Yahya Abdul-Mateen II criticizes Marvel over ‘Wonder Man’ cancellation

Actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II has criticized Marvel Studios following the abrupt cancellation of the Disney+ series ‘Wonder Man’. Despite the show receiving positive critical reception and earning Abdul-Mateen an Emmy nomination, Disney reversed its decision to renew the series for a second season.

Abdul-Mateen noted that the “optics are obvious” regarding the cancellation of ‘Wonder Man’ alongside the reported demise of the ‘Blade’ reboot starring Mahershala Ali. He argued that Marvel should prioritize changing the narrative surrounding its treatment of Black-led projects by providing “quality stories” and “quality resources.”

While Disney has not publicly released specific viewership data, Abdul-Mateen stated he was informed the cancellation was a business decision based on viewership numbers. Some reports indicate that while the series performed well initially, it experienced a significant decline in views over its first 12 weeks.