DC's Wonder Woman: Cancellations and Uncertainty 5 Years Post-1984

2025 is a big year for DC. James Gunn's Superman film will launch the new DCU theatrically, DC Studios has several film and television productions in the pipeline, and the Absolute Universe in the comics is making big waves in DC's publishing division. However, amidst all the excitement for this new slate of DC universe media, a major question looms large: What's happening with Wonder Woman? Created by William Moulton Marston and H. G. Peter, she is one of the most iconic superheroes and a cornerstone of the DC universe, yet her presence in recent DC franchise media has been surprisingly scarce.

Outside of the comics, Diana of Themyscira has faced numerous setbacks in recent years. Her live-action film franchise stumbled after the mixed reception of Wonder Woman 1984, and she is absent from the current DCU lineup, with Gunn and his team choosing instead to focus on a series about the Amazons. Diana has never starred in her own animated series, and her anticipated first solo video game, announced in 2021, was cancelled. Given these challenges, it's crucial to examine how Warner Bros. and DC are handling one of the world's most iconic female superheroes. Let's delve into how they might be missing opportunities with Wonder Woman.

One Hit Wonder

During the peak competition between the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DCEU in the late 2010s, the first Wonder Woman film was a standout success. Released in 2017, it garnered largely positive reviews and earned over $800 million globally. After the polarizing responses 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. While not flawless, with third act problems and Gal Gadot's performance focusing more on poise and action rather than character depth, the film's success seemed poised to launch a thriving franchise.

However, the sequel, Wonder Woman 1984, released in 2020, did not meet expectations. It divided critics and failed to recoup its budget at the box office, partly due to its simultaneous release on HBO Max and in theaters during the COVID-19 pandemic. The sequel's narrative inconsistencies, tonal shifts, and controversial elements, such as Diana having sex with Steve Trevor while he was in another man's body, further distanced audiences. Despite these shortcomings, the lack of a third film, which was phased out of development, feels like a missed opportunity, especially considering the multiple reboots and relaunches given to characters like Batman and Spider-Man. The absence of Wonder Woman from other franchise media is equally disappointing.

Diana Prince, Missing in Action

With the new DCU heralding a fresh era of DC adaptations, one might expect Wonder Woman to be a priority. Yet, the Chapter One: Gods and Monsters lineup, spearheaded by James Gunn and Peter Safran, lacks a dedicated Wonder Woman project. Instead, they've opted for adaptations of lesser-known properties such as Creature Commandos, Swamp Thing, Booster Gold, and The Authority. While there's nothing wrong with exploring obscure IP, as Gunn did successfully with Guardians of the Galaxy, it's puzzling that Wonder Woman is missing from a slate that includes new takes on Superman, Batman, and Green Lantern.

DC Universe: Every Upcoming Movie and TV Show

View 39 ImagesThe DCU has announced Paradise Lost, a television series focused on the Amazons of Themyscira before Wonder Woman's birth. While exploring the history of the Amazons and enriching Wonder Woman's mythology is commendable, creating a show within the Wonder Woman franchise without Wonder Woman herself feels reminiscent of the Sony Marvel Universe. This raises questions about DC Studios' priorities and why they don't see Diana as a primary draw over her associated world-building. Why the rush to establish a new Batman franchise, potentially running two concurrently, but no urgency to include Wonder Woman?

This approach to the third member of DC's Trinity is not new. The DC Animated Universe from the '90s and early 2000s featured Wonder Woman prominently in Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, but she never received her own solo series as Batman and Superman did. Despite her long history since her first publication nearly a century ago, Wonder Woman has never had a dedicated animated series. She appears regularly 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 popularity over the past decades, it's perplexing why a Wonder Woman project is so elusive.

Answer

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Let Me Play as Wonder Woman, Dammit

The cancellation of the Wonder Woman game by Monolith Productions adds to the frustration. It's unclear whether the poor performance of other DC games like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and MultiVersus contributed to its demise, but the fact that it would have been Diana's first lead role in a game makes its cancellation particularly disheartening. With the resurgence of character action games, now seems like the perfect time for an action-adventure game starring Diana, drawing inspiration from titles like 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 excuse 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 missed opportunity for revenue. 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 the male members of the Justice League, portrayed as evil clones, survive.

The lack of progress in Wonder Woman's film franchise, the absence of dedicated animated series, and the poor representation in video games reflect a troubling lack of respect for one of DC's most iconic characters. If Warner Bros. and DC show such little regard for the third biggest hero in their roster, it raises doubts about their commitment to the broader DC brand. As James Gunn's Superman reboot aims to usher in a new wave of DC adaptations, it's crucial that Warner Bros. does not overlook the value that Diana Prince can bring to their franchise. After nearly a century, she and her fans deserve better.