Zane's take at the Cinema's

Let’s face it, the MCU isn’t in complete shambles and while 2025 was a curve in the right direction with Thunderbolts and The Fantastic Four: First Steps being critical hits it’s fair to say that they’ve reach their lowest point. It was bound to happen sooner rather than later. After the global hit that was Avengers: Endgame, the MCU really hasn’t found it’s true identity yet and with the over abundance of TV shows and movies, it might be hard or overwhelming to catch up with it. That’s not to say that there haven’t been solid entries in the MCU, whether it’s the first season of WandaVision, Shang-Chi, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Deadpool & Wolverine and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 being prime examples. However, films like Thor: Love and Thunder, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Captain America: Brave New World and shows like Secret Invasion or She-Hulk started bringing the quality level of the MCU to an inconsistent level.

Rather than just pile on the more recent era of the MCU, things look to be a little steady with the aforementioned movies and TV shows. While the anticipation for Avengers: Doomsday builds and builds, the beginning of 2026 gave us our very first MCU project on Disney+ called Wonder Man. The skepticism for this show was well warranted when you consider Disney was dropping all 8 episodes at once, which has never been Marvel’s strategy with their shows. Coupled with the fact that the character of Wonder Man is unfamiliar with the vast majority of MCU fans. Outside of WandaVision being the best thing that the MCU has put out on Disney+, Wonder Man is the best show they’ve put out yet. For a character that’s incredibly niche, Wonder Man fits oddly well in this universe by creating its own unique DNA and really standing on its own terms.

What makes Wonder Man so refreshing is that it’s the first time in years where the MCU has created something that was unlike anything before it. Where the first several episodes of WandaVision were this homage to 60s sitcoms and the film Eternals was a call back to a more epic style of filmmaking, Wonder Wan was essentially a satirical comedy show about a guy trying to get cast in an upcoming superhero movie who just so happens to have super powers. So while it’s valid to call Wonder Man a superhero show, it’s not an anyone structured like one and that’s kind of what makes it brilliant. It’s not embarrassingly self-aware with its level of satire, but even just the sequences of the casting process and other intricacies of Hollywood are a nice change of pace for Marvel.

I’ll talk about Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in a little bit but we’ve got to address something else and that’s the fact the Ben Kinglsey was maybe the best part of this entire show. The character of Trevor Slattery was met with a mixed response at the release of Iron Man 3 when it was revealed he wasn’t the real Mandarian. Instead, he was just some hired drug-addicted actor playing the part. He eventually made two more appearances with one being in a short film titled All Hail the King and Shang-Chi. And while the character was serviceable, it was questionable if he could co-lead a Marvel project. Any skepticism you might have had is gone once you watch Wonder Man. Ben Kingsley is, without question, one of the greatest living actors on the planet and he’s remarkable in this show. Not only is nice to see him play Trevor Slattery, but watching Ben Kingsley play Trevor Slattery act Shakespeare is amazing to witness.

Another great thing about Wonder Man is Yahya Abdul-Mateen II playing the titular character. Yahya doesn’t have a laundry list of projects to his name but the stuff he has been in he’s given great performances and Wonder Man is no different. His performance in this show is wonderful and character is elevated by the bromance dynamic that he shares with Ben Kingsley. Their relationship is the heart and soul of the show and it continues to add more layers.

Wonder Man isn’t the best thing the MCU has ever put out and I’m not necessarily suggesting that it’s the same level of quality like some of their movies or TV show. But I loved how simulating it was to see something so small in scale in the midst of a giant universe with new characters that I fell in love with and even old ones that never got that proper treatment. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is a great fit for this role and Ben Kingsley coming back as Trevor Slattery was phenomenal. There’s wonderful and exciting commentary that this franchise has yet to focus on and while season two might not be in the plans, lets hope to see this section of this world and these characters again soon.