‘Scrubs’ Star Zach Braff Almost Directed ‘Wonder Man’ Season 2 Before Cancellation
Marvel’s Disney+ lineup has faced numerous unexpected changes over the past year, but few cancellations hit as hard as that of ‘Wonder Man.’ The Emmy-nominated series had garnered significant critical acclaim during its first season, making its sudden cancellation particularly shocking for fans eagerly anticipating a second season.
This abrupt decision affected not only the cast and crew but also outside directors who had begun to envision their involvement. Zach Braff, known for his role in ‘Scrubs,’ recently shared that he had been in discussions to direct an episode of ‘Wonder Man’ Season 2 before the show was abruptly canceled.
In a recent interview about ‘Scrubs,’ Braff revealed that his co-star Donald Faison had long encouraged him to explore directing opportunities within the Marvel universe. “Donald and I both loved ‘Wonder Man,’ and he always wanted me to work with Marvel, so I had a meeting with them,” Braff recounted. “I expressed my enthusiasm for the show and asked to be considered for directing Season 2. They responded positively, and Donald and I were celebrating.”
However, this excitement was short-lived. Braff recounted how he learned about the cancellation just a week later. “And then about a week later, they said, ‘You know that show that’s very popular and just got Emmy nominations, we’ve cancelled it.’… That close!” he remarked during the same interview.
Braff’s experience aligns with how far along Season 2 preparations had progressed before the cancellation. Showrunner Andrew Guest had already penned the Season 2 premiere and outlined the remaining episodes, with contracts signed and a writers’ room ready to start. Production was set to commence early the following year.
Guest previously addressed the cancellation, clarifying that it stemmed from an internal decision between Disney and Marvel, rather than any creative disagreements among the team. He emphasized that star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, director Destin Daniel Cretton, Ben Kingsley, and himself were all eager to continue the series until the abrupt reversal.
Despite its cancellation, ‘Wonder Man’ initially appeared to be a strong contender for continuation, given its positive reception. The series followed aspiring actor Simon Williams as he navigated the challenges of concealing his superpowers while pursuing a Hollywood career. Abdul-Mateen received an Emmy nomination for lead actor in a comedy series, making him the first actor to earn Emmy nominations for both Marvel and DC projects.
However, viewership metrics painted a more complex picture. According to Luminate, the show amassed approximately 549.6 million viewing minutes in its first ten days, a figure that fell short compared to other Marvel releases, especially since all eight episodes were available at launch. Disney has not publicly clarified the reasons behind the cancellation, though reports suggest that the characters may appear in future Marvel projects.
New trailer for Marvel’s ‘WONDER MAN’
pic.twitter.com/RousoZAguu— cinesthetic. (@TheCinesthetic) January 1, 2026
For Braff, this near-miss adds an unexpected chapter to his and Faison’s aspirations of breaking into major franchises like Marvel or Star Wars. While the future remains uncertain, ‘Wonder Man’ stands out as one of the most surprising cancellations in recent Marvel television history.
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