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

2025 marks a pivotal year for DC, with James Gunn's Superman film set to launch the new DCU theatrically. DC Studios is bustling with numerous film and television projects, and the Absolute Universe in the comics is generating significant buzz within DC's publishing division. Amidst all the excitement for this fresh wave of DC universe media, a glaring question looms large: 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 minimal.

Outside of the comics, Diana of Themyscira has faced a series of setbacks. Her live-action film franchise stumbled following the mixed reception of Wonder Woman 1984, and she is notably absent from the current DCU lineup, with Gunn and his team choosing to focus on a show about the Amazons instead. Additionally, Wonder Woman has never had her own dedicated animated series, and her much-anticipated first solo video game, announced in 2021, was cancelled. Given these challenges, it's crucial to examine how Warner Bros. and DC are managing—or mismanaging—one of the most iconic female superheroes of all time.

During the fierce competition between the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DCEU in the late 2010s, the first Wonder Woman film emerged as one of DC's most triumphant stories. Released in 2017, it garnered largely positive reviews and amassed over $800 million worldwide. After the polarizing responses to Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad, Patty Jenkins' portrayal of Diana resonated deeply with audiences in a way the previous DC films had not. While the film was not flawless, with third act problems and Gal Gadot's performance focusing more on poise and action than character depth, its success suggested the beginning of a thriving 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 and in theaters amidst 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 inhabited another man's body, further alienated audiences. This underwhelming follow-up led to the phasing out of a third installment, leaving Wonder Woman without a new film project. In contrast, characters like Batman and Spider-Man frequently receive reboots and relaunches, making it disheartening to see Wonder Woman sidelined after one disappointing outing.

Diana Prince, Missing in Action

With the new DCU poised to launch a fresh slate of adaptations, one might expect Wonder Woman to be a priority. Yet, the ambitiously named Chapter One: Gods and Monsters does not feature 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 is value in exploring obscure IP—as Gunn successfully did with Guardians of the Galaxy—this approach comes alongside new projects for Superman, Batman, and Green Lantern, with Wonder Woman notably absent.

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Instead of a Wonder Woman-centric project, the DCU has announced Paradise Lost, a television series set in Themiscyra before Wonder Woman's birth. While delving into the Amazons' history and enriching Wonder Woman's mythology is commendable, creating a show within the Wonder Woman franchise without Wonder Woman herself evokes comparisons to the Sony Marvel Universe. This raises questions about why DC Studios does not consider Diana the primary draw over the world-building associated with her. Why is there such urgency to launch a new Batman franchise, potentially running two simultaneously, but not to feature Wonder Woman prominently in the DC universe?

This approach to the third member of DC's Trinity is reminiscent of past trends. The DC Animated Universe in the '90s and early 2000s prominently featured Wonder Woman in Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, but she never received a solo series like Batman or Superman. In fact, Wonder Woman has yet to have her own dedicated animated series despite nearly a century since her debut. While she appears regularly 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 media over the past decades, it's baffling why it remains so challenging to bring a Wonder Woman project to fruition.

The recent cancellation of the Wonder Woman game developed by Monolith Productions adds to the frustration. It's uncertain whether the disappointing 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 missed opportunity, especially since it would have been Diana's first lead role in a video game. As character action games experience a resurgence, the timing seems perfect for an action-adventure game featuring Diana, similar 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 justification for her not having a AAA action game. DC's failure to capitalize on the success of Rocksteady's Batman Arkham series with games centered on Wonder Woman, Superman, and the Justice League is a significant oversight. It's particularly galling 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 struggling film franchise, the absence of animated series, and inadequate video game representation reflects a concerning lack of respect from Warner Bros. and DC for one of their most iconic characters. If they undervalue the third most significant hero in their lineup, it raises doubts about their regard for the thousands of other characters associated with the DC brand. As Gunn's Superman reboot aims to revitalize DC adaptations and move away from the troubled DCEU, it is hoped that Warner Bros. will recognize the immense value Diana Prince brings to their franchise. After nearly 100 years, she and her fans deserve better.