How to Get Cast on Marvel’s ‘Wonder Man’

Disney+’s “Wonder Man” follows Simon Williams (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) as he struggles to jump-start his acting career. In the MCU, superheroes are not allowed to work in Hollywood, so Simon must conceal the fact that he has superhuman strength and can create explosions. 

Simon dreams of playing the titular role in the remake of “Wonder Man,” a film that he loved as a young boy. After a chance meeting at a movie theater, he teams up with Trevor Slattery (Sir Ben Kingsley), a washed-up thespian last seen in “Iron Man 3” and “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” when he was hired to portray a terrorist called “the Mandarin.” Trevor, who auditioned for a different role in “Wonder Man,” seems to be staging a comeback—this time, hopefully, for real.

Season 1 of “Wonder Man” featured:

• Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams/Wonder Man
• Ben Kingsley as Trevor Slattery
• Arian Moayed as Agent Cleary
• X Mayo as Janelle Jackson 
• Zlatko Burić as Von Kovak
• Kameron J. Meadows as Young Simon
• Shola Adewusi as Martha Williams
• Olivia Thirlby as Vivian
• Bechir Sylvain as Sanford Williams
• Demetrius Grosse as Eric Williams
• Dan Donahue as Deputy Secretary Heyerdahl
• Byron Bowers as DeMarr Davis
• Joe Pantoliano as himself
• Phumzile Sitole as Lauren
• Dane Larsen as Brent Willard
• Josh Gad as himself

The series has not yet made any announcements about the comings and goings for Season 2’s lineup.

Carmen Cuba served as the CD on Season 1 of “Wonder Man.” With more than 100 TV and movie credits to her name, Cuba has cast a range of projects, including the series “Stranger Things” and “The Chi,” and the films “The Martian,” “Magic Mike,” and “Heretic.”

If you’re new to the business (kind of like Simon, himself), have no fear. Cuba loves discovering new talent, and she’s always on the lookout. “I think because I started out as a journalist, I’m very curious about humans. I’m constantly reading things. If I read something in the New York Times about, like, the first African American dancer in the Joffrey Ballet, then usually the following week I go into my office and ask to Skype with that person. Then I’m Skyping with all these people who interest me, and things come out of that,” Cuba told us.

“When I have breakdowns, I often send them to theater actor friends to send to actors who don’t have agents who I should know about. I reach out to theater schools, to alumni. Heidi Marshall, who’s an acting coach in New York City, was actually a casting scout for the original cast of ‘Rent’—she has a real special eye, and she’s someone I reach out to often. I definitely want to try to access people who don’t have agents, but it’s challenging. Once I’ve seen them, I keep them in my records and go back to them and try to pursue that.”

Credit: Suzanne Tenner

Cuba told us she’s constantly on the hunt for new talent. When preparing for an audition, she collects any and all names who’ve made an impression. “I use traditional and nontraditional ways to source prospective actors, and it is always guided by what the project actually requires. I am constantly keeping track of people who have stood out to me and do what I can to find creative ways to introduce them to the directors I work with when the timing is right. I do generals with actors who are presented to me by agents, but even those are carefully considered so that when I’m meeting someone, it’s generally because I know of something coming up in the next year that they could be right for,” she explained.

“I also seek out people on my own. I set up my own generals with people who I read about or see onstage or in other projects—either in person or via Skype,” Cuba added. “Sometimes they aren’t even actors, but performers or just creative types who I think are interesting and inspiring in some way. I’ve Skyped with scientists and other nonperformers to help me in my research for projects where I need some background to help guide my choices. It’s all very natural and organic. I don’t have a set system; I go with what moves me.”

Yet while she advises actors to be “prepared” and “open” during the audition process, she also recommends they know as little as possible about what she’s like in the room. “It’s better if I’m a blank slate to them so that they can focus on the audition,” she said. “I have things that I do that I’ve heard are very particular to me, but if I shared them with you, they would lose their spontaneity for the actor in the room and defeat the whole point!”

