The Marvel Cinematic Universe is preparing to pull back the curtain on its most unique project yet. On January 27, 2026, Marvel Television will release all eight episodes of Wonder Man on Disney+, marking Marvel's fourth binge-release TV show. While the series primarily serves as a Hollywood satire and a character study of Simon Williams, it also creates the perfect narrative bridge for one of the most beloved rosters in comic history: the West Coast Avengers.
In the comics, the West Coast Avengers formed specifically to provide a superhero presence on the Pacific coast, with Simon Williams serving as a founding member. While Wonder Man focuses on Simon and Trevor Slattery (Simon's mentor), the evidence for a West Coast Avengers setup is undeniable.
Beyond the Los Angeles setting and Simon’s status as a founding member, the cast list includes several nods to the team's history. Byron Bowers is confirmed to play a character named Doorman, a teleporting hero who, in the comics, was a mainstay of the Great Lakes Avengers, a branch often associated with the West Coast expansion.
Furthermore, the series introduces Demetrius Grosse as Eric Williams, Simon’s brother. In Marvel lore, Eric becomes the villainous Grim Reaper, a recurring antagonist for the West Coast team. In the comics, the Grim Reaper often used a scythe that could drain the life force of others, becoming one of the team’s most persistent and personal villains.
This sibling rivalry is the perfect drama for the MCU. It gives Simon a strong reason to step up and form a team to deal with his brother, establishing the core conflict that defines a new California-based group.
Wonder Man's setting of Los Angeles also positions Simon Williams at the heart of a region already teeming with established MCU heroes. Characters like Scott Lang (Ant-Man), Hope van Dyne (The Wasp), Shang-Chi, and even Jennifer Walters (She-Hulk) call California home, creating a natural geographic cluster that's similar to the comics’ rationale for a West Coast branch. With the original Avengers scattered or retired in the post-Endgame era, Wonder Man could serve as the catalyst for another group of heroes to unite under a shared banner, addressing threats too localized or too personal for a New York-based team to handle efficiently.
What To Expect From the Wonder Man Series
Wonder Man follows Simon Williams (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), a struggling actor desperate to land the lead role in a fictionalized Wonder Man biopic directed by the acclaimed Von Kovak. The series adopts a meta-commentary approach, directly addressing superhero fatigue within the MCU's own universe. In this world, the public is well aware of real-life superheroes, and Hollywood is attempting to capitalize on their stories with dramatized remakes.
The series introduces a strict legal barrier known as the Doorman Clause, a Hollywood policy that bans actual super-powered individuals from working on film sets. This creates the central tension of the show. Simon Williams possesses superpowers, including superhuman strength and invulnerability, but must hide them to keep his job. As Simon’s powers become increasingly challenging to suppress, he finds himself caught between his dreams of stardom and the watchful eye of the Department of Damage Control.
The production is led by showrunner Andrew Guest (Community, Hawkeye) and executive producer Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi). Their influence is expected to provide satirical wit and character-driven drama. Unlike previous Marvel entries, Wonder Man focuses less on saving the world and more on the absurdity of the entertainment industry, using Simon’s journey to explore the cost of fame in a world where being super is both a blessing and a legal liability.
Geraldo Amartey is a writer at The Direct. He joined the team in 2025, bringing with him four years of experience covering entertainment news, pop culture, and fan-favorite franchises for sites like YEN, Briefly and Tuko.
