The Truth Behind Marvel Cancelling Emmy-Nominated Series & Potential Movie Return Addressed By Creator

Published Aug 4, 2026, 3:15 PM EDT Jeff Dodge (he/him), a published author and graduate of Western Washington University, has been a TV news editor for many years and has had the chance to interview multiple reality show stars, including Randy Jackson, Nick Cannon, Heidi Klum, Mel B and John Cena. Fun Fact: he’s been to every single Idol Live! Tour. Destin Daniel Cretton broke his silence about the shocking cancellation of his Marvel series, Wonder Man, and revealed whether the titular character will ever get his own movie. Two months after the entire first installment was released on Disney+, Wonder Man scored a season 2 renewal. The writers' room was about to open this month, with production getting underway in early 2027. However, everything came to a halt on July 30 when Disney reversed course one day before the release of Cretton's Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Now Cretton, who created Wonder Man with Andrew Guest, is speaking out about the unfortunate situation, telling TheWrap that if it were up to him, "we would be making that show." He even made an eyebrow-raising statement that if Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige had the final say on the matter, Wonder Man season 2 would still be moving forward. The filmmaker admitted that he doesn't "fully understand the business of streaming...but I need to fully understand the why," indicating that Disney executives haven't told him why they rescinded their Wonder Man renewal. After learning about the cancellation, Cretton admitted he was "heartbroken" because he loved working with the cast and found Yahya Abdul-Mateen II's Simon Williams one of the most interesting MCU characters ever. “I love that show to death. If it were up to me, we would be making that show. And I do believe that if – and I know this sounds weird – but if it were up to Kevin [Feige], we would be doing that show. And I’m just talking, I don’t fully understand the business of streaming, but if the business was right, we would be making that show because I know [Feige] loves that show as much as I do. It’s a bummer. I’m heartbroken about it. But I need to fully understand the why.” As far as what the future holds for Simon, Trevor Slattery, and the rest of the characters, Cretton is open to a Wonder Man movie "because then we can clearly know if it's a success or not" based on the box office numbers. The Wonder Man TV show was already reviewed favorably by critics and viewers alike, with a 91% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Abdul-Mateen II earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. “[Destin Daniel Cretton is open to a Wonder Man film] because then we can clearly know if it’s a success or not. It’s just very clear numbers.” While the characters could appear in other MCU movies and shows, a solo Wonder Man film seems unlikely, especially in the wake of the cancellation. Also, Disney hasn't had the best track record giving their small-screen characters starring roles on the big screen The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Captain America: Brave New World, Ms. Marvel and The Marvels, and The Mandalorian, and The Mandalorian and Grogu are the biggest examples. The MCU has been hit-and-miss in recent years, both from financial and critical standpoints, so Disney and Marvel Studios are a lot more selective in approving movies and shows. One area of the franchise that remains a high point is Spider-Man. The just-released fourth film, Brand New Day, has already surpassed $1 billion at the box office, the fastest movie to do so since Avengers: Endgame in 2019. Cretton was already a part of the MCU by directing Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and co-creating Wonder Man, but Spider-Man: Brand New Day marks his first foray into the world of Spider-Man as he takes over from Jon Watts. Wonder Man may have been canceled, but Cretton is very interested in helming a follow-up to Spider-Man: Brand New Day and a Shang-Chi sequel. Release Date 2026 - 2026-00-00 Network Disney+ Directors James Ponsoldt, Stella Meghie Cast Simon Williams / Wonder Man Arian Moayed Agent Cleary A struggling actor unexpectedly gains superhuman powers, thrust into a strange overlap between Hollywood performance and superhero chaos. Blending industry satire with Marvel mythology, the series explores identity authenticity and what it means to play a hero when the stakes stop being fictional. Writers Andrew Guest, Madeline Walter, Paul Welsh, Zeke Nicholson, Roja Gashtili, Julia Lerman Franchise(s) MCU Main Genre Superhero Creator(s) Destin Daniel Cretton Executive Producer(s) Andrew Guest, Brad Winderbaum, Destin Daniel Cretton, Jonathan Schwartz, Kevin Feige, Louis D'Esposito, Stephen Broussard Producers Bonnie Muñoz, Anayat Fakhraie Seasons 1 Production Company Marvel Studios Distributor Disney Platform Distribution Franchise Marvel Cinematic Universe Main Characters Wonder Man