Celebrity News
Yahya Abdul Mateen II is getting Marvel money. Deadline reported that the actor, who is currently on Broadway with Topdog/ Underdog, will star in the Disney + series Wonder Man. The Marvel comic premiered in 1964 and it tells the story of Simon Williams who takes over his father Sanford Williams's company. The character gains superpowers while working under Baron Zemo, whose villainous nature put him in opposition with The Avengers. However, Simon eventually joins the beloved superheroes to fight evil.
This isn’t the first time that the Emmy winner has portrayed a comic book character. Yahya won an Emmy for his role as Cal Abar aka Dr. Manhattan in HBO’s The Watchmen and David Kane aka Black Manta in Aquaman. Both are DC Comics.
Yahya has joined a growing list of Black actors that have entered the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Check the list out below:
Tessa ThompsonÂ
Tessa Thompson played Valkyrie in the Thor films and most recently was the king in Thor: Love and Thunder.
Chadwick Boseman
The late great Chadwick Boseman played King T’Challa aka Black Panther in Black Panther.
Lupita Nyong’o
Lupita Nyong’o plays Nakia in Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Anthony Mackie
Anthony Mackie is now the new Captain America and will star in Captian America4.
Jonathan Majors
Jonathan Majors plays supervillain Kang the Conqueror in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.
Teyonah Parris
Teyonah Parris plays Monica Rambeau in the Disney+ series WandaVision.
Samuel L. Jackson
Samuel L. Jackson plays Nick Fury in The Avengers movies.
Brian Tyree Henry
Brian Tyree Henry played Marvel’s first openly gay character with Phastos in The Eternals.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for Universal Pictures
ALSO ON XONECOLE