Some actors wait for opportunities. Others create them through sheer force of will—and a little help from a well-placed phone call.
In this scene from Marvel’s Wonder Man, we meet Simon Williams (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) at his most desperate and determined. Having just been fired from American Horror Story for being “unable to lay in blood,” Simon crashes a meeting with his agent Janelle Jackson, refusing to accept that he’s missed his shot at a career-changing role.
The Last-Ditch Pitch
“I was born to play this character,” Simon insists, learning that his agent has already moved on. When Janelle mentions they’re talking to “Leo” (presumably DiCaprio), Simon counters with industry intel: “Deadline said they’re looking for a new face. I have a new face.”
The scene crackles with the authentic tension of Hollywood hustling. Janelle, played with exasperated affection, isn’t having it—initially. She reminds Simon of his professional failures (“You couldn’t even lay in blood… you just sit there. You just lay”) and calls out his manipulation attempt after he “storm[s] into this meeting with my colleagues acting like you own a place.”
But Simon knows which buttons to push. “I just need you to believe in me, Janelle,” he pleads, striking at the heart of their complicated relationship.
The Breakthrough
The turning point comes through pure luck and professional solidarity. When Janelle’s assistant Neffy takes a call from Emani at the Handover Agency, she learns of a scheduling crisis: Nandi is out sick with a stomach bug and forgot to get Simon Williams in for the Wonder Man audition—”today’s the last day.”
Without hesitation, Neffy steps in: “Can you still make it in? I can put him on the list.”
The scene ends with Simon racing against time, phone in hand: “Hey, Simon Williams. Sorry I’m late.”
It’s a perfect encapsulation of the Wonder Man premise—talent alone isn’t enough; you need timing, connections, and the occasional miracle to make it in Hollywood.
Also Read: How Wonder Man Became a Two-Hander: Inside the Show’s Unique Origins