One of the best TV shows of the year has been cancelled – despite being renewed for season two.

In March, Wonder Man viewers were left overjoyed when Disney+ announced the Marvel series would be returning, branding the renewal a “small miracle” after streaming figures were lower than hoped.

However, Disney has now backtracked on its decision, with Variety reporting that the show’s writers have been released so they can pursue other projects.

When its first season was released the satirical superhero show was hailed as being unlike anything Marvel had released in years, and received huge acclaim from viewers, not to mention a surprise Emmy nomination for lead star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.

The irrepressibly cool Abdul-Mateen II said of the cancellation news: “That’s life, right? Everything will shake out.”

He continued: “I wanted to say thank you to everybody who WATCHED the show, ENJOYED the show, and SHARED that they enjoyed the show in some way or other. The show worked. And that’s my favourite thing about it. So, thinking of you all today. I’m glad we got to be a part of something cool. Thank you for watching… And uhh… See you at the EMMYS.”

Fans meanwhile said on social media they were “crushed” and “heartbroken” by the unexpected news.

Wonder Man, which has 91 per cent on review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes, follows Simon Williams, an anxiety-ridden jobbing actor who auditions for the lead role in the remake of the beloved superhero film Wonder Man.

He soon meets Ben Kingsley’s Iron Man 3 character Trevor Slattery, who may or may not have been recruited by the DODC (Department of Damage Control) to unearth a dangerous secret harboured by Simon. But before long, the pair strike up an unlikely friendship.

It’s been reported that the characters could return in other Marvel projects.

Back around the time of the series’ release,The Independent’s Louis Chilton predicted that Wonder Man’s quality might not matter when it comes to renewing the series, stating: “The problem at this point is who cares? The damage has long been done: interest in the MCU is in sharp decline, whether what they’re making is any good or not.

“It’s telling, perhaps, how many of the – roundly positive – Wonder Man reviews have highlighted just how little the series resembles a typical Marvel release: it seems the best way of selling a Marvel property has almost become a frantic assurance that it’s not a Marvel property at all, in anything but name.”

Wonder Man was created by Destin Daniel Cretton, whose film Spider-Man: Brand New Day is in cinemas now, and Andrew Guest.

Abdul-Mateen II is best known for roles as Morpheus in The Matrix Resurrections (2021), Black Manta in the Aquaman franchise (2018-23), and he received acclaim in 2019 for his role in Damon Lindelof’s HBO series Watchmen (2019).

Speaking about showing his vulnerable side in Wonder Man, Mateen II told Refinery29: “It was really gratifying, and sometimes scary at the same time, to show that vulnerability, to show that anxiety, to show what it looks like to not be sure of myself at all but still have to proceed.”

The actor is nominated for an Emmy in the Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series category, alongsideSteve Carell (Rooster), Matthew Rhys (Widow’s Bay), Jason Segel (Shrinking) and Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building). The ceremony takes place on 15 September.