Yahya Abdul-Mateen II says Disney told him the Wonder Man series was cancelled over viewership numbers — and that he was never shown the figures.
In his first substantive comments since Marvel reversed the show’s second-season renewal, the actor, who plays struggling Hollywood star Simon Williams, told Vanity Fair he was given a reason for the decision without the data behind it. IGN reports he was told it came down to viewership numbers.
Why was the Wonder Man series cancelled?
“I was told that it had something to do with the viewership numbers. I wasn’t told what those numbers were, but ultimately, for whatever reason it was, I think they decided that it didn’t make sense for business, and that’s the decision that we live with and we keep on marching forward.”
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, to Vanity Fair
The public numbers tell part of the story. Wonder Man premiered in January with all eight episodes released at once, drew 618 million minutes of viewing in its opening week and ranked No. 8 on Nielsen’s streaming chart, then dropped out of the top 10. Disney renewed the series for a second season in March and cancelled the renewal in July — tbreak first reported the reversal, and contracts had already been signed when the decision was reversed. A season 2 writers’ room was reportedly never opened.
The optics are obvious
The cancellation landed weeks after Mahershala Ali said Marvel had failed him on the long-stalled Blade film, and Kevin Feige described himself as a “failure” over the project. Asked in the Variety-reported interview whether the pattern of Black-led Marvel projects stalling troubled him, Abdul-Mateen pointed at the optics.
“I think the optics are obvious. If I’m a big business, if I’m Disney, if I’m Marvel, I don’t want to be attached to these optics.”
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, to Vanity Fair
He argued the Wonder Man series had the story, the resources and the cast, and that viewers and Emmy voters responded — he is nominated for outstanding lead actor in a comedy series — and said it “deserves some study” into why it did not continue.
Per reporting, Simon Williams and Trevor Slattery could still appear in other Marvel projects. All eight episodes of Wonder Man Season 1 are streaming on Disney+ in the UAE.
What is the Wonder Man series about?
Wonder Man follows Simon Williams (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), a struggling actor who hides real superpowers while chasing Hollywood roles, alongside Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley). It was created by Destin Daniel Cretton and Andrew Guest, with a cast including X Mayo, Demetrius Grosse, Zlatko Burić, Arian Moayed, Josh Gad and Olivia Thirlby.
Is Wonder Man getting a second season?
No. Disney renewed the series for a second season in March 2026, then reversed the decision in July. Abdul-Mateen says he was told viewership numbers were the reason, though he was never given the figures. Per reporting, Simon Williams and Trevor Slattery could still appear in other Marvel projects.
Where can I watch Wonder Man?
All eight episodes of Wonder Man Season 1 are streaming on Disney+ in the UAE and worldwide.
