"DC's Wonder Woman: 5 Years of Cancellations and Uncertainty Since 1984"

2025 is set to be a pivotal year for DC, with James Gunn’s Superman film heralding the launch of the new DCU in theaters, a robust slate of film and television projects from DC Studios, and the Absolute Universe making significant strides in DC’s comic publishing. Amidst this excitement for the new DC universe media, a critical question looms large: What is happening with Wonder Woman? This iconic character, created by William Moulton Marston and H. G. Peter, remains one of the most recognizable superheroes and a cornerstone of the DC universe. Yet, her presence in recent DC franchise media has been disappointingly minimal.

Beyond the pages of comics, Diana of Themyscira has faced significant challenges in recent years. Her live-action film series struggled after the mixed reception of Wonder Woman 1984. She is noticeably absent from the current DCU lineup, with Gunn and his team choosing to focus on a series about the Amazons instead. Furthermore, Wonder Woman has never had a dedicated animated series, and her first solo video game, announced in 2021, was cancelled. Given these setbacks, it's crucial to examine how Warner Bros. and DC are handling one of the most iconic female superheroes of all time.

One Hit Wonder

In the late 2010s, amid fierce competition between the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DCEU, the first Wonder Woman film emerged as a standout success for the latter. Released in 2017, the film garnered largely positive reviews and grossed over $800 million worldwide. Following the divisive receptions of Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad, Patty Jenkins’ vision of Diana resonated deeply with audiences, despite some third act problems and Gal Gadot’s performance focusing more on action than character depth. This success should have laid the foundation for a thriving franchise.

However, the sequel, Wonder Woman 1984, released in 2020, did not meet the same acclaim. 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 COVID-19 pandemic. The film's narrative structure, tonal inconsistencies, and controversial elements, such as Diana having sex with Steve Trevor in another man’s body, further alienated audiences. Despite these challenges, the lack of a third film in development is concerning, especially when other characters like Batman and Spider-Man receive multiple reboots and relaunches.

Diana Prince, Missing in Action

As the new DCU begins, one might expect Wonder Woman to be a priority. Yet, the initial slate, titled Chapter One: Gods and Monsters, does not include a dedicated Wonder Woman project. Instead, James Gunn and Peter Safran have chosen to focus on lesser-known properties like Creature Commandos, Swamp Thing, Booster Gold, and The Authority, while also planning new iterations of Superman, Batman, and Green Lantern. Wonder Woman, however, remains conspicuously absent.

DC Universe: Every Upcoming Movie and TV Show

View 39 Images

Instead of a Wonder Woman project, the DCU has announced Paradise Lost, a series set in Themyscira before Wonder Woman's birth, focusing on the Amazons. While exploring the Amazons' history is valuable, a Wonder Woman franchise show without Wonder Woman evokes comparisons to the Sony Marvel Universe. It raises questions about whether DC Studios sees Diana as the main attraction or merely a backdrop for world-building. The urgency to launch multiple Batman projects while neglecting Wonder Woman is particularly striking.

This approach to the third member of DC’s Trinity is reminiscent of past oversights. In the DC Animated Universe of the '90s and early 2000s, Wonder Woman was a key figure in Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, yet she never received her own solo animated series, unlike Batman and Superman. Additionally, despite her regular appearances in DC Universe direct-to-video animated films, she has only starred in two: Wonder Woman (2009) and Wonder Woman: Bloodlines (2019). Given the booming popularity of superhero media, the absence of a dedicated Wonder Woman project is puzzling.

AnswerSee Results

Let Me Play as Wonder Woman, Dammit

The recent cancellation of the Wonder Woman game by Monolith Productions adds to the frustration. While other DC games like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and MultiVersus have struggled, the cancellation of Diana's first solo game feels like a missed opportunity, especially during the resurgence of character action games. A game featuring Wonder Woman, akin to God of War or Ninja Gaiden, could have been a perfect fit.

Yes, Diana has been playable in titles like Injustice, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, and various LEGO DC games, but the absence of a AAA action game starring her is glaring. The success of Rocksteady’s Batman Arkham series highlights the missed opportunity to create similar games for Wonder Woman, Superman, and the Justice League. It's particularly galling that in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, Wonder Woman is killed off as a non-playable character, while the male members of the Justice League survive as evil clones.

This pattern of neglect across films, cartoons, and video games reflects a lack of respect from Warner Bros. and DC for one of their most iconic characters. If they undervalue Wonder Woman, it raises doubts about their regard for the broader DC roster. As Gunn's Superman reboot aims to rejuvenate the DC universe, it's essential that Warner Bros. recognizes the value Diana Prince brings to their franchise. After nearly a century, both she and her fans deserve better.