The Marvel Cinematic Universe frequently includes nods to real-world movies and TV shows. Initially, these references were harmless, helping to ground the MCU in a relatable reality – much like Marvel comics have always done – and providing a fun connection for viewers. For example, Captain America: The Winter Soldier playfully referenced Star Wars, Star Trek, and Rocky. However, these references started to create an issue when you considered that many of the actors in the MCU also appear in the shows and films being referenced.
Given that Wonder Man is set in Hollywood, it’s natural for the show to mention real TV shows and movies. What’s really neat is how many of those referenced projects actually feature actors who also appear in major roles throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe – including some of the actors in Wonder Man itself! This highlights just how long the MCU has been running and the incredible depth of acting talent it has access to. It’s no wonder everyone wants to be associated with such a talented group!
12) American Horror Story
The first television show explicitly mentioned in Wonder Man is American Horror Story, the popular series created by Ryan Murphy. In the show, Simon Williams lands a minor role – a single scene – but takes it so seriously that he’s quickly fired. Interestingly, American Horror Story has a history of featuring well-known Marvel actors. Fans will recall Evan Peters, who played Quicksilver in the Fox films and Ralph Boehner in the MCU, as well as Angela Bassett, known for her role as Queen Ramonda in the Black Panther movies, both appearing in the series.
11) Castle Rock
Simon Williams was taking notes on the best episodes of Castle Rock, remembering which ones the director he was speaking with had worked on. For those who enjoyed the Stephen King series, it features some unexpected actors from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, though you might not realize it at first. Bill Skarsgård, known to Marvel fans as the voice of Kro in Eternals, plays a key role in Season 1. But there’s more: Scott Glenn, who played Stick, Daredevil’s mentor, in the MCU, also stars as Alan Pangborn in Castle Rock. Finally, Lizzy Caplan appears in Season 2 as Annie Wilkes – a role that many have forgotten came after her appearance in the Marvel short film “Item 47,” which later inspired Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD.
10) Sons of Anarchy
Simon Williams also pointed out that the episodes of Sons of Anarchy directed by the show’s director are considered the best in the series. While not packed with well-known Marvel actors, the FX series does feature some familiar faces from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including Kenneth Choi (known for roles in Captain America: The First Avenger and Spider-Man: Homecoming), Jamie McShane (who played Agent Jackson in Thor and The Avengers), Walton Goggins (Ant-Man and the Wasp), and Theo Rossi (Marvel’s Luke Cage).
9) Twilight
Simon has one scene planned for American Horror Story where he’ll act alongside Ashley Greene, who will be playing herself. He’s mentioned her work in Twilight. While a Twilight reference in the DC Universe might be strange, it’s noteworthy that the MCU already has connections to the series. Chaske Spencer, who played Sam Uley in Twilight, now stars in Marvel’s Echo (and Marvel’s Jessica Jones). Additionally, Lee Pace, who appeared as Garrett in Breaking Dawn – Part 2, has played Ronan the Accuser in several Marvel Cinematic Universe projects.
8) Igby Goes Down
While practicing for an audition, Simon Williams mentioned a film starring Kieran Culkin as a reference for the role he was trying to get. The 2002 movie, which features many well-known actors outside of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, also includes Jeff Goldblum – best known as the Grandmaster.
7) The Only Living Boy in New York
So, Simon’s audition is bringing up some interesting things for me. They mentioned The Only Living Boy in New York, which has Jeff Bridges – a guy I always love seeing on screen. It’s funny, a lot of people probably remember him as the first ‘big bad’ in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, playing Obadiah Stane in the original Iron Man almost twenty years ago! But honestly, Bridges is so good, and his Stane look was so different from his usual self, that it always felt like he could still pop up in other MCU stuff even as someone else. It’s a testament to his range, really.
6) Ben Kingsley’s Filmography
To quickly show that Trevor Slattery has been acting for a long time, Wonder Man cleverly rewrites Sir Ben Kingsley’s actual early filmography. The series claims that Kingsley’s roles in films like Turtle Diary and Pascali’s Island, as well as The Velvet Glove and the British TV show Coronation Street, were actually played by Slattery. Interestingly, these films came after Kingsley won an Oscar for his portrayal of Gandhi – a fact the series doesn’t attribute to Slattery.
5) My Cousin Vinny
Among the many movies Trevor owned on tape, mirroring the career choices of actor Sir Ben Kingsley, was a copy of My Cousin Vinny. This film famously won Marisa Tomei an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress – an award she received 23 years before she joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Aunt May in Captain America: Civil War. She continued to play Aunt May in three Spider-Man films and even Avengers: Endgame.
5) Oscar and Lucinda
Trevor has a copy of the 1997 film Oscar and Lucinda on his shelf, though it’s not obvious why he owns it. It’s similar to other historical dramas he collects, and interestingly, Cate Blanchett—who later played Hela in the Marvel Cinematic Universe—stars as Lucinda in the movie.
4) The Matrix
One of the most complex connections to the wider Marvel Cinematic Universe in Wonder Man appears when Simon and Trevor visit a friend, actor Joe Pantoliano. Simon excitedly mentions Pantoliano’s work in The Matrix, a movie with several actors who’ve also been in MCU films – Laurence Fishburne (Ant-Man and the Wasp), Carrie-Anne Moss (Jessica Jones, Daredevil), and Hugo Weaving (Captain America: The First Avenger). It gets even more complicated because Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, who plays Wonder Man, was also in the 2021 film The Matrix Resurrections. While some might suggest the Matrix sequels don’t fit into the MCU timeline, it’s still a pretty tangled connection to untangle.
3) Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
Interestingly, Joe Pantoliano’s home—a fitting location given his involvement in the film—features Ray Winstone as Ares (before his appearance in Black Widow) and Rosario Dawson as Persephone, years before she became known as Claire Temple in the Defenders TV series.
2) The Rookie
Wonder Man’s backstory connects to an on-set explosion during filming of the TV show The Rookie, which brought Simon Williams to the attention of the Department of Damage Control. However, this creates a potential issue because The Rookie stars Nathan Fillion, who has already played multiple characters within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including roles in Guardians of the Galaxy and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and even voiced a version of Deadpool in Deadpool & Wolverine. Adding to the complication, Seth Green, known as the voice of Howard the Duck in the MCU, has also been on the show.
Interestingly, Nathan Fillion actually filmed a scene for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 that didn’t make the final cut. This means his appearance as Simon Williams, also known as Wonder Man, isn’t officially part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe storyline.
1) Severance
The latest episode of Wonder Man included a surprising connection to another hit show, Severance. Simon, one of the characters, learns his ex-girlfriend, Vivian, has joined the cast of Severance, hinting at a deeper link between the two series. While Severance seemed free of Marvel Cinematic Universe references, it turns out several actors have appeared in MCU projects. Zach Cherry and Michael Chernus both had roles in Spider-Man: Homecoming, and Tramell Tillman is slated to be in the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/list/all-4-mcu-shows-releasing-after-wonder-man/embed/#
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2026-01-31 17:12