2025 is a pivotal year for DC, with James Gunn's Superman film set to kickstart the new DCU in theaters, alongside numerous other film and television projects in development, and the Absolute Universe making significant strides in the comics world. Amidst this flurry of activity, one glaring absence stands out: the iconic superhero, Wonder Woman. Created by William Moulton Marston and H. G. Peter, she is a cornerstone of the DC universe, yet her presence in recent franchise media has been notably sparse.
Outside the realm of comics, Wonder Woman, or Diana of Themyscira, has faced numerous setbacks. Her live-action film franchise stumbled after the mixed reception of Wonder Woman 1984. Currently, she has no confirmed project in the DCU lineup, with Gunn and his team choosing instead to develop a series about the Amazons. Furthermore, she has never had her own animated series, and her first-ever solo video game, announced in 2021, was cancelled. This raises questions about Warner Bros.' strategy regarding one of the most iconic female superheroes of all time. Let's delve into how Warner Bros. and DC are seemingly mishandling Wonder Woman's potential.
One Hit Wonder --------------In the late 2010s, amidst fierce competition between the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DCEU, the original Wonder Woman film emerged as a standout success. Released in 2017, it garnered largely positive reviews and grossed over $800 million worldwide. After the divisive reactions to Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad, Patty Jenkins' portrayal of Diana resonated with audiences in a way that the previous DC films had not. Though not without flaws, such as third act problems and a focus on Gal Gadot's poise over character depth, the film's strong performance should have been the foundation for a thriving franchise.
However, the sequel, Wonder Woman 1984, released in 2020, did not live up to expectations. It received mixed reviews and failed to recoup its budget at the box office, partly due to its simultaneous release on HBO Max and in theaters during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The sequel's narrative issues, tonal inconsistencies, and controversial elements, such as Diana having sex with Chris Pine's Steve Trevor while he was in another man's body, further alienated audiences. Despite these setbacks, it's disappointing that Wonder Woman's film series was phased out of development after one underperforming sequel, especially when characters like Batman and Spider-Man receive multiple reboots and relaunches.
Diana Prince, Missing in Action
With the new DCU set to launch a new era of adaptations, one might expect Wonder Woman to be a focal point. However, the lineup for Chapter One: Gods and Monsters does not include a dedicated Wonder Woman project. Instead, DC Studios head James Gunn and producing partner Peter Safran have chosen to focus on lesser-known properties like Creature Commandos, Swamp Thing, Booster Gold, and The Authority, while also developing new takes on Superman, Batman, and Green Lantern. This decision raises questions about the perceived value of Wonder Woman within the DCU.
DC Universe: Every Upcoming Movie and TV Show
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The DCU has announced Paradise Lost, a series focusing on the Amazons of Themiscyra before Wonder Woman's birth. While exploring the Amazons' history is valuable, creating a show within the Wonder Woman franchise without featuring Wonder Woman herself feels reminiscent of the Sony Marvel Universe. This approach suggests that DC Studios may not see Diana as the primary draw, which is perplexing given the urgency to launch Batman projects, potentially leading to two concurrent live-action Batman franchises.
This treatment of Wonder Woman echoes the past, particularly in the DC Animated Universe of the '90s and early 2000s, where she was a key figure in Justice League and Justice League Unlimited but never received her own series as Batman and Superman did. To date, Wonder Woman has not had a dedicated animated series despite nearly a century since her debut. She has been a regular in DC Universe direct-to-video animated films but has starred in only two: Wonder Woman in 2009 and Wonder Woman: Bloodlines in 2019. Given the popularity of superhero content, it's surprising that a Wonder Woman project remains elusive.
AnswerSee ResultsLet Me Play as Wonder Woman, Dammit -----------------------------------The recent cancellation of the Wonder Woman game developed by Monolith Productions is particularly disheartening. Whether the poor reception of other DC games like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and MultiVersus contributed to this decision remains unclear. However, the loss of what would have been Diana's first leading role in a video game feels like a missed opportunity, especially with the resurgence of character action games. A game featuring Diana, akin to God of War or Ninja Gaiden, could have capitalized on this trend.
While Diana has been playable in games like the Injustice series, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, and various LEGO DC titles, the absence of a AAA action game dedicated to her is glaring. DC's failure to build on the success of the Batman Arkham series with games featuring Wonder Woman, Superman, and the Justice League represents a significant missed opportunity. It's particularly galling that her first appearance in the Arkham timeline in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League involves her being killed off as a non-playable character, while the male members of the Justice League, albeit as evil clones, survive.
The lack of progress in Wonder Woman's film franchise, absence from animated series, and poor representation in video games highlight a concerning lack of respect from Warner Bros. and DC for one of their most iconic characters. If they undervalue such a significant figure in their roster, it casts doubt on their regard for other DC characters. As Gunn's Superman reboot aims to steer the DCU in a new direction, it's crucial that Warner Bros. recognizes the immense value that Diana Prince brings to their universe. After nearly a century, both she and her fans deserve better.
