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Total Film
Total Film
Entertainment
Megan Garside

Wonder Man showrunner reacts to cancellation and is just as confused as you are: "I had written the first episode of season 2"

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams in Wonder Man.

It wasn't just fans who had the rug pulled from under their feet last week when Marvel cancelled Wonder Man out of the blue just months after it had been renewed for season 2, as even showrunner Andrew Guest was shocked about the decision.

"I just want to say that I've been listening. I appreciate you all. I feel how you all feel, and I just want to clear up what I can here," said Guest over on TikTok just days after the news broke online. "This is not a marketing stunt. There is no movie in the works, and Destin's schedule... no one's schedule was an issue."

Many presumed that the enormous success of Spider-Man: Brand New Day had something to do with the cancellation. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, Brand New Day, which hit screens last Friday, July 31, is projected to earn close to $1 billion worldwide. Fans thought this meant Marvel had cancelled Wonder Man, which was directed by Cretton, in order to move the filmmaker onto bigger projects.

However, Guest says that both Cretton, stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Sir Ben Kingsley, and himself "all loved making this show," and "felt passionately about continuing to do it, and were eager to." However, something changed higher up. "There was a decision made internally between Disney and Marvel that this didn't make sense for them, even though a few months ago it did. That's all I really know."

In fact, the team had already been making major moves toward the sophomore season. "Contracts were signed, schedules were clear, the writer's room was supposed to start this month, production was supposed to begin early next year," said Guest. "I had written the first episode of season 2, and we had it outlined for where the season would go, and everyone felt really good about it. It was going to be a really incredible season that hopefully surpassed season 1."

It is not clear why Marvel and Disney decided to scrap the show, which was met with largely positive reviews and stands at an impressive Rotten Tomatoes score of 91%. However, Guest wants fans to continue to share their opinions on the matter. "I think there are important conversations being had online about the kind of stories that we're prioritising and the kind of shows platforms want to make."

For more, check out our guide on how to watch the Marvel movies in order, and keep up with all the upcoming Marvel movies and shows in 2026 and beyond.

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