WandaVision: Wonder Man Easter Egg Hints Nathan Fillion Could Appear In The MCU

The opening episodes ofWandaVision included multiple nods to Wonder Man — which could pave the way for Nathan Fillion to make a belated debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Created by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Don Heck, Wonder Man debuted in 1964’s The Avengers #9. Also known as Simon Williams, he initially served as a villain with a grudge against Tony Stark before having a change of heart. Though appearing to die, he was later revealed to have survived in suspended animation. Upon awakening, he joined The Avengers. Since then, Wonder Man has alternated between an antagonistic force and an outright hero.

A fan of less conventionally heroic figures, James Gunn planned to introduce Wonder Man via Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Gunn even handpicked Fillion to play him, dubbing his best friend perfect for the role. Unfortunately, Gunn couldn’t fit the character directly into the story. Instead, he and Fillion created an array of easter eggs in the form of Simon Williams’ movie posters. They would’ve been glimpsed during a brief sojourn to Earth. Unfortunately again, Gunn revealed that the moment slowed the movie down. As such, Gunn cut Fillion’s Wonder Man unique cameo in post-production.

One factor that wasn’t an obstacle, however, was Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios. It would appear that they agreed with Gunn’s decision and signed off on it. Though it never came to pass, that wouldn’t have to mean that it never would. After all, Marvel has repeatedly remembered actors that didn’t quite make it to the screen and casting them elsewhere down the line. Fortunately for Fillion, the character he was deemed perfect for remained unclaimed. As such, he likely would’ve been one of the first to come to mind, when a second chance to introduce Simon Williams emerged. That moment would appear to have arrived, with a recent hint suggesting that WandaVision could mark Wonder Man’s debut.

That tease was backed up by the opening credits for WandaVision‘s second episode, as a sign could be seen behind Wanda while grocery shopping, which clearly displayed a product named ‘Wonder Mints’ – which appears to be another reference to Simon Williams. Given that portions of Wanda’s new reality are shaped by her subconscious, it could even be a sign that she’s already familiar with Simon Williams — either as an actor or otherwise. As such, the Wonder Mints could be tied to his already-established brand.

The credits also featured a brief glimpse at a mysterious helmet. Rather than Galactus, the helmet was an easter egg for Grim Reaper, a recognizable villain from the comics. As well as having established history clashing with Scarlet Witch and Vision, Grim Reaper is also Wonder Man’s brother: Eric Williams. Though the MCU often deviates from the comics, it’s worth note that in them, Eric’s evolution is directly caused by Simon’s own, as Grim Reaper embraced villainy in order to punish The Avengers for his brother’s apparent death.

Wonder Man also has direct ties to the titular heroes in the comics world. He served as a love-interest to Wanda, and his brainwaves actually helped give life to Vision. As such, his debuting in WandaVision could carry more emotional significance than in Guardians.  Retaining Fillion would also make sense. Not only would it save a whole casting process, but Fillion already contracted to an ABC show, and filming at the same studio would make maintaining the secret a lot easier. Equally, he’d be a fitting candidate to Paul Bettany’s tease that WandaVision has a secret surprise actor he’d always wanted to work with. After all, the pair have a lot of friends and castmates in common, but have never crossed paths on-screen. Above all else, however, Wonder Man would be a welcome addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe – and Fillion bringing the role to life in WandaVision would surely delight fans all the more.

About The Author