"Wonder Woman's Future Uncertain After 5 Years of Setbacks"

2025 marks a significant year for DC, with James Gunn's Superman film set to launch the new DCU in theaters, alongside a robust lineup of films and TV shows from DC Studios. Additionally, the Absolute Universe in comics is generating substantial buzz within DC's publishing division. Amid this excitement, however, a crucial question looms large: What's happening with Wonder Woman? Created by William Moulton Marston and H. G. Peter, Wonder Woman is one of the most recognizable superheroes and a pivotal figure in the DC universe, yet her presence in recent franchise media has been surprisingly scarce.

Outside of the comics, Diana of Themyscira has faced numerous setbacks in recent years. Her live-action film series struggled after the mixed reception of Wonder Woman 1984. She's absent from the current DCU lineup, which instead features a show about the Amazons. Wonder Woman has never had her own dedicated animated series, and her first solo video game, announced in 2021, was cancelled. These developments raise serious questions about Warner Bros.' strategy regarding one of the most iconic female superheroes. Let's delve into how Warner Bros. and DC are mishandling Wonder Woman.

One Hit Wonder

During the peak of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and DCEU rivalry in the late 2010s, the first Wonder Woman film stood out as a major success for the DCEU. Released in 2017, it garnered largely positive reviews and earned over $800 million globally. Following the polarizing reactions to Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad, Patty Jenkins' portrayal of Diana resonated deeply with audiences. Although the film had its flaws, such as third act problems and Gal Gadot's performance focusing more on action and poise than character depth, it had all the makings of a blockbuster franchise.

However, the sequel, Wonder Woman 1984, released in 2020, did not meet the same success. It received mixed reviews and failed to recoup its budget in theaters, largely due to its simultaneous release on HBO Max during 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 occupied another man's body, further alienated audiences. Despite these shortcomings, Wonder Woman deserved more than to be shelved. A third film was phased out of development, and no further Wonder Woman projects have been announced. It's disappointing to see Wonder Woman sidelined after just one underwhelming sequel, especially when other characters like Batman and Spider-Man receive multiple reboots.

Diana Prince, Missing in Action

As the new DCU launches with a fresh slate of adaptations, one might expect Wonder Woman to be a priority. Yet, the DCU's Chapter One: Gods and Monsters lineup lacks a dedicated Wonder Woman project. Instead, DC Studios head James Gunn and producing partner Peter Safran have opted for less mainstream properties like Creature Commandos, Swamp Thing, Booster Gold, and The Authority. While there's merit in exploring lesser-known IPs (as seen with Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy), these projects are being developed alongside new iterations of Superman, Batman, and Green Lantern—yet Wonder Woman remains conspicuously absent.

DC Universe: Every Upcoming Movie and TV Show

View 39 Images

The DCU has announced Paradise Lost, a TV series focusing on the Amazons of Themiscyra set before Wonder Woman's birth. While this series could enrich Wonder Woman's mythology, producing a show within her franchise without her feels reminiscent of the Sony Marvel Universe. This raises concerns about whether DC Studios sees Diana as less of a draw than her world-building. Why rush to launch two concurrent Batman franchises but leave Wonder Woman out?

The DC Animated Universe from the '90s and early 2000s included Wonder Woman prominently in Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, but she never got her own series like Batman or Superman. Despite nearly a century since her debut, Wonder Woman still lacks a dedicated animated series. She's a regular in DC Universe's 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 media in recent decades, it's puzzling why a Wonder Woman project remains elusive.

Answer

See Results

Let Me Play as Wonder Woman, Dammit

The recent cancellation of the Wonder Woman game by Monolith Productions adds to the frustration. It's unclear if the poor performance of other DC games like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and MultiVersus influenced this decision, but the fact that Diana's first leading role in a game was scrapped feels like a missed opportunity. With the resurgence of character action games, now is the perfect time for a Wonder Woman game that could mirror the style of God of War or Ninja Gaiden. While Diana has been playable in games like Injustice, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, and various LEGO DC titles, there's no justification for her not having a AAA action game.

DC's failure to capitalize on the success of Rocksteady's Batman Arkham series with games featuring Wonder Woman, Superman, and the Justice League is a significant oversight. It's particularly galling that Diana's first appearance in the Arkham timeline in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League results in her death as a non-playable character, while male Justice League members survive as evil clones.

The overall lack of respect from Warner Bros. and DC towards Wonder Woman, from her struggling film franchise to the absence of dedicated cartoons and poor video game representation, is disheartening. If they show such disregard for one of their most iconic characters, it calls into question their commitment to the broader DC universe. Hopefully, Gunn's Superman reboot will herald a new era of DC adaptations, moving away from the troubled DCEU. As Warner Bros. relaunches its franchise, it's crucial they recognize the value Diana Prince brings. After nearly 100 years, she and her fans have waited long enough.