Man eventually became one himself. He was part of the original West Coast Avengers team – which could very come into play here or elsewhere in the MCU – with Hawkeye, Iron Man, Mockingbird, and Tigra. Each of these characters could be involved in Wonder Man, including James Rhodes as Iron Man (which might be an end-result of Armor Wars).
A compelling idea could be that Kate Bishop’s Hawkeye features instead of Clint Barton. In the comics, Bishop spends considerable time on the West Coast so she could cross paths with Wonder Man, maybe try to recruit him to her own Avengers team. However, it also looks like they are setting up the Young Avengers too, of which Wonder Man is unrelated. Nevertheless, fans would surely love the chance to see more of Hailee Steinfield as Kate Bishop.
Atlas
Simon Williams is not the only person experimented on by Baron Zemo. Following him was Erik Josten, a mercenary turned villain. He received the same ionic-ray treatment and while it did make him more powerful, Wonder Man was still stronger. For a time, he operated as Power Man, serving as an enhanced lunkie for other villains. However, he later gains size-changing abilities like Ant-Man, which makes him an even bigger threat, literally.
After some time going by Goliath, he then settles on Atlas, and he becomes a member of the Thunderbolts. Like other members, he actually reforms into more of an anti-hero, even coming to work alongside Wonder Man as a member of the Revengers. Whether in Thunderbolts, Wonder Man, or both, Atlas could definitely be coming to the MCU sometime soon.
She-Hulk
Following the conclusion of Ms. Marvel soon, the next Disney+ series coming down the pipeline is She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, starring Tatianna Maslany. There are plenty theories in how the series will unfold, though there might be more now following the announcements of Thunderbolts and Wonder Man. Although their connection isn’t extensive beyond both being Avengers members, this could a place to bring her back again.
She is a lawyer extraordinaire, specifically focusing on superpowered individuals, so perhaps she is needed to defend Simon Williams in some way. It likely wouldn’t be anything more than a cameo, like Matt Murdock’s in Spider-Man: No Way Home, but that could still be very fun.
Hercules
Wonder Man’s transformation gives him some extraordinary powers, like flight, ionic abilities, and super strength, which could make him a formidable opponent, and possibly one of the physically strongest characters in the MCU. Another strongman who deserves time in the MCU is Hercules.
The door is already wide open for him to finally join the MCU since Russell Crowe is playing his father, Zeus in Thor: Love and Thunder. Perhaps he will appear too, though no public casting announcement supports this theory. Interestingly, Hercules helps Wonder Man develop an acting career when he tries out life away from the Avengers, so perhaps he could feature in a similar role in Wonder Man.
Beast
One of the most exciting options for Wonder Man once had many hurdles blocking his introduction, but now it seems imminent. That would be Hank McCoy (aka Beast), the genius, blue-haired mutant. He is naturally best recognized as a member of the X-Men, but he’s also served on the Avengers too, striking up a close friendship with Wonder Man.
Mutants will be an official part of the MCU sometimes soon, but they could introduce these popular characters as they have done for the Young Avengers, sprinkling them into several different tv shows or films before their eventual team-up. Therefore, McCoy – whether fully realized as Beast or not – would fit nicely into Wonder Man.
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