Ultimately, the CD wants actors to know that there’s a lot more to the casting process than matching an actor to a character’s physical description. “I think people are surprised that what I do involves so much more than an actor seeming ‘perfect’ for a role based on how it is described on a character description,” Cuba noted. “A huge part of my job involves being very deliberate in matching an actor to the elements of the piece; the director’s style, the budget of the piece, and the schedule are as important to me as how the actor performs the scene in an audition.”

Credit: Suzanne Tenner

Marvel Studios announced that “Wonder Man” was renewed for Season 2 in March 2026, but the season remains in the development stage at this time. With plenty of series and films in the works at any given time in the MCU, fans speculate filming will likely start in late 2026 or early 2027, with an estimated premiere date of late 2027 or early 2028. Stay tuned for updates on the production’s official start date.

Credit: Suzanne Tenner

Currently, there are no open casting calls available for Marvel’s “Wonder Man.” But there’s no shortage of projects that are casting as we speak! 

Check out our roundup of superhero gigs that are actively casting right now. And don’t forget to study our guide on how to get cast in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for insights into how the franchise’s previous projects have gone about finding such memorable talent. 

For those who are truly serious about joining the MCU’s iconic lineup, we recommend getting an acting agent as Marvel’s projects are typically shrouded in secrecy, and you will need someone on the inside to get you access.

Credit: Suzanne Tenner

Abdul-Mateen, an Emmy winner for his supporting role on HBO’s “Watchmen,” remembers what it’s like to be a struggling actor like his character. That’s what resonated with him the most when he took the role, as he was excited to depict this side of the job for the masses. “What resonated with me was remembering what it’s like to be an actor who just needs a shot,” he told DailyBloid. “Simon says to his agent, ‘I just need you to believe in me.’ That’s a line I actually asked to put in, because I knew that in that moment, it was all Simon needed: someone to believe in him. I know what it feels like to want someone to believe in you and say, ‘Trust me, I can do this.’ A lot of actors walk out of an audition thinking, I just wish someone could see what I was trying to do. I think it’s a universal theme that a lot of people will relate to.”

In a sense, “Wonder Man” serves as a master class on how to handle rejection and opportunity. “That’s the cool thing about the show. I’ve already seen a little bit of conversation already from actors who appreciate us showing what an actor goes through to prepare for an audition,” the actor told Marvel.com. “And how much work it actually is! You’re going through and making choices and marking your script up with lines. It really is a job. It’s not just playtime. It’s a craft. There are so many hours of work that go into this, so much labor. And that’s all before you even get the job. I’m glad the show sheds light on that—but we also do it in a humorous and heartfelt way, so it doesn’t alienate you if you’re not an actor.”

He continued, “There’s this montage where Simon is trying to make a tape on his own, and he talks about seeing the same actor coming up on Deadline all the time. I remember what it was like 10 years ago when I was in school, and nobody knew who I was at all. I felt like I had so much to give, but nobody knew that I was even there. I was saying, ‘I just want a shot. I just want a chance.’ Simon’s the same way. Simon sort of represents the actor who is unknown, who is talented and passionate and just needs a break. I definitely resonate with that. There’s also something in Simon where he feels like every job is the last job: ‘This has to go right, or I’ll never work again.’ That’s common to professional actors at every level. It’s just the nature of the job sometimes.”

And while Abdul-Mateen encouraged his peers to “just keep going,” when speaking with Revolt, his Oscar-winning costar took a more philosophical approach. Drawing on his long career, Kingsley assured fellow actors that what’s meant for them will never miss them. “It’s a very hard lesson to learn, but I would offer this: Everything happens for a reason,” he shared. “You were not meant to be there in the greater pattern of things. I know I’m bordering on faith or superstition, but sometimes we may [use] the term ‘dodge a bullet.’ Any opportunities you were denied, you were denied for a reason.” 

He continued, “There [are] moments or pockets where we endure stillness, and there can be possible disappointment in the stillness. However, you learn that everything happens for a reason.”