Bob Odenkirk of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul fame is speculated to be a part of Marvel’s Wonder Man series on Disney+. The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase Four is poised to come to an end with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever next week, leaving only The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special to cap off the year.
However, the Multiverse Saga has just begun, with Phases Five and Six being planned, with two new Avengers films, including an adaptation of Secret Wars, already on the horizon.
Who is Wonder Man in the Marvel Comics?
Since Vision was introduced to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Avengers: Age of Ultron, fans of Marvel Comics have been wondering when Simon Williams, a.k.a. Wonder Man, will join the team.
Wonder Man initially appeared on the cover of Avengers #9 in 1964. The technicolor cover featured looming heads of Thor, Captain America, Iron Man, Wasp, and Giant-Man looking down on their new superpowered foe, with a banner proclaiming, “Marvel Comics proudly introduces… Wonder Man, the newest, most dynamic surprise character from the world-famous House of Ideas.”
It was a big statement, especially considering Wonder Man wouldn’t make it to the end of the issue. Simon Williams, the creation of Baron Zemo deep in his Amazon Jungle hideaway, was a normal guy kidnapped and bombarded with “the most strong ionic rays,” which gave him incredible strength and seeming invincibility. What’s the deal with these mad scientist shenanigans, and then trying to induct Simon, now known as Wonder Man, into the Avengers as a hero.
While Wonder Man initially agrees with the plan, he eventually decides to assist the Avengers in defeating Zemo. It’s a noble decision, but it costs him his life. Zemo had poisoned him in secret and, after being betrayed, refused to give Simon the antidote.
So, how did Wonder Man reappear? And why is he getting a spinoff if he just appeared once? He has died and been resurrected, which plays an important role in his story. Well, he soon became an important component in the formation of a famous Marvel hero in an event that would have long-term consequences for Wonder Man and the Avengers.
Which character is Bob Odenkirk playing in the MCU?
Bob Odenkirk of Breaking Bad is believed to be a part of Marvel’s Wonder Man series on Disney+. Who Odenkirk will play in Wonder Man is unknown, as is the case with most Marvel Studios castings. However, according to sources from The Illuminerdi, the most likely explanation is that Odenkirk will play Neal Saroyan from Marvel Comics.
In the 1990s Wonder Man comics, Neal was Simon Williams’ manager while Simon navigated his acting career. Saroyan’s arc took a malevolent turn when it was revealed that he was a schemer with the power to psychically control others. Saroyan remained a lesser-known Marvel villain until his death in the final issue of the 2007 Wonder Man comics (vol. 3).
Again, there’s no word on who Bob Odenkirk will portray in Wonder Man, but a version of Neal Saroyan would make perfect sense. Neal exploiting Simon Williams’ superpowers to make a buck would be very Saul Goodman, and it would be a great pleasure to see him grow even darker with the eventual exposure of being a true villain. Odenkirk also just appeared in the action film Nobody, proving that he possesses genuine action talents in addition to his dramatic seriousness and comedic timing.
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II has been cast as the titular Wonder Man in Wonder Man series. Destin Daniel Cretton, the filmmaker of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, is on board as a writer, as is Andrew Guest, the scribe of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, 30 Rock, and Community, who will also serve as showrunner.
Source: The Illuminerdi
