Even Marvel stars have to start somewhere. Wonder Man stars Yahya AbdulMateen II and Ben Kingsley reveal biggest lies they told in auditions Even Marvel stars have to start somewhere. By Sydney Bucksbaum :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/headshotb5dc24df8d5d43d1a16c9ce0e0383119.jpg) Sydney Bucksbaum Sydney Bucksbaum is a staff writer at . She has been working at EW since 2019 and is a published author. Her work has previously appeared in TV Guide Magazine, E! News/E! Online, The Hollywood Reporter, Mashable, Bustle, IGN, DCComics.com, Inverse, The Daily Northwestern, and more.

Even Marvel stars have to start somewhere.

Wonder Man stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Ben Kingsley reveal biggest lies they told in auditions

Even Marvel stars have to start somewhere.

By Sydney Bucksbaum

Sydney Bucksbaum

Sydney Bucksbaum is a staff writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2019 and is a published author. Her work has previously appeared in *TV Guide Magazine*, E! News/E! Online, *The Hollywood Reporter*, Mashable, Bustle, IGN, DCComics.com, Inverse, *The Daily Northwestern*, and more.

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January 31, 2026 1:00 p.m. ET

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Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Sir Ben Kingsley in 'Wonder Man'. Credit:

Suzanne Tenner/Marvel

*Wonder Man* actors Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Sir Ben Kingsley are now major Marvel stars, but they still remember what it was like to be a struggling actor so desperate to land a role that you'd do anything in auditions ... even lie.

In the new MCU series that takes a meta look at the Hollywood industry, Abdul-Mateen II's character Simon lies in his audition for the fake *Wonder Man* movie-within-the-show. And it's an experience that Abdul-Mateen II found all too relatable, because it reminded him of the massive lie he told that helped him get his previous comic book role.

"In the *Aquaman* [movie] series, I said that I could swim, and I could not swim," Abdul-Mateen II tells ** with a laugh. "I could not swim to save my life! But they asked me if I could do that. 'Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, sure, sure, sure. Absolutely.'"

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in 'Wonder Man'.

Courtesy of Marvel Television

Thankfully, it all worked out — Abdul-Mateen II secretly taught himself how to swim for a few weeks before filming began on the first *Aquaman* film. Looking back on it now, he doesn't regret being dishonest in that pivotal audition.

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And listening to his *Wonder Man* costar's story sparked a similar memory for Kingsley, who reprises his MCU role of Trevor Slattery in the series.

"He just reminded me of something, I actually lied [in an audition] as well," Kingsley says. "When I was a theater actor, I also had lovely opportunities to bounce in and out of television. It wasn't an episode of *Coronation Street,* but around about that time, early BBC drama. They said, 'Can you ride a scooter, a motor scooter?' 'Yeah.' I crashed it. And they had to get the stunt driver in immediately. But I got the job!"

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Both Kingsley and Abdul-Mateen II agree that as an actor, sometimes you have to do whatever it takes to get the job.

"That's the most important thing, you get the job," Abdul-Mateen II says.

Kingsley adds, "You could swim and I could ride the scooter. It all worked out."

Their aspiring actor characters would be so proud.

*Wonder Man* is now streaming on Disney+.

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Original Article on Source

Source: "EW Superhero"

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Source: Superhero

Published: February 06, 2026 at 04:38AM on Source: MANUEL MAG

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