Topdog/Underdog

Abdul-Mateen grew up in both New Orleans and Oakland, studied architecture at UC Berkeley, and worked as a city planner until a layoff sent him to the Yale School of Drama.

He booked his first major role in 2015, nearing 30, and since then he's performed on Broadway in Top Dog/Underdog, been cast as Black Manta in Aquaman, Bobby Seale in The Trial of the Chicago 7, the lead in Candyman, and won an Emmy for playing Dr. Manhattan in HBO's Watchmen.

Wonder Man made him the lead in his very own Marvel series, and then two weeks after his Emmy nomination, Disney canceled the show a few months after a second season had already been announced.

And Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, welcome to Fresh Air.

Yeah?

Uh, there has to be a yes in there somewhere.

Um, I, I wanted to play, uh, Booth, the character that I played in the play called Topdog/Underdog.

I've been wanting to do that for 20 years-