"Wonder Woman's Future Uncertain 5 Years Post-1984"

2025 marks a significant year for DC, with James Gunn’s Superman film set to launch the new DCU theatrically, alongside a plethora of film and television projects in development and the Absolute Universe making waves in the comics. Amidst this excitement, a glaring question remains: What is 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 subdued.

Outside of comics, Diana of Themyscira has faced numerous setbacks. Her live-action film franchise struggled following the mixed reception of Wonder Woman 1984, and she is absent from the current DCU lineup, which instead focuses on a show about the Amazons. Additionally, Wonder Woman has never had a dedicated animated series, and her first solo video game, announced in 2021, was cancelled. These developments raise serious questions about Warner Bros.' strategy for one of the most iconic female superheroes of all time. Let’s explore how Warner Bros. and DC have mishandled Wonder Woman.

During the peak of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and DCEU rivalry in the late 2010s, the first Wonder Woman film emerged as a major success for the DCEU. Released in 2017, it garnered largely positive reviews and earned over $800 million globally. Following the divisive reception of Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad, Patty Jenkins' portrayal of Diana resonated with audiences in a way the previous DC films had not. While the movie had its flaws, including third act problems and Gal Gadot’s performance focusing more on poise and action than character depth, it should have been the foundation for a thriving franchise.

However, the sequel, Wonder Woman 1984, released in 2020, fell short of expectations. It divided critics and failed to recoup its budget due to its simultaneous release on HBO Max and in theaters 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 he was in another man’s body, further alienated viewers. This sequel did not capitalize on the first film’s strengths, resulting in a disappointing follow-up.

Despite the sequel’s shortcomings, Wonder Woman should not have been sidelined. Plans for a third film were phased out, and no new Wonder Woman movie has been announced since. It’s disheartening to see Wonder Woman sidelined after one underwhelming film, especially when other characters like Batman and Spider-Man receive multiple reboots and relaunches. The lack of other franchise media featuring Wonder Woman only adds to the frustration.

Diana Prince, Missing in Action

As the new DCU begins with a fresh slate of adaptations, one might expect Wonder Woman to be a priority. Yet, the Chapter One: Gods and Monsters lineup does not include 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 IP, as Gunn successfully did with Guardians of the Galaxy, it’s puzzling that these projects are prioritized alongside new takes on Superman, Batman, and Green Lantern, while Wonder Woman is overlooked.

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The DCU has announced Paradise Lost, a television series about the Amazons of Themiscyra set before Wonder Woman’s birth. While exploring the Amazons' history 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 why DC Studios does not see Diana as the main attraction compared to the world-building around her. Why is it crucial to launch the DCU’s Batman so quickly, potentially leading to two concurrent live-action Batman franchises, but not 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 a solo animated series like Batman or Superman. Despite her regular appearances in DC Universe direct-to-video animated films, she has only starred in two: Wonder Woman in 2009 and Wonder Woman: Bloodlines in 2019. Given the popularity of superhero fiction over the past few decades, it’s baffling why a Wonder Woman project has been so elusive.

The recent cancellation of the Wonder Woman game developed 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 long development period ending in cancellation feels like a cruel twist of fate, especially since it would have been Diana’s first leading role in a video game. With character action games experiencing a resurgence, it seems like the perfect time for a Wonder Woman action-adventure game akin to 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 is no valid reason for her not to have 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. It’s particularly insulting that Diana’s first appearance in the Arkham timeline in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League involves her being killed off as a non-playable character, while the male members of the Justice League survive as evil clones.

The combination of a faltering film franchise, the absence of dedicated animated series, and poor video game representation reflects a 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 DC characters. Hopefully, Gunn’s Superman reboot will pave the way for 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 Diana Prince brings to their universe. After nearly a century, she and her fans deserve better.