"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, multiple projects in development across film and television, and the Absolute Universe making significant impacts in DC's comic publishing. Amidst this flurry of activity, one glaring absence stands out: What's happening with Wonder Woman? Created by William Moulton Marston and H. G. Peter, this iconic superhero and key member of the DC universe seems to be missing from the spotlight in recent DC franchise media.

Beyond the pages of comics, Diana of Themyscira has faced challenges in recent years. Her live-action film series stumbled after the mixed reception of Wonder Woman 1984, and she's currently absent from the DCU lineup, with Gunn and his team focusing instead on an Amazon-centric show. Additionally, Wonder Woman has never had her own animated series, and her first solo video game, announced in 2021, was cancelled. Given these setbacks, it's crucial to examine how Warner Bros. and DC are handling this beloved character.

One Hit Wonder

During the peak of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and DCEU rivalry in the late 2010s, the original Wonder Woman film was a standout success for DC. Released in 2017, it garnered largely positive reviews and earned over $800 million worldwide. Patty Jenkins' vision of Diana resonated with audiences in a way that previous DC films like Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad had not. While the film wasn't flawless, with third act problems and Gal Gadot's performance focusing more on action and poise than depth, its strong performance suggested the potential for a thriving franchise.

However, the sequel, Wonder Woman 1984, released in 2020, didn't live up to expectations. It divided critics and failed to recoup its budget at the box office, partly due to its simultaneous release on HBO Max amid 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 in another man's body, further alienated audiences. Despite these challenges, the absence of a third film in development and the lack of other Wonder Woman projects across various media is disappointing, especially considering the frequent reboots and relaunches of other major characters like Batman and Spider-Man.

Diana Prince, Missing in Action

With the new DCU set to launch a fresh slate of adaptations, one might expect Wonder Woman to be a focal point. Yet, the Chapter One: Gods and Monsters lineup omits a dedicated Wonder Woman project. Instead, James Gunn and Peter Safran have chosen to focus on lesser-known properties such as Creature Commandos, Swamp Thing, Booster Gold, and The Authority, alongside new iterations of Superman, Batman, and Green Lantern. While there's value in exploring lesser-known IPs, the absence of Wonder Woman is notable, especially given her status as a key member of DC's Trinity.

DC Universe: Every Upcoming Movie and TV Show

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The DCU has announced Paradise Lost, a series set before Wonder Woman's birth, focusing on the Amazons of Themyscira. While enriching the lore around Wonder Woman's origins is valuable, producing a show within the Wonder Woman franchise without featuring Wonder Woman herself echoes the Sony Marvel Universe approach. This raises questions about whether DC Studios views Diana as less of a draw than her associated world-building. The urgency to launch Batman projects, potentially leading to two concurrent live-action Batman franchises, contrasts starkly with the lack of focus on Wonder Woman.

This pattern of sidelining Wonder Woman is not new. In the DC Animated Universe of the '90s and early 2000s, while she was a significant presence in Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, she never received her own solo series, unlike Batman and Superman. Even in the popular realm of direct-to-video animated films, Wonder Woman has been the lead in only two out of numerous releases: Wonder Woman in 2009 and Wonder Woman: Bloodlines in 2019. The absence of a dedicated Wonder Woman animated series, despite her nearly century-long legacy, is puzzling.

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Let Me Play as Wonder Woman, Dammit

The cancellation of the Wonder Woman game developed by Monolith Productions adds another layer of frustration. Whether the poor performance of other DC games like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and MultiVersus contributed to this decision remains unclear, but the fact that Diana's first solo game was scrapped after years of development is disheartening. With character action games experiencing a resurgence, a Wonder Woman game akin to God of War or Ninja Gaiden seems like a missed opportunity. While Diana has appeared in games like Injustice, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, and various LEGO DC titles, the lack of a AAA action game dedicated to her is glaring.

The absence of Wonder Woman from major gaming projects, coupled with the lack of progress in her film and television endeavors, reflects a broader issue of underrepresentation. The failure to capitalize on the success of Rocksteady's Batman Arkham series with games featuring Wonder Woman, Superman, and the Justice League is a significant oversight. Adding insult to injury, Diana's first appearance in the Arkham timeline in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League saw her killed off as a non-playable character, while the male Justice League members were spared, albeit as evil clones.

The overall treatment of Wonder Woman across various media platforms suggests a lack of respect from Warner Bros. and DC for one of their most iconic characters. This raises concerns about their commitment to the broader DC roster. As Gunn's Superman reboot aims to revitalize the DCU, it's crucial that Warner Bros. recognizes the value that Diana Prince brings to their franchise. After nearly a century, Wonder Woman and her fans deserve better.