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

2025 marks a pivotal year for DC, with James Gunn's Superman film set to kick off the new DCU in theaters, alongside a robust lineup of films and TV shows from DC Studios, and the Absolute Universe making significant strides in DC's comic publishing. Amidst this flurry of activity, however, a glaring absence is felt: What's the plan for Wonder Woman? Created by William Moulton Marston and H. G. Peter, this iconic superhero and cornerstone of the DC universe seems to be missing from the current media landscape.

Outside of the comics, Diana of Themyscira has faced a challenging period. Her live-action film series faltered following the mixed reception of Wonder Woman 1984. She is notably absent from the DCU's current slate, with Gunn and his team favoring a series focused on the Amazons instead. Moreover, Wonder Woman has never had her own animated series, and her much-anticipated 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.

One Hit Wonder

During the peak rivalry between the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DCEU in the late 2010s, the inaugural Wonder Woman film emerged as a standout success for the latter. Released in 2017, it garnered largely positive reviews and grossed over $800 million worldwide. In contrast to the polarizing responses to Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad, Patty Jenkins' portrayal of Diana resonated deeply with audiences. While not flawless, with third act problems and Gal Gadot's performance focusing more on action than depth, the film's strong performance suggested the potential for a thriving franchise.

However, the sequel, Wonder Woman 1984, released in 2020, did not live up to expectations. It divided critics and failed to recoup its budget in theaters, partly due to its simultaneous release on HBO Max during the COVID-19 pandemic. The film's narrative issues, tonal inconsistencies, and controversial elements (such as Diana having sex with Chris Pine's Steve Trevor while inhabiting another man's body) further alienated viewers. Despite these setbacks, a third film was phased out of development, leaving Wonder Woman's cinematic future uncertain. Unlike characters like Batman and Spider-Man, who enjoy frequent reboots, Wonder Woman's absence from the franchise spotlight is disheartening.

Diana Prince, Missing in Action

As the new DCU embarks on a fresh slate of adaptations, one might expect Wonder Woman to be a focal point. Yet, the ambitiously named Chapter One: Gods and Monsters does not feature a dedicated Wonder Woman project. Instead, James Gunn and Peter Safran have prioritized lesser-known properties such as Creature Commandos, Swamp Thing, Booster Gold, and The Authority, alongside new takes on Superman, Batman, and Green Lantern. While exploring obscure IPs can be successful (as seen with Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy), the absence of Wonder Woman is conspicuous.

DC Universe: Every Upcoming Movie and TV Show

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The DCU has announced Paradise Lost, a series set in Themyscyra before Wonder Woman's birth, focusing on the Amazons. While this adds depth to the DC mythology, a show centered around the Wonder Woman universe without Wonder Woman herself evokes comparisons to the Sony Marvel Universe. This raises questions about DC Studios' priorities, particularly when Batman's rapid development might lead to two concurrent live-action franchises, yet Wonder Woman remains sidelined.

Historically, the DC Animated Universe included Wonder Woman prominently in Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, but she never received her own series, unlike Batman and Superman. Even in the realm of direct-to-video animated films, she has only starred in Wonder Woman (2009) and Wonder Woman: Bloodlines (2019). Given the surge in superhero popularity, the absence of a dedicated Wonder Woman project is perplexing.

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Let Me Play as Wonder Woman, Dammit

The cancellation of the Wonder Woman game developed by Monolith Productions adds to the frustration. While it's unclear if the poor performance of other DC games like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and MultiVersus influenced this decision, the loss of Diana's first leading role in a game feels like a missed opportunity. With the resurgence of character action games, a title featuring Wonder Woman, akin to God of War or Ninja Gaiden, could have been timely and thrilling.

Although Diana has appeared in games like Injustice, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, and various LEGO DC titles, the lack of a AAA action game starring her is a notable omission. The success of Rocksteady's Batman Arkham series should have spurred similar projects for Wonder Woman, Superman, and the Justice League. Instead, her first appearance in the Arkham timeline in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League saw her killed off as a non-playable character, with only the male members of the Justice League surviving as evil clones.

This pattern of neglect across films, cartoons, and video games underscores a lack of respect from Warner Bros. and DC towards one of their most iconic characters. If they undervalue Wonder Woman, a key member of the DC Trinity, it raises doubts about their commitment to the broader DC universe. As Gunn's Superman reboot aims to rejuvenate the DCU, it is hoped that Warner Bros. will recognize the untapped potential of Diana Prince and give her the attention she and her fans deserve after nearly a century.