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

2025 marks a significant milestone 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 waves in the comics world. Amidst this flurry of activity, one glaring omission stands out: the absence of Wonder Woman. Created by William Moulton Marston and H. G. Peter, Wonder Woman is not only one of the most recognizable 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 setbacks. Her live-action film series stumbled after the mixed reception of Wonder Woman 1984, and she's notably absent from the current DCU slate, which instead features a show about the Amazons. Wonder Woman has never had her own animated series, and her 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 delve into how Warner Bros. and DC are mishandling 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 standout success for the DCEU. Released in 2017, it garnered largely positive reviews and grossed over $800 million worldwide. 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 not flawless, with third act problems and Gal Gadot's performance focusing more on poise and action than character depth, the film's strong performance 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 at the box office, partly due to its simultaneous release on HBO Max during the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, 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 audiences. Despite these setbacks, Wonder Woman deserved more than being sidelined. The third film was phased out of development, leaving fans disappointed. Unlike characters like Batman and Spider-Man, who receive multiple reboots, Wonder Woman has been left in the lurch after one underwhelming sequel.

Diana Prince, Missing in Action

With the new DCU set to launch a fresh slate of adaptations, one would expect Wonder Woman to be a priority. Yet, the ambitiously named Chapter One: Gods and Monsters 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 merit in exploring obscure IPs, as Gunn did successfully with Guardians of the Galaxy, it's puzzling that Wonder Woman is absent from the lineup, especially when new projects for Superman, Batman, and Green Lantern are in the works.

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Instead, the DCU has announced Paradise Lost, a TV series about the Amazons of Themyscira 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 doesn't see Diana as the main attraction over the world-building associated with her. Why is it crucial to launch Batman's DCU project 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 all too familiar. The DC Animated Universe of the '90s and early 2000s featured Wonder Woman prominently in Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, but she never received her own solo series like Batman or Superman. In fact, Wonder Woman has never had a dedicated animated series despite nearly a century since her debut. She's a regular in DC Universe direct-to-video animated films, yet she's 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 remains 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 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's no excuse for her not having 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 galling that Diana's first appearance in the Arkham timeline in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League sees her killed off as a non-playable character, while the male members of the Justice League survive as evil clones.

The lack of progress in Wonder Woman's film franchise, absence of dedicated animated series, and poor video game representation reflect a troubling 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 casts doubt on 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 have waited long enough.