Marvel’s newest series hardly resembles a typical Marvel project, yet it still shifts the franchise’s landscape in key ways. Wonder Man presents one of the MCU’s most grounded stories, following a template closer to The Studio than Iron Man. The protagonist, Simon Williams (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), aspires to be an actor, a goal complicated by his unexplained abilities. Insuring a Hollywood set with a super-powered person is prohibitively expensive, forcing Simon to conceal his powers while auditioning for a superhero film role—a deeply ironic situation.
As the series progresses, Simon’s grip on his powers weakens. He finds an unlikely friend in Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley), the esteemed actor whose career was damaged by his association with the Mandarin, but this help may not be enough. The concluding episodes of Wonder Man bring Simon and Trevor to their absolute limit. Against the odds, the pair manages to emerge unscathed, and Simon may well be positioned as a future Avenger for Marvel.
Warning: spoilers ahead for Wonder Man.
Wonder Man’s ending, explained
Despite landing parts in Von Kovak’s (Zlatko Buric) Wonder Man reboot, Simon and Trevor encounter a serious problem early in filming. A New York Times reporter aims to chronicle Simon’s sudden fame, leading him to believe she has uncovered his secret. In reality, the Times is more interested in Trevor’s questionable history. Trevor avoided finishing his prison term for his actions as the Mandarin by making a deal to capture dangerous enhanced individuals. (Billions were spent on a new supermax prison, which now requires inmates to validate its cost.) Discovering Trevor has been surveilling him for months causes Simon to snap, setting off a massive explosion on the studio lot.
The next day, Simon prepares to surrender, certain the DODC will arrest him. Instead, Trevor steps in, taking responsibility for the blast by resurrecting his Mandarin persona and turning himself in. This allows Simon to complete the film and achieve instant stardom. However, Agent Cleary (Arian Moayed) is aware Simon caused the set disaster. Lab analysis of the wreckage reveals the explosion was powered by a catastrophic ionic pulse. Simon is far more formidable than imagined: his body acts as a channel for electromagnetic energy. Cleary no longer views him as a danger, but instead labels him a “powerful asset.”
What Simon’s powers mean for the MCU
While Cleary’s plans are unclear, his theories are validated when Simon breaks into the DODC’s supermax prison and flies out with Trevor. This act makes them both wanted criminals, though Cleary will likely pardon them in return for their service as heroes. Simon is only starting to tap into his capabilities: in the source material, his physical might is likened to Thor’s. Beyond sheer strength, he possesses extreme resilience, having battled beings like the Hulk to a draw and endured conflicts fatal to others. He later develops enhanced senses, healing powers, and even eternal life.
The fact that the MCU’s Simon appears to have been born with these powers enhances his significance. The original comic book character acquired his abilities from ionic radiation, but this Simon might be a mutant. This opens up compelling narrative paths: he could follow his comics role in founding the West Coast Avengers, or he might help introduce the X-Men, who are expected to emerge following Avengers: Secret Wars. Regardless, Wonder Man’s future possibilities are vast.