“Wonder Man” showrunner and co-creator Andrew Guest took to TikTok on Saturday to thank fans and share his thoughts about the Marvel Television drama’s cancellation.
“Just want to say I’ve been listening,” Guest said. “I appreciate you all. I feel how you all feel, and I just want to clear up when I can here. This is not a marketing stunt. There is no movie in the works, and [Destin Daniel Cretton’s] schedule and no one’s schedule was an issue. Yahya [Abdul Mateen II], Destin, Sir Ben [Kingsley] 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.”
He added, “The writers’ room was supposed to start this month. The production was supposed to begin early next year, and 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. And that’s essentially all I really know.”
Variety exclusively reported in late July that “Wonder Man” was canceled at Disney+ before the launch of its second season. The move was a sudden change of course for Disney, which announced in March that the show would return to Disney+ for Season 2.
Star Yahya Abdul Mateen II, who earned an Emmy for his role as superpowered aspiring actor Simon Williams, shared a reaction of his own when news dropped that “Wonder Man” was canceled. He wrote on Instagram, “Word just dropped that Wonder Man won’t be coming back for Season 2. (And if you don’t knowww, now ya knoww!) That’s life, right? Everything will shake out.”
Along with Abdul-Mateen II and Ben Kingsley, other Season 1 cast members included X Mayo, Demetrius Grosse, Zlatko Burić, Arian Moayed and Olivia Thirlby. “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” director Destin Daniel Cretton co-created “Wonder Man” with Guest and helmed the first episode.
The show’s logline reads, “Aspiring Hollywood actor Simon Williams (Abdul-Mateen II) is struggling to get his career off the ground. During a chance meeting with Trevor Slattery (Kingsley), an actor whose biggest roles may be well behind him, Simon learns legendary director Von Kovak (Burić) is remaking the superhero film ‘Wonder Man.’ These two actors at opposite ends of their careers doggedly pursue life-changing roles in this film as audiences get a peek behind the curtain of the entertainment industry.”