"Wonder Woman Faces Uncertainty 5 Years Post-1984 Film"

2025 marks a monumental year for DC, with James Gunn's Superman film set to kickstart the new DCU on the big screen, alongside a flurry of other film and television projects from DC Studios and the exciting developments of the Absolute Universe in DC's comic publishing. Amid this buzz, a significant question looms: What's happening with Wonder Woman? Created by William Moulton Marston and H. G. Peter, Wonder Woman stands as one of the most iconic superheroes and a pivotal figure in the DC universe, yet her presence in recent DC media has been surprisingly faint.

Beyond the pages of comics, Diana of Themyscira has faced challenges in recent years. Her live-action film series hit a snag following the mixed reception of Wonder Woman 1984, and she's currently absent from the upcoming DCU lineup, which instead focuses on a show about the Amazons. Moreover, Wonder Woman has never starred in her own animated series, and her anticipated first solo video game, announced in 2021, was unfortunately cancelled. This raises the question of what Warner Bros. is doing with such a prominent female superhero. Let's delve into how Warner Bros. and DC may be mishandling Wonder Woman's potential.

One Hit Wonder

During the peak rivalry between the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DCEU in the late 2010s, the original Wonder Woman film emerged as a beacon of success for the latter. Released in 2017, it garnered largely positive reviews and earned over $800 million worldwide. After the mixed reactions to Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad, Patty Jenkins' portrayal of Diana resonated with audiences, even though the film wasn't without its flaws, including third act problems and a focus on Gal Gadot's poise and action prowess over character depth. Despite its strong performance, this should have been the launchpad for a flourishing franchise.

However, the sequel, Wonder Woman 1984, released in 2020, didn't live up to expectations. It divided critics and failed to recoup its budget at the box office, partly due to its simultaneous release on HBO Max amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, the film's narrative issues, tonal inconsistencies, and controversial elements, such as Diana having sex with Chris Pine's Steve Trevor while in another man's body, contributed to its lukewarm reception. Despite the sequel's flaws, the abrupt halt of a third film in development, leaving Wonder Woman sidelined, is disappointing, especially when characters like Batman and Spider-Man receive multiple relaunches.

Diana Prince, Missing in Action

As the new DCU embarks on a wave of fresh adaptations, one might expect Wonder Woman to be at the forefront. However, the DCU's inaugural slate, Chapter One: Gods and Monsters, lacks a dedicated Wonder Woman project. Instead, DC Studios head James Gunn and producing partner Peter Safran have prioritized lesser-known properties like Creature Commandos, Swamp Thing, Booster Gold, and The Authority, alongside new takes on Superman, Batman, and Green Lantern. While there's merit in exploring obscure IPs, the absence of Wonder Woman from this lineup is notable.

DC Universe: Every Upcoming Movie and TV Show

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Instead of a Wonder Woman project, the DCU has announced Paradise Lost, a TV series centered on the Amazons of Themyscira, set before Wonder Woman's birth. While exploring the Amazons and enriching Wonder Woman's mythology is commendable, creating a series within her franchise without her presence echoes the Sony Marvel Universe approach. This raises questions about why DC Studios doesn't view Diana as the main attraction over the world-building associated with her. Why is there such haste to launch a new Batman franchise, potentially running two simultaneously, but no urgency to feature Wonder Woman?

This treatment of the third member of DC's Trinity is reminiscent of past trends. In the DC Animated Universe of the '90s and early 2000s, Wonder Woman was a key character in Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, yet never starred in her own series, unlike Batman and Superman. She's featured in DC Universe's direct-to-video animated films but has only headlined two: Wonder Woman in 2009 and Wonder Woman: Bloodlines in 2019. Given the surge in superhero media over the past decades, the lack of a dedicated Wonder Woman project is puzzling.

AnswerSee ResultsLet Me Play as Wonder Woman, Dammit

The recent cancellation of the Wonder Woman game developed by Monolith Productions adds to the frustration. Whether this was influenced by the underwhelming performance of other DC games like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and MultiVersus remains unclear, but the long development cycle ending in cancellation is disheartening, especially since it would have been Diana's first lead role in a game. With the resurgence of character action games, now seems the ideal time for a Wonder Woman action-adventure game akin to God of War or Ninja Gaiden.

While Wonder Woman has been playable in games like Injustice, 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 capitalize on the success of the Batman Arkham series with games for Wonder Woman, Superman, and the Justice League is a missed opportunity. 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 the male members of the Justice League survive as evil clones.

From the faltering film franchise to the lack of animated series and poor video game representation, Warner Bros. and DC's approach to one of their most iconic characters is concerning. If they undervalue such a pivotal hero in their lineup, it raises doubts about their respect for the broader DC universe. With James Gunn's Superman reboot on the horizon, hopefully, it will pave the way for renewed focus on DC adaptations. As Warner Bros. relaunches its franchise, it's crucial not to overlook the potential and significance of Diana Prince, who, along with her fans, has waited long enough for her due recognition after nearly a century.