“I think there’s important conversations being had online about the kind of stories that we’re prioritizing and the kind of shows platforms wanna make.” Those were the words of Wonder Man co-creator and showrunner Andrew Guest, who took to TikTok on Saturday to address fans following the shock cancellation of the Marvel Disney+ series, and what he revealed made it clear this was no orderly wind-down.
Guest shut down speculation immediately, addressing two of the most circulating theories head on. “This is not a marketing stunt. There is no movie in the works. And Destin’s schedule, no one’s schedule was an issue,” he said. “Yahya, Destin, Sir Ben and I all loved making this show, all felt passionately about continuing to do it, and were eager to. Contracts were signed, schedules were cleared. The writers room was supposed to start this month. Production was supposed to begin early next year.”
Guest revealed that he had already written the first episode of Season 2 and had a full outline for where the season would go before Disney and Marvel internally reversed course. “There was a decision made internally between Disney and Marvel that this didn’t make sense for them, even though a few months ago it did,” he said. “And that’s essentially all I really know. Numbers aren’t really shared with me.”
@andrewgst #wonderman #marvel #season2 #marvelwonderman #mcu ♬ Monologues – Joel P West
The cancellation came as a shock given that Disney had publicly announced a Season 2 renewal in March. Wonder Man debuted in January to solid numbers, drawing 618 million minutes of viewing time during its premiere week according to Nielsen, and continued to earn positive reviews from critics and audiences throughout its run. Star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II received an Emmy nomination for his lead performance, making the reversal all the more surprising.
Abdul-Mateen responded to the news on Instagram with characteristic composure. “Word just dropped that Wonder Man won’t be coming back. That’s life, right? Everything will shake out,” he wrote, before thanking fans for their support and signing off with a pointed message: “See you at the Emmys.”
Guest echoed the sentiment, calling on Emmy voters to recognize Abdul-Mateen’s work. “I hope that Emmy voters are thinking about Yahya and how much he deserves the Emmy for the incredible work he did on the show,” he said.
Wonder Man follows aspiring Hollywood actor Simon Williams, played by Abdul-Mateen, who crosses paths with veteran actor Trevor Slattery, played by Ben Kingsley, while pursuing a life-changing role in a superhero film remake. The series offered a rare comedic, behind-the-scenes look at the entertainment industry from within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The cast also included X Mayo, Demetrius Grosse, Zlatko Burić, Arian Moayed and Olivia Thirlby. The series was co-created by Guest and Spider-Man: Brand New Day director Destin Daniel Cretton, who also directed several episodes. Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Jonathan Schwartz and Brad Winderbaum executive produce alongside Guest and Cretton.