‘Wonder Man’ star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II on cancellation and confidence

August 20, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II had just been nominated for an Emmy for his lead role in the Marvel series Wonder Man when Disney canceled the show—months after a second season had already been announced. Sitting down with Fresh Air host Tanya Mosley, he laughed at the shape of his own story: the nomination, the cancellation, the interview about both happening in the same breath. "And he just lost his job," he said, summarizing the arc. "And now he's sitting in front of me."

Spending the "One Marvel Dollar"

When Marvel first approached Abdul-Mateen about joining their universe, he told himself he had only "one Marvel dollar" to spend. He meant it as a measure of longevity and substance: he wanted a role that would stand the test of time, not a one-off. Wonder Man, he decided, was worth it.

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What you'll learn

1 (00:00) **Introduction & The “Marvel Dollar”** - Host Tanya Mosley introduces Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, his career arc, and the cancellation of *Wonder Man*. Abdul-Mateen reflects on the irony of being introduced as a star who just lost his job.
2 (05:22) **The Actor’s Process: Over-Preparing vs. Surrendering** - Abdul-Mateen contrasts his own preparation style with that of his character Simon Williams, an “overthinker.”
3 (07:08) **Wanting a Role Desperately** - Asked if he ever wanted a role as badly as Simon wanted *Wonder Man*, Abdul-Mateen recalls his 20-year dream to play Booth in *Top Dog/Underdog*.
4 (08:54) **The Cancellation of *Wonder Man* & The Pattern of Black-Led Projects** - The conversation turns to the show’s cancellation despite his Emmy nomination, and the broader pattern of Marvel canceling Black-led projects.
5 (11:47) **What Season Two Would Have Been** - Abdul-Mateen shares what he was looking forward to exploring in a second season.
6 (13:02) **Growing Up Between New Orleans and the Bay** - The interview shifts to his childhood, moving frequently between two cities.
7 (14:08) **How Constant Moving Shaped His Personality** - Abdul-Mateen reflects on being “the new person” all the time.

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Guests on this episode

Tanya Mosley

Show Notes

Two weeks after being nominated for an Emmy for his leading role in Wonder Man, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II found out that the series had been cancelled. He says Marvel could do more to support Black-led projects. Abdul-Mateen spoke with co-host Tonya Mosley about how he stumbled into acting, padding his early resumé, and working through his stutter.

Also, film critic Justin Chang reviews Teenage Death and Sex at Camp Miasma.

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