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

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 significant waves in DC’s publishing division. Amidst this excitement for a new slate of DC universe media, one massive question looms large: What’s happening with Wonder Woman? Created by William Moulton Marston and H. G. Peter, she is one of the most recognizable superheroes and a key figure in 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 over the past few years. Her live-action film franchise struggled after the mixed reception of Wonder Woman 1984, and she is notably absent from the current DCU lineup, with Gunn and his team choosing instead to focus on a show about the Amazons. Diana has never had a dedicated animated series, and her anticipated first solo video game, announced in 2021, was cancelled. This raises the question: What is Warner Bros. doing with one of the most iconic female superheroes of all time? Let’s examine how Warners and DC might be mishandling Wonder Woman.

At the height of the competition between the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DCEU in the late 2010s, the first Wonder Woman film emerged as one of the DCEU’s most undeniable success stories. Released in 2017, it garnered largely positive reviews and grossed over $800 million worldwide. Following the divisive reactions to Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad, Patty Jenkins' portrayal of Diana resonated with audiences in a way the previous DC films hadn't. While not perfect, with third act problems and Gal Gadot’s performance focusing more on poise and action than character depth, the film's success suggested the start of a promising franchise.

However, the sequel, Wonder Woman 1984, released in 2020, did not meet the same acclaim. 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 issues, including a poorly structured narrative, tonal inconsistencies, and unaddressed problematic elements (such as Diana having sex with Chris Pine’s Steve Trevor while he was inhabiting another man’s body), further alienated audiences. This sequel was a significant letdown compared to its predecessor, and despite these setbacks, a third entry was phased out of development. It's disappointing to see Wonder Woman sidelined after just one underwhelming film, especially when characters like Batman and Spider-Man frequently receive reboots and relaunches.

Diana Prince, Missing in Action

With the new DCU poised to launch a fresh wave of DC adaptations, one would expect Wonder Woman to be a priority. Yet, the slate titled Chapter One: Gods and Monsters lacks a dedicated Wonder Woman project. Instead, DC Studios head James Gunn and producing partner Peter Safran are focusing on lesser-known properties like Creature Commandos, Swamp Thing, Booster Gold, and The Authority. While there's nothing wrong with exploring obscure IP (as seen with Gunn's success with Guardians of the Galaxy), it's notable that these projects are being developed alongside new adaptations of Superman, Batman, and Green Lantern, yet Wonder Woman remains absent.

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Instead of a Wonder Woman project, the DCU has announced Paradise Lost, a television series about the Amazons of Themyscira set 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 featuring Wonder Woman herself evokes comparisons to the Sony Marvel Universe. This approach raises questions about DC Studios’ belief in Diana as the primary draw versus her associated world-building. Why the urgency to launch a second Batman franchise concurrently, yet no similar push for a Wonder Woman project?

This adaptational approach towards the third member of DC’s Trinity echoes a familiar pattern. The DC Animated Universe from the 90s and early 2000s prominently featured Wonder Woman in Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, yet she never received a solo show like Batman or Superman. In fact, Wonder Woman has never had a dedicated animated series despite nearly a century since her first publication. She's a regular in DC Universe direct-to-video animated films, but has starred in only two: Wonder Woman in 2009 and Wonder Woman: Bloodlines in 2019. Given the booming popularity of superhero fiction in recent decades, the absence of a Wonder Woman project is puzzling.

The cancellation of the Wonder Woman game developed by Monolith Productions underscores these frustrations. While it's unclear if the poor performance of other DC-related games like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and MultiVersus contributed to its demise, the loss of what would have been Diana’s first leading role in a game feels like a missed opportunity. With character action games experiencing a resurgence, the time seems ripe for an action-adventure game starring Diana, akin to God of War or Ninja Gaiden.

Although 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 featuring Wonder Woman is glaring. The success of Rocksteady’s Batman Arkham franchise highlighted the potential for lucrative superhero games, yet DC never capitalized on this with games featuring Wonder Woman, Superman, or the Justice League. It’s particularly galling that Diana’s first appearance in the Arkham timeline in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League resulted in her being killed off as a non-playable character, while the male Justice League members survived as evil clones.

The combination of a faltering film franchise, the lack of animated series, and poor video game representation reflects a disappointing lack of respect from Warner Bros. and DC for one of their most iconic characters. If they undervalue the third biggest hero in their roster, it raises doubts about their regard for the thousands of other characters within the DC brand. Hopefully, Gunn’s Superman reboot will usher in a new era of DC adaptations, moving away from the troubled DCEU. As Warner Bros. relaunches their franchise, they must not overlook the immense value that Diana Prince can bring to their enterprise. After nearly 100 years, both she and her fans have waited long enough.