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Wonder Man’s arrival on Disney Plus ends a six-month Marvel Cinematic Universe drought with a show that's potentially the most standalone project we've ever seen from Marvel Studios. That said, there is one important veteran MCU character at the center, without whom the entire show would fall apart. I speak, of course, of Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley), the recovering alcoholic actor who pretended to be the Mandarin in Iron Man 3. Trevor made a few appearances as a side character, and was last seen in 2021’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, another Marvel project from Wonder Man co-creator Destin Daniel Cretton. Now Trevor is back, and he finally has the starring role he deserves.
[Ed. note: The following contains spoilers for Iron Man 3 and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.]
The Mandarin's arrival
If it's been some time since you've revisited Iron Man 3, do yourself a favor and carve out a couple of hours for it. The one and only MCU story from co-writer/director Shane Black isn’t so much an Iron Man tale as it’s a story about Tony Stark and the psychological issues he faces in the aftermath of his near-death experience in 2012’s The Avengers. It's during that low time that the Mandarin strikes with a series of attacks and expertly produced propaganda videos.
The videos were effective in making the Mandarin seem like a seriously dastardly foe that Iron Man would need to contend with. Then the curtain came down, revealing silly Trevor, a troubled actor just repeating lines given to him by the movie's real villain, Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce).
In the wrong actor’s hands, that revelation easily could have played as unbelievable — or worse, boring. Instead, there's almost a childlike glee to Trevor, as if he isn't really clear exactly what he's involved in. He's living in a haze of drugs, booze, and women who keep him nice and docile, making him easier for Killian to puppet.
While Trevor seemingly makes the wrong decision at every turn, he's designed to draw viewers’ empathy. There's an innocent charm to the way Kingsley portrays him. While he finds himself in destructive situations thanks to a reliance on his own vices, he seemingly doesn't intend to harm anyone. He just wants to play his role as well as he can and bask in the treasures it provides him.
Writer-director Drew Pearce furthers that personification in the 2014 Marvel One Shot short film All Hail the King, which catches up with Trevor following the events of Iron Man 3. In jail, Trevor is more popular than ever, fully embracing the celebrity status associated with being a notable criminal in a notorious prison. His Mandarin voice is a party trick that impresses his fellow inmates, his "fanbase" of criminals protects him from those who want to harm him behind bars, and he's being interviewed for his own documentary.
This is Trevor seemingly at his happiest. He has a level of fame, a fandom that supports him, and people who want to talk to him. After years of toiling as an actor, he landed the role that actually made him a success, in a matter of speaking.
The revenge of the Ten Rings
All Hail the King also sets up the next stage of Trevor's story. The documentarian interviewing him (spoiler ahead!) reveals he’s a member of the Ten Rings, the terrorist group led by the actual Mandarin. Naturally, the Mandarin isn't happy about the actor usurping his image, leading the Ten Rings to break Trevor out of prison and carry him into Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, where he's basically being kept as the Mandarin's court jester.
He ultimately finds his way out of trouble once more, this time thanks to his new friend Shaun/Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) and decides to make his home in a different dimension within the multiverse, along with his faceless creature friend, Morris.
Wonder Man takes center stage
That was the last time we saw Trevor Slattery in the MCU. His role as the Mandarin has long been debunked. He was kidnapped from federal prison and he wound up in another dimension. So how did he land back in California in Wonder Man?
That remains a mystery. What we do know is that he's evidently respected enough as an actor to do his own MasterClass-style online acting lesson, known as The Slattery Method. A commercial for the class was released at the beginning of January, showing Trevor alive and well and at least a little inebriated, if you ask us.
There's no telling whether we'll ever get an explanation of what Trevor has been up to in the years since he was taken captive by the Ten Rings. Wonder Man entirely glosses over the method and motive of his return to Hollywood. But I'm not sure I mind.
Thus far, Kingsley has elevated the MCU projects he's appeared in, and Wonder Man is no different. This show is a two-hander between Trevor and his new friend Simon (Watchmen and Aquaman co-star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), and they’re an electric duo. And while there are plenty of reasons to love Wonder Man — particularly the absolutely fantastic fourth episode, "Doorman" — the chemistry between Kingsley and Abdul-Mateen II is perfection.
It's better to accept now that Wonder Man doesn’t have all the answers to the MCU's lingering questions, with Polygon's own review noting that it isn’t aimed at superfans who are obsessed with Marvel continuity. Instead, it's an emotional, action-packed buddy comedy, teaming up a new MCU character with one of the most underrated side characters in the franchise. Trevor deserves it, and so do we.
All eight episodes of Wonder Man are now streaming on Disney Plus.
English (US) ·