Josh Gad Joins the MCU in Wonder Man, Playing Himself?

Josh Gad is officially entering the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and in the most Josh-Gad way possible. Instead of suiting up as a villain or a cosmic sidekick, he's joining the upcoming Wonder Man series as "a very famous version of himself," according to the latest issue of D23 Magazine. He'll even have musical moments in the show, which makes sense for someone with his background.

Wonder Man is one of the most unusual Marvel projects currently in production. Led by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams, the series focuses on a stuntman-turned-actor-turned-superhero trying to survive the industry while also punching the occasional threat in the face. It's being made under Marvel's new "Marvel Spotlight" banner, the same category that gave us Echo, which means smaller-scale stories focused on character and grounded settings.

Bringing Gad into this world makes perfect sense when you look at what Marvel seems to be doing. Instead of giant CGI battles and multiverse charts, Wonder Man plays in a different sandbox: Hollywood satire, celebrity culture, and all the ridiculousness that comes with it. Casting Gad as himself adds fuel to that tone. He's already famous for leaning into self-deprecating humor and musical absurdity, so giving him a meta role inside a show that already mocks the entertainment industry is a smart move.

Marvel hasn't said how big his role is, but the musical hint keeps getting mentioned, which suggests he's not just popping in for a one-liner. This could be a recurring gag, a musical number, or something even stranger. And since Wonder Man's comic history is filled with acting gigs, public meltdowns, and over-the-top Hollywood moments, Gad might fit right into Simon Williams' chaotic orbit.

The cast around Gad and Abdul-Mateen II makes this even more interesting. The show also features Ben Kingsley returning as Trevor Slattery, the washed-up actor from Iron Man 3 and Shang-Chi. Pairing Kingsley's theatrical madness with Gad's musical comedy inside a Hollywood-set Marvel series is a recipe for something that might actually feel fresh. If Marvel wants to rebuild fan goodwill after a few uneven years, going weirder and more character-focused might be exactly the move.

There's no release date yet, but the project has been filming on and off since the strikes. Early reports say the show will run for eight episodes on Disney+ and is expected sometime in late 2025 or early 2026.

Josh Gad entering the MCU as himself wasn't on anyone's bingo card, but the more you think about it, the more it feels like the right kind of chaos. Marvel has leaned so heavily on world-ending stakes lately that a meta comedy about actors trying to stay relevant might be the breathing room the franchise needs.