- Primary Subject: Wonder Man
- Key Update: Following its January 27, 2026, premiere, fans are debating if Simon Williams is the MCU's new "controlled Hulk" alternative for the upcoming Avengers films.
- Status: Pending
- Last Verified: February 3, 2026
- Quick Answer: Wonder Man stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as a superpowered actor. While not officially the "new Hulk," his immense strength makes him a likely Avengers candidate.
The Hulk has long been one of Marvel’s most iconic characters, but his role in the MCU has been somewhat sidelined, with his role being underused.
Sure, despite the cast shake-ups following Avengers: Endgame, Mark Ruffalo's Hulk is still part of some MCU projects, like in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
However, as he will reportedly not appear in Avengers: Doomsday, has Marvel found its new MCU Hulk?
Is Wonder Man the MCU’s New Hulk?
Marvel has released its first project of the year, Wonder Man. In the series, fans are introduced to aspiring actor Simon Williams, played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.
As he searches for his long-awaited breakthrough, Simon signs the Doorman Clause, which requires him to remain powerless. As a result, he hides his extraordinary abilities, despite possessing immense strength.
Throughout the series, Simon keeps his powers out of the public eye. However, whenever his anger flares, those abilities threaten to erupt like a ticking bomb.
If this were Bruce Banner, that anger would have easily triggered a transformation – turning him into the Hulk within seconds.
But this is Wonder Man. He is far more controlled and dependable than the volatile Hulk, whose power can scale infinitely with rage. That balance makes Simon a compelling alternative.
From the looks of it, Wonder Man’s introduction to the MCU may be Marvel’s way of setting up a controlled powerhouse to contrast Hulk’s chaos.
He could plausibly take over the team’s muscle role in major ensemble films like Avengers: Doomsday, standing shoulder to shoulder with Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Captain America (Anthony Mackie).
Will Wonder Man Appear in Avengers: Doomsday?
Though Marvel has yet to confirm when Simon will appear next or whether there will be a Wonder Man Season 2, there is speculation that he could be part of Avengers: Doomsday, if not Avengers: Secret Wars.
Admittedly, the first season doesn’t feel closely tied to the Multiverse Saga. Co-creator Andrew Guest has even acknowledged that Wonder Man’s future remains undecided.
“I think Marvel’s approach to this is to let each project stand on its own, and if an audience connects with it and if they connect with the character, then they can figure out how to keep using them.”
It’s also worth noting that the origin of Simon’s powers remains unknown, fueling theories that he may be a mutant.
Since Damage Control played a major role in Ms. Marvel and that series introduced the MCU’s first canon mutant, Simon could be part of Marvel’s incoming Mutant Saga following Secret Wars.
Wonder Man is now available to stream on Disney+.
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