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 Thompson
Tessa Thompson played Valkyrie in the Thor films and most recently was the king in Thor: Love and Thunder.
Idris Elba
Idris Elba plays Heimdall in the Thor films.
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.
Michael B. Jordan
Michael B. Jordan played Erik Killmonger in Black Panther.
Zoe Saldaña
Zoe Saldaña is Gamora in the Guardians of the Galaxy films.
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.
Letitia Wright
Letitia Wright plays Shuri in Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
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.
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Featured image by Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for Universal Pictures