Yahya Abdul-Mateen II’s Emmy-nominated ‘Wonder Man’ axed, and its creators want answers
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“Wonder Man” co-creator Destin Daniel Cretton says he’s heartbroken and still doesn’t understand why Marvel canceled the Emmy-nominated series.
Just days after Marvel and Disney reversed course on “Wonder Man,” the show’s co-creator, Destin Daniel Cretton, has publicly shared his disappointment over the unexpected decision.
In an interview with Deadline, Cretton said he remains puzzled by the streaming series’ cancellation, admitting he still doesn’t “fully understand” why the studio opted not to move forward despite previously announcing a second season. The filmmaker, whose latest Marvel film “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” recently crossed the $1 billion mark globally, said he would still be making the series if the decision were his.
“I love that show to death,” Cretton told the entertainment publication, adding that he believes Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige was equally passionate about the project. “I’m heartbroken about it,” he said, while acknowledging he doesn’t fully grasp the business realities behind streaming decisions.
The comments come less than a week after Variety exclusively reported that Marvel had quietly scrapped its earlier Season 2 renewal. According to the outlet’s reporting, a writers’ room was never assembled, and the writing staff had already been released from their contracts before production could begin.
Cretton’s co-creator and showrunner, Andrew Guest, also pushed back against online speculation that the cancellation was part of a larger Marvel strategy. Speaking with The Wrap, Guest said there is “no movie in the works” and insisted the cancellation “is not a marketing stunt.” He added that contracts had been signed, schedules had been cleared, and production was expected to begin early next year before Marvel changed direction.
The series, starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams and Ben Kingsley as Trevor Slattery, debuted on Disney+ in January to strong critical reviews. Deadline noted that Abdul-Mateen earned an Emmy nomination for his lead performance, while Variety previously reported that the show’s first season held a 91% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes despite modest streaming visibility.
Although “Wonder Man” will not return for a second season, Variety previously reported that the characters introduced in the series could still appear in future Marvel projects, leaving the door open for Simon Williams and Trevor Slattery to return elsewhere in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.