Wonder Man canceled: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II reacts to Disney+ reversal
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II thanked fans after Variety reported Disney+ canceled Marvel’s Wonder Man despite an earlier Season 2 renewal.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
2 min read
Wonder Man canceled at Disney+ became the Marvel news of the day, and star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II has now responded with a calm shrug and a thank-you to the fans who showed up for the series.
Variety reported Thursday that the Marvel TV series would not return for a second season, despite having previously been renewed. Abdul-Mateen addressed the news later in an Instagram post, writing that word had just dropped that “Wonder Man” would not be back for Season 2.
The actor, who played Simon Williams, also nodded to Variety’s report in the post. He summed up his reaction with: “That’s life, right? Everything will shake out.”
What did Yahya Abdul-Mateen II say about Wonder Man being canceled?
Abdul-Mateen thanked viewers who watched the show, enjoyed it and shared that reaction publicly or privately. He wrote that the series “worked,” calling that his favorite thing about the project.
In the post, Abdul-Mateen said he had watched along with YouTube reactors this time and gave them a shoutout. He also said he had seen messages from viewers who told him the show reminded them not to give up.
The actor added that he felt the support in person too, saying he noticed the “genuine love” when fans stopped him during the day. He told those viewers he was thinking of them after the cancellation news.
Disney+ had been the home of “Wonder Man,” a Marvel Television series centered on Abdul-Mateen’s Simon Williams. The show also featured Sir Ben Kingsley as Trevor Slattery, according to Marvel Television photo information shared with the series.
Variety described the cancellation as surprising because the show had already been renewed for Season 2 before the reversal. No further explanation for the cancellation was included in Abdul-Mateen’s comments.
What happens next for Yahya Abdul-Mateen II?
Abdul-Mateen ended his note by looking toward the Primetime Emmys. He is nominated for outstanding lead actor in a comedy series, and he closed by thanking viewers again before writing, “See you at the Emmys.”
The actor’s message kept the focus on the audience rather than the decision behind the cancellation. He said he was glad the team had been part of “something cool,” then signed off with another thanks to those who watched.
For Marvel fans, the update means “Wonder Man” is finished at Disney+ after the reported Season 2 reversal. For Abdul-Mateen, the next public stop he pointed to is the Emmys, where the canceled series still has him in the awards conversation.
This story draws on original reporting from Variety.