2025 marks a pivotal year for DC, with James Gunn's Superman film set to kickstart the new DCU in theaters, alongside a robust slate of film and television projects from DC Studios and the groundbreaking Absolute Universe in the comics. Amidst this buzz of new DC universe media, a glaring question remains unanswered: What's happening with Wonder Woman? Created by William Moulton Marston and H. G. Peter, she stands as one of the most iconic superheroes and a cornerstone of the DC universe, yet her presence in recent franchise media has been notably subdued.
Outside the comic books, Wonder Woman, or Diana of Themyscira, has faced challenges in recent years. Her live-action film series lost momentum following the mixed reception of Wonder Woman 1984, and she's absent from the current DCU lineup. Instead of focusing on Diana, DC Studios has opted for a series about the Amazons. Moreover, Wonder Woman has never had her own animated series, and her much-anticipated first solo video game, announced in 2021, was cancelled. With such setbacks, it's crucial to explore why Warner Bros. seems to be mishandling the most iconic female superhero of all time. Let's delve into how Warners and DC are failing to capitalize on Wonder Woman's potential.
One Hit Wonder
During the peak rivalry between the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DCEU in the late 2010s, the first Wonder Woman film emerged as a standout success for the latter. Released in 2017, it garnered largely positive reviews and earned over $800 million globally. After the mixed reception of Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad, Patty Jenkins' vision of Diana resonated with audiences in a way that previous DC films had not. Although the film faced third act problems and Gal Gadot's portrayal focused more on poise and action than character depth, its strong performance suggested the start of a thriving franchise.
However, the sequel, Wonder Woman 1984, released in 2020, fell short of expectations. It divided critics and failed to recoup its budget due to its simultaneous release on HBO Max and in theaters during the COVID-19 pandemic. The sequel's narrative structure, tonal inconsistencies, and controversial elements—such as Diana having sex with Steve Trevor while he inhabited another man's body—did not help its case. This mediocre sequel did not capitalize on the first film's success, and plans for a third installment were phased out. It's disappointing to see Wonder Woman sidelined after one underwhelming movie, especially when other iconic characters like Batman and Spider-Man receive multiple reboots and relaunches.
Diana Prince, Missing in Action
As the new DCU introduces a fresh wave of adaptations, one might expect Wonder Woman to be a focal point. Yet, the ambitiously titled Chapter One: Gods and Monsters lacks a dedicated Wonder Woman project. DC Studios head James Gunn and his producing partner Peter Safran have chosen to focus on lesser-known properties like Creature Commandos, Swamp Thing, Booster Gold, and The Authority. While there's merit in exploring obscure IPs, this approach is puzzling when new takes on Superman, Batman, and Green Lantern are also in the works, but Wonder Woman is noticeably absent.
DC Universe: Every Upcoming Movie and TV Show
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Instead of a Wonder Woman project, DCU has announced Paradise Lost, a series centered on the Amazons of Themyscira, set before Wonder Woman's birth. While exploring the Amazons' history is valuable, creating a show within the Wonder Woman franchise without Wonder Woman herself echoes the Sony Marvel Universe approach. This raises questions about why DC Studios doesn't view Diana as a primary draw compared to her world-building. The urgency to launch another Batman franchise, potentially running two simultaneously, contrasts starkly with the lack of effort to include Wonder Woman.
Historically, the DC Animated Universe from the '90s and early 2000s included Wonder Woman prominently in Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, but she never received her own series like Batman and Superman. Despite her century-long legacy, Wonder Woman has yet to have a dedicated animated series. She's appeared in DC Universe direct-to-video films, but only starred in two: Wonder Woman (2009) and Wonder Woman: Bloodlines (2019). Given the popularity of superhero content, it's perplexing why a solo Wonder Woman project remains elusive.
AnswerSee ResultsLet Me Play as Wonder Woman, Dammit
The cancellation of the Wonder Woman game from Monolith Productions adds to the frustration. Whether the poor performance of other DC games like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and MultiVersus influenced this decision is unclear, but the long development period ending in cancellation feels like a missed opportunity, especially as it would have been Diana's first leading role in a video game. With character action games experiencing a resurgence, a game featuring Diana, akin to God of War or Ninja Gaiden, seems like a perfect fit.
While Diana has been playable in games like Injustice, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, and various LEGO DC titles, the absence of a AAA action game starring Wonder Woman is glaring. DC's failure to build on the success of Rocksteady's Batman Arkham series with games featuring Wonder Woman, Superman, and the Justice League represents a significant missed opportunity. It's particularly galling that Diana's first appearance in the Arkham timeline in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League sees her killed off as a non-playable character, while male Justice League members survive as evil clones.
The lack of progress in Wonder Woman's film franchise, absence of dedicated animated series, and poor video game representation reflect a troubling lack of respect by Warner Bros. and DC for one of their most iconic characters. If they undervalue the third biggest hero in their lineup, it raises doubts about their respect for the broader DC brand. As Gunn's Superman reboot aims to redefine the DCU, it's crucial that Warner Bros. recognizes the untapped potential of Diana Prince. After nearly a century, she and her fans deserve better.
