In this photo illustration, the Marvel Studios logo is seen… | SOPA Images/
Marvel has never been the most generous studio when it has come to renewals. Since the Marvel Cinematic Universemade the leap into television with its first official MCU-set live-action originals, only three shows have managed to secure additional seasons. All the rest have come to an end with just one season.
For this reason, it’s always a momentous moment when a Marvel show is renewed, as it’s a rare achievement few shows have been able to achieve. That’s perhaps why fans are so stunned by the announcement that Disney is reversing course and has canceled a previously renewed original series!
(L-R): Simon Williams/Wonder Man (Yahya Adbul-Mateen II) and Trevor Slattery (Sir Ben Kingsley) in Marvel Television’s WONDER MAN, exclusively on Disney+. | Photo Courtesy of Marvel Television
Wonder Man season 2 is not happening after all
In an unexpected turn of events, Marvel Studios and Disney+ have decided not to proceed with a second season of Wonder Man.As firstDisney+ has canceled the Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Ben Kingsley-led comedy and will not be continuing with the previously announced second season
Frustratingly, Marvel Studios and Disney+ have not given any reason for the show’s cancellation, which only adds to the shocking nature of the decision. The show seemed to be a verifiable hit for the streaming platform and studio, debuting to strong critical acclaim with a 91% Rotten Tomatoes score that puts it in the top tier of Marvel Disney+ originals.
Abdul-Mateen’s performance was so well received in the title role of Simon Williams that he managed to secure an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his work on the show. In doing so, he has become one of only a small handful of actors to ever receive an Emmy nomination for their work on a Marvel project and is the first to earn a nomination in the Lead Actor in a Comedy Series race.
It was the show’s positive reception that made the show’s renewal back in March surprising but justified, as the series resonated strongly among both fans and critics. There was a lot of excitement when it was announced Wonder Manseason 2 would be happening, and the show certainly left the door open for another season given the open-ended nature of its season 1 finale.
Given the critical acclaim and nature of the ending, it made perfect sense for Marvel to renew the series for a second season. Interestingly, though, while the renewal did come through in March, there is reported to have not been much progress made on the second season since its renewal.
Varietyreported that Marvel never opened a writers’ room for the second season and that the show’s writers have all been released to pursue other projects.
More to come…
