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

2025 marks a monumental year for DC, with James Gunn's Superman film set to kickstart the new DCU, alongside a robust slate of films and TV shows from DC Studios, and the Absolute Universe making significant strides in the comic world. Despite this exciting lineup, one pressing question looms large: What's happening with Wonder Woman? As the creation of William Moulton Marston and H. G. Peter, she stands as one of the most recognizable superheroes and a pivotal figure in the DC universe, yet her presence in recent DC media has been surprisingly scarce.

Outside of the comic books, Diana of Themyscira has faced a challenging period. The live-action film franchise stumbled following the mixed reception of Wonder Woman 1984. Currently, she's absent from the DCU's upcoming projects, with Gunn and his team choosing to focus on an Amazonian-themed series instead. Additionally, Wonder Woman has never had her own dedicated animated series, and a much-anticipated solo video game announced in 2021 was cancelled. Given these setbacks, it's crucial to examine how Warner Bros. and DC are handling this iconic female superhero.

Amidst the intense rivalry between the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DCEU in the late 2010s, the first Wonder Woman film emerged as a resounding success. Released in 2017, it garnered largely positive reviews and grossed over $800 million worldwide. Following the mixed reception of Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad, Patty Jenkins' portrayal of Diana resonated deeply with audiences. While not flawless—suffering from third act problems and a performance by Gal Gadot that prioritized action over character depth—the film's strong performance should have paved the way 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. The sequel's narrative issues, tonal inconsistencies, and controversial elements, such as Diana having sex with Steve Trevor while he inhabited another man's body, further alienated viewers. Despite these challenges, the absence of a third film and the lack of other Wonder Woman projects in the pipeline is disappointing, especially when other characters like Batman and Spider-Man enjoy multiple relaunches.

Diana Prince, Missing in Action

As the new DCU embarks on a new era of adaptations, one might expect Wonder Woman to be a focal point. Yet, the initial slate of Chapter One: Gods and Monsters omits a dedicated Wonder Woman project. Instead, DC Studios' James Gunn and Peter Safran have prioritized lesser-known properties like Creature Commandos, Swamp Thing, Booster Gold, and The Authority, while new iterations of Superman, Batman, and Green Lantern are in development. Wonder Woman's absence is striking.

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Rather than featuring Wonder Woman, the DCU has introduced Paradise Lost, a TV series set before her birth and focusing on the Amazons of Themyscira. While this series aims to enrich the mythology surrounding Wonder Woman, its exclusion of the character herself echoes the Sony Marvel Universe approach. It raises questions about why DC Studios doesn't consider Diana the primary attraction, especially when the DCU seems eager to launch multiple Batman projects simultaneously. This approach to the third member of DC's Trinity is reminiscent of past oversights, such as the lack of a solo animated series for Wonder Woman, despite her prominent role in the Justice League and Justice League Unlimited series. Over the years, she has appeared in various DC Universe animated films but has only starred in two: Wonder Woman in 2009 and Wonder Woman: Bloodlines in 2019. Given the booming popularity of superhero media, it's puzzling why Wonder Woman struggles to secure her own projects.

The cancellation of the Wonder Woman game by Monolith Productions adds to the frustration. While it's unclear whether the poor performance of games like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and MultiVersus played a role, the abandonment of a project that would have been Diana's first lead role in a video game feels like a missed opportunity. With the resurgence of character action games, a Wonder Woman game akin to God of War or Ninja Gaiden seems like a perfect fit. Although Diana has been playable in titles like Injustice, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, and LEGO DC games, there's a glaring absence of a AAA action game dedicated to her. The success of Rocksteady's Batman Arkham series highlights the potential for similar games featuring Wonder Woman, Superman, and the Justice League. Instead, her first appearance in the Arkham universe in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League sees her killed off as a non-playable character, while male Justice League members survive as evil clones.

The mishandling of Wonder Woman across films, animations, and video games reflects a lack of appreciation for one of DC's most iconic characters. If Warner Bros. and DC show such little regard for their third biggest hero, it raises concerns about their respect for the broader DC universe. As Gunn's Superman reboot aims to revitalize the franchise, it's essential that Warner Bros. recognizes the value Diana Prince brings to their brand. After nearly a century, Wonder Woman and her fans deserve better.