5 Best Cameos in 'Wonder Man,' Ranked

1 week ago 9

Simon smiling against a grey backdrop in 'Wonder Man.'

Published Feb 1, 2026, 2:40 PM EST

Michael Block is a 14 time GLAM Award nominated writer, producer, and host of the podcast Block Talk. Throughout his time in the entertainment industry, he has worked on and off Broadway as a stage manager, written several produced plays, critiqued hundreds of theatrical performances, drag and cabaret shows, and has produced events randing from drag competitoons to variety concerts!
On Block Talk, he interviews nightlife personalities, covers the wide world of entertainment through features, ranking episodes, and recaps ALL of Drag Race, as well as Dragula and Survivor. He has interviewed hundreds of RuGirls that span the globe at DragCon NYC, DragCon LA, and DragCon UK.
In his free time, he makes one-of-a-kind jewelry and gift baskets with his mom. He is a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community.

Spoiler Alert: This list contains spoilers for Wonder Man.When it comes to the new MCU series, Wonder Man, Hollywood and the superhero world collide more than ever. The series, created by Destin Daniel Cretton and Andrew Guest, is an ode to acting as Wonder Man tells the story of aspiring actor Simon Williams (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) as he tries to land the lead role in a remake of the superhero film Wonder Man. As he fights for the part, Simon, who has secret superpowers, gains help from veteran actor Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley). Meanwhile, Simon must navigate the Department of Damage Control (DODC), which monitors superpowered individuals, unaware that Trevor is working with them. A satirical and authentic look at the world of acting and the entertainment industry through the MCU lens, Simon struggles with fame, the absurdity of superhero lore, and the difficulties of being a person with powers in a world that both fears and exploits them.

Now that Hollywood has officially entered the MCU, some of Hollywood's finest were not only name-dropped, but they also appeared in the series! While we may not have seen the likes of Dua Lipa, Ryan Murphy, and Shonda Rhimes physically, they’re canonically part of the MCU. As far as those who made a physical appearance, we’re going to break down their infamous moments. From serious to funny, these Hollywood Easter eggs helped to bring the MCU into our world.

5 Dustin Hoffman

Dustin Hoffman, as Ratso Rizzo, looking disheveled in Midnight Cowboy.

OK, this one might be cheating, since the actor in modern times wasn't in Wonder Man, but one of his greatest films was seen on screen in a pivotal moment of the series. The first interaction between Simon and Trevor occurred at the cinema during a midday matinée screening of Dustin Hoffman's brilliant 1969 film, Midnight Cowboy. Alongside Jon Voight, Hoffman's costar in the film, the scene provides more than just a happenstance meeting; the discussion revolving the production of the film leads to the events that eventually lead Simon into Trevor's Department of Damage Control trap.

After the film finishes, both thespians swap Midnight Cowboy trivia. Simon recalls that Hoffman convinced director John Schlesinger that he was right for the part of Ratso. Upon learning that Trevor has an audition for the upcoming Wonder Man remake, Simon uses the infamous tidbit as ammunition to get himself seen for director Von Kovak's (Zlatko Burić) film. While we learn that nearly every other interaction was planned, one has to wonder whether Trevor requested the Midnight Cowboy viewing to make that behind-the-scenes fact come out.

4 Ashley Greene

Ashely green as wendy standing in room with a chandelier in 'Wild Cards'.

Based solely on screen time, compared to the next three, we'll place Ashley Greene in this position. Our first celebrity cameo in the MCU series, the former Twilight star, appears as Simon's scene partner for American Horror Story. Yes, the hit Murphy series is now canon. Upon arriving on set, Simon meets with the day's director, Lauren (Phumzile Sitole), whom he praises for her work on episodes of Castle Rock and Sons of Anarchy. We learn that Greene is present to play Sarah, a colleague of Simon's professor's character. Further, Greene's character in this fictional, we presume, season of American Horror Story is meant to turn into a monster and bite off Simon's professor's head.

Unfortunately, the magic of television is not captured, as we never make it to that point. Why? Simon. As an actor, Simon is quite methodical, diving deep into his character. Having already seen his note-heavy script, he brings that same overpreparation to the set. After overthinking his character's background and motivations to the point that he requests the lighting be altered, and a specific prop book be backed, Simon is ultimately cut out of the show by the showrunner. Though we know that it was just a kind of ploy to avoid saying he was fired. If only he didn't waste so much time. Then again, we wouldn't have had the events of the series. Though Greene is essentially a quick prop on Wonder Man, it was a wonderful way to give non-entertainment insiders a glimpse into how the action is made.

