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

2025 is a pivotal year for DC, with James Gunn's Superman film set to kickstart the new DCU in theaters, alongside a robust lineup of films and television shows from DC Studios, and the Absolute Universe making significant impacts in DC's comic publishing. Amidst all this excitement, a pressing question looms large: What's happening with Wonder Woman? Created by William Moulton Marston and H. G. Peter, Wonder Woman is not only one of the most recognized superheroes but also a cornerstone of the DC universe. Yet, her presence in recent DC media has been surprisingly scarce.

Outside of the comics, Diana of Themyscira has faced numerous challenges in recent years. The live-action film franchise stumbled after the mixed reception of Wonder Woman 1984. She is notably absent from the current DCU slate, with Gunn and his team choosing to focus on an Amazonian-themed show instead. Moreover, Wonder Woman has never had her own dedicated animated series, and her first solo video game, announced back in 2021, was cancelled. Given these setbacks, it's crucial to explore how Warner Bros. and DC are mishandling one of their most iconic female superheroes. Let's delve into the ways they are dropping the ball with Wonder Woman.

One Hit Wonder

In the late 2010s, amidst the fierce rivalry between the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DCEU, the first Wonder Woman film emerged as a major success for the latter. Released in 2017, the movie garnered largely positive reviews and grossed over $800 million worldwide. Following the polarizing receptions of Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad, Patty Jenkins' portrayal of Diana resonated deeply with audiences. While the film wasn't without its flaws, particularly in its third act problems and Gal Gadot's performance, which focused more on her poise and action than on character depth, it still laid a strong foundation for a potentially lucrative franchise.

However, the sequel, Wonder Woman 1984, released in 2020, failed to live up to its predecessor's success. The film divided critics and failed to recoup its budget due to its simultaneous release on HBO Max and in theaters during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Beyond the release strategy, the sequel suffered from a poorly structured narrative, tonal inconsistencies, and ethically questionable scenes, such as Diana having sex with Chris Pine's Steve Trevor while he inhabited another man's body. These issues contributed to a sequel that was at best mediocre and failed to capitalize on the first film's strengths.

Despite the sequel's flaws, Wonder Woman deserved more than being sidelined. The planned third film was phased out of development, leaving no immediate plans for another Wonder Woman feature. This is particularly disappointing when characters like Batman and Spider-Man receive frequent reboots and relaunches. The lack of other franchise media, such as TV shows or games, to compensate for the film's shortcomings only adds to the frustration.

Diana Prince, Missing in Action

With the new DCU set to introduce a fresh wave of adaptations, one might expect Wonder Woman to be a priority. Yet, the Chapter One: Gods and Monsters lineup lacks a dedicated Wonder Woman project. Instead, DC Studios' head James Gunn and producing partner Peter Safran have chosen to focus on lesser-known properties like Creature Commandos, Swamp Thing, Booster Gold, and The Authority. While there's nothing wrong with exploring obscure IPs (as seen with Gunn's success with Guardians of the Galaxy), it's puzzling that these projects are prioritized alongside new iterations of Superman, Batman, and Green Lantern, while Wonder Woman is left out.

DC Universe: Every Upcoming Movie and TV Show

View 39 Images The DCU has instead announced Paradise Lost, a series centered on the Amazons of Themyscira set before Wonder Woman's birth. While exploring the Amazons' history and enriching Wonder Woman's mythos is commendable, creating a show within the Wonder Woman franchise without featuring Wonder Woman herself evokes the Sony Marvel Universe approach. This raises questions about why DC Studios doesn't view Diana as the main attraction compared to her associated world-building. Why is it so urgent to launch another Batman franchise potentially running concurrently, but not to include Wonder Woman in the new DC universe?

This treatment of the third member of DC's Trinity echoes a long-standing issue. While the DC Animated Universe prominently featured Wonder Woman in Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, she never received her own solo animated series like Batman and Superman. Over nearly a century since her debut, she has starred in only two direct-to-video animated films: Wonder Woman (2009) and Wonder Woman: Bloodlines (2019). Given the surge in superhero media popularity, it's baffling why a Wonder Woman project remains elusive.

Let Me Play as Wonder Woman, Dammit

The recent cancellation of the Wonder Woman game developed by Monolith Productions adds another layer of frustration. While it's unclear if the poor performance of other DC games like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and MultiVersus contributed to its demise, the fact that Diana's first solo game was scrapped after years of development feels like a cruel twist of fate. With the resurgence of character action games, it seems like the ideal time for a Wonder Woman game that could rival titles like God of War or Ninja Gaiden. If Kratos is too busy, surely Wonder Woman could step in to battle Greek mythological monsters.

While 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 her is inexcusable. It's a missed opportunity, especially considering the success of Rocksteady's Batman Arkham series. The fact that Wonder Woman'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 only adds insult to injury, especially since the male members of the Justice League survived as evil clones.

The combination of a faltering film franchise, the lack of dedicated animated series, and poor video game representation highlights a troubling disregard by Warner Bros. and DC for one of their most culturally significant characters. If they undervalue such a pivotal figure in their roster, it casts doubt on their respect for the broader DC universe. Hopefully, Gunn's Superman reboot will signal a new era for DC adaptations, distancing itself from the troubled DCEU. As Warner Bros. moves forward with their revamped franchise, they must not overlook the immense value that Diana Prince brings to their brand. After nearly a century, she and her fans have waited long enough.