Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in 2021’s ‘Candyman.’

Although he’s been greatest identified for enjoying two DC Comics characters – Dr. Manhattan within the HBO collection ‘Watchmen’ (to Emmy-winning impact) and Black Manta in ‘Aquaman’, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is headed throughout the comedian e-book border to Marvel, signing on to star in ‘Wonder Man’, a brand new collection in improvement at Disney+.

The collection has ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ director Destin Daniel Cretton aboard as govt producer (and to direct at the very least some, if not all of the episodes) and ‘Hawkeye’ veteran Andrew Visitor serving as head author.

In August, we learned that Ben Kingsley can even present up within the collection as Trevor Slattery. The character, a bumbling actor initially employed to play a model of villain the Mandarin for ‘Iron Man 3’, additional confirmed up in a Marvel One-Shot after which returned for Cretton’s ‘Shang-Chi’.

A Marvel Man primer for individuals who could not know the marginally obscure character: he was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, and first arrived on Marvel’s pages in ‘Avengers #9’, which was revealed in 1964. The character’s actual title is Simon Williams, son of a wealthy industrialist whose firm runs into hassle after competitors from Tony Stark.

Angered by how Stark has affected his household, Williams accepts a suggestion from Baron Zemo that grants him tremendous power and sturdiness. He battles the Avengers a number of occasions, earlier than becoming a member of them.

Ben Kingsley as Trevor Slattery in ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.’ Picture courtesy of Marvel.com.

His comics runs have additionally included stunts as a stunt man and actor, so Slattery’s addition to the present factors in the direction of one thing that would spoof Hollywood.

James Gunn had Nathan Fillion lined as much as cameo because the character in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’ (in a collection of movie pageant posters that includes Williams’ work) however that scene finally didn’t make the ultimate minimize of the film.

Deadline’s story on Abdul-Mateen’s casting presents no particulars on how the MCU model of the character will adapt the comedian e-book backstory, however we’d think about there might be some modifications alongside the way in which. Most notably, with Tony Stark lifeless, there might be little crossover on that entrance.

Although Stark tech successor Riri Williams, AKA Ironheart, can have been launched by this level in ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ and her personal Disney+ collection, so maybe there might be some overlap).

Abdul-Mateen is a busy, in demand actor who final confirmed up in Michael Bay’s ‘Ambulance’. He’ll be again as Black Manta for James Wan’s superhero sequel ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’, at present scheduled to swim into theaters on December twenty fifth subsequent yr.

There are additionally just a few different initiatives within the works, together with TV drama ‘The Scent of Burnt Flowers’ and potential film ‘I Helped Destroy People’, which he’ll additionally produce.

Marvel Comics’ Marvel Man. Picture Courtesy of Marvel.com.