10 Most Shocking Moments in 'Wonder Man,' Ranked

Spoiler Alert: This list contains spoilers for Wonder Man.Superhumans also have to start somewhere in Hollywood. Marvel's latest Disney+ series, Wonder Man, dials down explosive powers in favor of a more humane story, even as it unfolds within the notoriously out-of-touch acting industry. Simon Williams (Yahya Abdul Mateen II) is a struggling actor who can't land anything beyond cameos and extra roles. It also doesn't help that Simon has crazy ionic energy powers, which he is forced to hide to book his next gig.

As luck would have it, Simon crosses paths with seasoned actor and "former" convict Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley), infamously remembered for posing as the terrorist Mandarin in Iron Man 3. When Simon learns that a Wonder Man movie is in the works by famed director Von Kozak (Zlatko Burić), he immediately tails Trevor for mentorship. With all eight episodes now streaming on Disney+, here are the most shocking moments in Wonder Man, ranked.

10 Trevor Destroys His Tape Recorder

Trevor's encounter with Simon is no chance meeting. It is carefully premeditated by the Department of Damage Control, which is determined to prove that Simon is a superpowered threat. Because of Simon's criminal past, he risks being resentenced to prison. However, the DODC offers Trevor another chance at redemption: spying on Simon.

As Trevor infiltrates Simon's life, he follows the DODC's instructions, including placing a hacking device on Simon's laptop. When he accompanies Simon to his mother's party, he keeps a tape recorder hidden in his coat. Yet when Simon finally becomes vulnerable, Trevor excuses himself to dispose of the recording, choosing to protect Simon over his own interests.

9 Simon Discovers the Truth About Trevor

As part of the Wonder Man press run, a New York Times journalist, Kathy Friedman (Lauren Weedman), is assigned to cover Simon and Trevor. Rather than conducting a traditional interview, Kathy visits the set to observe their behavior and interview people in their inner circles. Aware of Kathy's reputation for sharp, scathing profiles, Simon panics about the potential fallout.

Although the coverage initially appears favorable for Simon, Kathy later questions Trevor about his transformation from former prisoner to Hollywood actor. To make things worse, Kathy has footage of Trevor getting arrested by the FBI at LAX. The interrogation pushes Trevor to confess his deal with the DODC to Simon, instantly shattering the trust between them.

8 Vivian Knows Simon's Secret Powers

Earlier in Wonder Man, Simon is broken up with by his girlfriend, Vivian (Olivia Thirlby), who is annoyed by his obsession with work. After Simon gets the role of Wonder Man, he is afraid that the people in his life might mention a couple of his flaws to the press, which could immediately ruin his reputation.

Although Vivian harbors no bitter feelings towards her ex, she lets him know that she has always been aware of his secret powers. However, instead of confronting him, she respects his privacy and never utters a word of it to the public. Although the two don't end up back together, Simon is relieved that not everyone is out to get him, despite his problematic past behavior.

7 Simon Acts Out a Scene From 'Pretty Woman'

Following a successful audition, Simon and Trevor are invited to director Kovak's mansion for a callback. Unfortunately, the two hadn't slept the night before. Suffering from sleep deprivation and the anxiety of Kovak's eccentric callback process, Simon begins to overthink the situation. It doesn't help that the other actors being considered have either won an award or starred in a big-shot director's movie.

Instead of reading from a script, Von Kovak asks each actor to pair up and act based on Kovak's prompts. The more calm and seasoned Trevor effortlessly nails his part. Unfortunately, Simon tries too hard. Not only doesn't he listen to Kovak's instructions, but he blatantly rips off a scene from Pretty Woman.

6 Joe Pantoliano Makes a Cameo

Los Angeles is a small place, but no one would have expected Joe Pantoliano to make a guest appearance as himself. The Baby's Day Out actor happens to be a long-lost frenemy of Trevor — the latter is upset that Joe took a leading role away from him, costing him a chance to get his big break in Hollywood.

Originally, Simon and Trevor visited Joe's place to record Simon's self-tape. However, when Joe gives a casual lecture about the jadedness of acting to Simon. Unlike the more passionate Trevor, Joe sees acting as nothing more than a day job, and believes that profit comes from investing in real estate. Trevor grows increasingly upset, prompting Simon to defend him and leave Joe's premises.

5 Josh Gad Is Trapped in Doorman's Body

Apart from Pantoliano, Josh Gad also appears as himself in Wonder Man. In the DeMarr "Doorman" Davis (Bryon Bowers) standalone episode, Gad is saved from a club fight when the bouncer, DeMarr, uses his superhuman portal abilities, allowing Gad to pass safely through a portal formed in his body. As a token of gratitude, Gad offers a job as his bodyguard.

Gad's circle of acting connections offers DeMarr the chance to become a rising actor, capitalizing on his powers. Things go awry when the already popular but spiraling DeMarr reunites with Gad to work on a movie, where his powers malfunction momentarily. When Gad tries to pass through DeMarr's body, he becomes trapped inside him instead.

4 Simon "Kills" Someone During a Callback

Born with superpowers fueled by ionic energy, Simon's strength is directly tied to his emotions. His need to control every aspect of his life — from his character work to his audition process — stems from his desire to keep his powers in check. With the DeMarr police in effect in Hollywood, superhumans are banned from working in entertainment due to insurance risks.

Simply put, the more agitated Simon becomes, the more unstable his powers can get. Because he lacks emotional control and healthy self-awareness, his abilities can turn deadly. During Kovak's callback, Simon grows angrier while acting, prompting him to punch his scene partner in the face, completely obliterating him. Fortunately, it's only a dream.

3 Simon Destroys the Wonder Man Studio

Traditionally, Marvel shows are known for their flashy display of superpowers. Wonder Man, however, takes the opposite direction. Diverting towards a more character-driven storytelling approach, viewers discover who Simon is, with and without the powers. Although Simon rarely uses his powers, when he finally does, it is driven by emotions that have been quietly piling up.

The one time Simon truly loses control leaves a damaging impression. Betrayed by the person who believed in his potential, his feelings surge all at once. Walking alone into the Wonder Man studio, Simon's anger consumes him. Within seconds, his ionic powers trigger a massive combustion, destroying the studio and plunging Los Angeles into a citywide blackout.

2 Trevor Sacrifices Himself To Protect Simon's Career

In the aftermath of the studio explosion, the DODC is breathing down Simon's neck. Trapped in his apartment, he helplessly waits for the authorities to arrest him, signaling the end of his acting career. Suddenly, Simon receives a call from Trevor, who apologizes and promises to make amends, insisting that Simon should not lose his one chance to make it big.

At this point, the DODC had not yet revealed to the public that Simon was responsible for the explosion. Trevor seizes the moment by doing what he does best: pretending to be the Mandarin. In a tape sent to the news, Trevor, posing as the Mandarin, claims responsibility for the blast, leading the DODC to arrest him instead of Simon.

1 Simon Saves Trevor From Prison

Now a highly successful actor thanks to Wonder Man, Simon has a wide range of roles to choose from. After the film's release, he is seen in Yucca Valley, shadowing a DODC guard and claiming it is for his next acting role. After completing extensive paperwork, Simon gains access to the maximum-security prison.

However, it is soon revealed that the shadowing is not for a movie. Simon secretly parts ways with the guard he has been following — after giving him enough money to retire — and tracks down Trevor inside the prison. Now on good terms, Simon rescues Trevor using his far more stable and controlled ionic powers.