Kevin Feige Concerned About MCU’s Wonder Man Series Following Industry Trends

After nearly 20 years, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is on the cusp of a new era whether we like it or not. With help from characters like Iron Man and Thor, the franchise brought superheroes to the global stage like never before when it launched in 2008, but time has taken its toll on the MCU. Following a string of critical misses and disappointing box office drops, the MCU is heading into 2026 on its back foot. It won’t be long before the franchise steps out with its first major release of the year, but unfortunately, it seems not even the head honcho at Marvel Studios is fully confident in the TV series.

Yes, you read that right. Kevin Feige, the master architect behind the MCU, has a rather serious concern about the debut of Wonder Man. The producer was hoping Marvel Studios would start a trend with the superhero comedy, but instead, Feige is worried Wonder Man will be following a dying one.

Kevin Feige Originally Wanted Wonder Man to Set a New Trend

The revelation comes straight from Variety as the publication noted Feige’s anxiety about Wonder Man is a bit higher than usual. According to the trade, Feige wanted Wonder Man to make its debut well before Hollywood began diving into edgy, meta-centric TV dramas. However, the timing did not work out for the MCU, leaving the upcoming Disney+ series to follow in the footsteps of giants.

“Feige, who was wearing a Wonder Man baseball cap, pointed out that Marvel made the show before HBO Max’s 2024 comic book movie send-up The Franchise, or Apple TV+’s 2025 Hollywood satire The Studio. But now it looks like they’re following a trend, instead of leading it,” Variety shared and dropped a specific quote from Feige himself about the show’s delay:

“I don’t like [it] when things sit on shelves. It stinks.”

The MCU Has a Lot at Stake in 2026

In the wake of The Studio and The Franchise, it is easy to see why Feige is concerned about Wonder Man. The upcoming Disney+ series tells the story of Simon Williams, a working actor who is cast in a reboot to play the in-universe hero Wonder Man. In the context of this TV series, the MCU hero Wonder Man is already known to the world, and Williams will be tasked with living up to the character with help from some familiar faces. However, as the MCU’s civilians have grown tired of actual superheroes, Williams will have to keep his own history a secret if he wants to bring Wonder Man to life on screen (and perhaps in person) within the MCU.

The debut of Wonder Man promises to set the stage for the MCU’s next era, one that will bring the X-Men center stage, and the stakes have never been higher for the franchise. With public sentiment about the MCU at a low, the franchise has little room for error in 2026. It is hard to blame Feige for being so nervous given all that is at stake right now. So on January 27, the world will get to decide whether the producer’s fears were unfounded when Wonder Man premieres on Disney+.