3 Mario Lopez

Mario Lopez in front of a small crowd smiling in Saved by the Bell, 2020.

Often, we see real-life newscasters appear in our favorite movies and series as fictionalized versions of themselves. Meant to relay important information for the plot, these bit parts often serve as a fun tie-in from reality to entertainment. In Wonder Man, we get important backstory information about DeMarr Davis (Byron Bowers), better known as Doorman, through Mario Lopez's fictional entertainment news show, Hot Goss, a substitute for his actual gig on Access Hollywood. Throughout the exposition-heavy fourth episode, we learn crucial information about the superpowered human who is the reason for the "Doorman Waiver." This, of course, relates to The Doorman Clause, which prevents superpowered individuals from causing safety issues on set.

In the black-and-white shot episode, Lopez pops in to fill in the blanks about Doorman's rise in Hollywood from initially being exposed by toxic waste from a Roxxon dumpster to a real-life hero to a movie star. The framing device in which Lopez is part offers a brilliant insight into the rise and fall of public perception of superpowered individuals. While Lopez serves to spill the hottest gossip in Tinseltown, it brings great perspective into Simon's fear of keeping his own powers at bay. Lopez brought his signature charm as the host, making it a wonderful Easter Egg for Saved by the Bell fans. While Access Hollywood may not be canon, I suppose the beloved '90s sitcom is!

2 Joe Pantoliano

Joe Pantoliano as himself on 'Wonder Man.'

Just like in our version of Hollywood, every star needs a rival. In the MCU, Trevor Slattery, the artist formerly known as The Mandarin, acting friend and foe, is none other than Joe Pantoliano. As the plot to get Simon into the Wonder Man film continues, Simon is on the hunt for a place to film an audition. With his home and the studio he rents flopping, Trevor suggests his dear friend's home. We learn that Trevor once landed a lead role in a fictional medical program, South Shore Hospital, but only appeared in three episodes before being replaced by his co-star, Joey "The Matrix" Pants. In Trevor's recollection of events, the Baby's Day Out star betrayed him by convincing the show that he was a better fit. Of course, that does not align with Pantoliano's account.

As MCU's newest favorite buddies arrive at Pantoliano's beachside abode, he shares his version of events in which Trevor was high as a kite filming the show. It's eventually revealed that the network was forced to replace Trevor's character with Pantoliano by killing Trevor off. Coincidentally, after Simon's explosion on the set of Wonder Man, in which Trevor takes the fall, "Mr. Pants" once again replaces him. A common Hollywood trope.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Guest shared, "One of the most fun moments was casting the Joey Pants role." That said, the role was not initially intended for Pantoliano, or any specific person for that matter. "We had a list of character actors who are some of the best actors out there who maybe are not household names, but there was such a love from every person at Marvel for so many of these people who've meant so much to so many of us," Guest revealed. "And Joey just stood out amongst the crop and was the first person we put a call into." From there, the role was tailored for him.

1 Josh Gad

I suppose when you're honored as an official Disney Legend, a dream truly is a wish your heart makes! Josh Gad wanted to be in a superhero project, and Disney delivered! In the campiest cameo in all of Wonder Man, the Frozen star appears as an exaggerated version of himself. And let's just say, Gad is very much in on the joke as he roasts himself during his single-episode appearance. With his story directly tied to Doorman, who can let objects pass through his body, we learn that during his Olaf set at the Frozen-themed rave, a fire breaks out, forcing DeMarr to save the day. Allowing Gad and the partygoers to pass through his body, his heroic turn convinces Gad to hire him as his personal bodyguard. From there, DeMarr, dubbed Doorman, is cast in Gad's hit film, Cash Grab.

Like many celebrities, fame faded fast for DeMarr, causing him to turn to alcohol. While filming the sequel to Cash Grab, DeMarr becomes intoxicated, and when he attempts to phase through him, Gad is trapped in the dimension, unable to escape. With Gad missing, the DODC places DeMarr under lifelong surveillance to recover Gad, prompting studios to ban superpowered people from film and television. "Where is Josh Gad? The world wants to know." Though we know in our world, Gad is safe and sound; but in the MCU, he's somewhere! Perhaps another timeline?

Cretton revealed in the same interview with Entertainment Weekly that the fourth episode was "its own little short film." Like Pantoliano, there was always a celebrity cameo intended to pair up with DeMarr, but once Gad agreed, they wrote it for him. "To be able to take somebody like that, who is known for being so charming and wonderfully sweet and supportive, and have him play a bit of an alter ego — in a lot of ways, he's kind of playing the devil in this episode," Cretton revealed, also sharing his love for the EDM version of "In Summer."