With its intriguing period recreations and feminist undertones, 2017’s Wonder Woman was unlike anything else in the DC Extended Universe’s canon. Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Suicide Squad left many fans underwhelmed, and the DCEU seemed to be waning before it had even begun. In contrast, Wonder Woman proved to be a hit with fans and critics alike, garnering 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and boasting an impressive $821.8 million box office worldwide. The movie managed to perfectly blend earnestness with not taking itself too seriously—something sorely lacking in previous DCEU forays—while, until the final act, it managed not to fall into the typical trappings familiar within the superhero genre.
This resulted in Wonder Woman endearing itself to both critics and fans and the film is still remembered as a strong contender for the greatest DCEU offering. Unfortunately, the goodwill did not last. The 2020 sequel, Wonder Woman 1984, flopped both financially and critically. Lukewarm reception to subsequent movies such as Black Adam and The Flash only compounded this, and Wonder Woman’s future in the DCEU became uncertain. Since then, Gal Gadot has teased a Wonder Woman 1984 sequel, but to many fans’ dismay, this project appears to be a casualty of the DCEU’s recent restructuring into the DC Universe under co-CEOs and co-Chairmen James Gunn and Peter Safran. This has left many viewers questioning just how viable and likely a Wonder Woman 3 now appears.
What Went Wrong With The Franchise?
After the runaway success of Wonder Woman, Wonder Woman 1984 felt as if it should be a victory lap. Instead, it may very well have killed the franchise. Fans responded negatively for a host of reasons. Firstly, many took umbrage with the movie’s excessive runtime, which was deemed overindulgent. Furthermore, Pedro Pascal’s villain, Maxwell Lord, was perceived as underdeveloped, and the movie’s poignant moments so expertly executed in Wonder Woman felt contrived the second time around. To make matters worse, word of mouth and poor reviews led to underwhelming box office numbers: Wonder Woman 1984 only grossed $169.6 million against a $200 million budget.
Of course, the movie was also a victim of bad luck. Releasing Wonder Woman 1984 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic was a bold move but one that ultimately backfired. Some pundits noted the film finished above expectation after its first week at the box office given the context, but this wasn’t enough to prevent Warner Bros. from looking long and hard at the future of the franchise. A further string of bad luck arose as a result of the failings of other DC properties. The final film of the DCEU, Blue Beetle—though critically well-received—only attained $129.3 million against a $104 million budget, making it the lowest-grossing film of the DCEU. With the near-universal financial and critical failure of the DCEU, a reboot seemed inevitable. Many fans are excited at the prospect of a rejuvenated franchise, but that isn’t to say it does not come without its casualties. Rather than save the Wonder Woman franchise, James Gunn and Peter Safran’s reshuffle may very well prove the nail in its coffin.
What Does James Gunn’s DCU Mean for Wonder Woman?
Despite the relative failure of Wonder Woman 1984, it’s common knowledge that Patty Jenkins (director and co-writer of both previous installments) submitted a Wonder Woman 3 script for consideration to Warner Bros. Little is known of the project, other than that it would likely feature Lynda Carter’s Asteria, the Amazon warrior teased during Wonder Woman 1984’s post-credits scene. However, Jenkins made the behind-the-scenes drama clear when she stated she was willing to re-approach her treatment after it seemingly failed to gel with James Gunn and Peter Safran’s vision for the DCU. At this point, a Wonder Woman 3 still seemed salvageable, especially given Gal Gadot’s cameos in Shazam! Fury of the Gods and The Flash, along with her comments regarding a future installment. In Gadot’s own words, she stated, “I love portraying Wonder Woman. It’s so close to and dear to my heart. From what I heard from James and from Peter is that we’re going to develop a Wonder Woman 3 together.”
However, Gadot’s optimism in the fledgling project now seems entirely unfounded. By December 2022, it became apparent Jenkins was unable to produce a script treatment that aligned with Gunn and Safran’s plans, and she left the project over creative differences. In a defiant statement, Jenkins claimed, “I never walked away. I was open to considering anything asked of me. It was my understanding there was nothing I could do to move anything forward at this time. DC is buried in changes they are having to make, so I understand these decisions are difficult right now.” Since then, Gunn announced that none of the cast of Justice League will be returning to the DCU. While some still hoped this may mean Wonder Woman 3 would simply move on with a new director and star, the movie has subsequently been canceled, and Gunn has expressed clear disinterest in taking the property forward.
What’s Next for Wonder Woman?
Although Gadot and Jenkins have exited, and Gunn has exhibited little interest in Wonder Woman’s future, fans shouldn’t lose hope of one day seeing the Amazonian warrior grace the DCU. Intriguingly, part of the DCU’s Chapter 1 – “Gods and Monsters” slate features Paradise Lost, an upcoming HBO Max series set in Wonder Woman’s own Themyscira. Gunn has described the project as a Game of Thrones-esque prequel set before the time of Wonder Woman. Named after John Milton’s epic poem of the same name detailing the biblical fall of man, viewers can expect a high-stakes, philosophical tale if not an appearance from Wonder Woman herself. Even so, a prequel set in Themyscira establishes the Amazonians as part of the DCU and paves the way for Wonder Woman’s emergence in the future.
Further excitement was sparked via a tweet from James Gunn on October 21st, affectionately known to fans as Wonder Woman Day. Gunn commemorated the character with David Finch’s artistic portrayal of the character, with actor Eiza González (of Alita: Battle Angel and Baby Driver fame) commenting, “This image is the one.” This left many speculating that González is open to or even being considered for the role of Wonder Woman. While this is pure speculation at this point, Gunn’s celebration of Wonder Woman on Wonder Woman Day demonstrates he has not forgotten about nor doesn’t hold respect for the beloved DC character. Coupled with the fact that he has chosen to launch a Wonder Woman prequel as part of the DCU’s Chapter 1 – “Gods and Monsters” lineup, viewers can probably expect to see Wonder Woman on the big screen once more in the not-too-distant future. Given the announcement of Superman: Legacy and Batman: The Brave and the Bold, it is evident Gunn is open to adapting DC legacy characters outside of the lesser-known properties that populate the “Gods and Monsters” slate.
While 2017’s Wonder Woman arguably stands as the jewel in the DCEU’s crown, Wonder Woman 1984 regrettably derailed the franchise. Poor reviews, word of mouth, and launching during the COVID-19 pandemic created a perfect storm that saw the highly anticipated sequel flop. Given the failings of other DCEU properties and the subsequent launch of the DCU, Wonder Woman 3 stands as one of the many casualties of the massive overhauls currently occurring in DC’s cinematic efforts. Both Gal Gadot and Patty Jenkins were open to a sequel to Wonder Woman 1984, but Jenkins left over creative differences, and Gadot—though initially optimistic regarding Wonder Woman 3—won’t be returning for the role. This is not a reflection on Gadot’s portrayal but rather emblematic of the major revamps that come with the newly emerging DCU. As Superman and Batman have both been recast, a new actor portraying Wonder Woman became inevitable, if only for consistency.
Many fans are understandably disappointed, but there is some hope to be found in the upcoming HBO Max series Paradise Lost. Serving as a prequel to Wonder Woman, this series boasts the scope to establish Themyscira and the Amazonians within the DCU, paving the way for Wonder Woman’s eventual emergence. While James Gunn has exhibited relative disinterest in the character, his tweet on Wonder Woman Day garnered much excitement and even resulted in a slew of casting rumors. While this is nothing but speculation right now, Wonder Woman’s standing as one of DC’s most beloved properties and the DCEU’s most critically acclaimed entry makes her eventual entry into the DCU potentially far off but, mercifully for fans, inevitable.
