DC's Wonder Woman: 5 Years of Cancellations and Uncertainty Post-1984

2025 is a big year for DC, with James Gunn's Superman film set to kick off the new DCU theatrically. DC Studios has an exciting lineup of film and television projects, and the Absolute Universe in the comics is making significant strides in DC's publishing division. Amidst all this anticipation for the new DC universe media, a critical question remains unanswered: What's happening with Wonder Woman? Created by William Moulton Marston and H. G. Peter, Wonder Woman is one of the most iconic superheroes and a central figure in the DC universe, yet her presence in recent DC media has been disappointingly scarce.

Outside of the comics, Diana of Themyscira has faced numerous setbacks in recent years. Her live-action film franchise struggled following the mixed reception of Wonder Woman 1984. She's absent from the current DCU lineup, with Gunn and his team choosing to focus on a series about the Amazons instead. Wonder Woman has never had a 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 one of the most iconic female superheroes of all time.

In the late 2010s, amidst fierce competition between the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DCEU, the first Wonder Woman film emerged as a standout success for the latter. Released in 2017, the movie garnered largely positive reviews and grossed over $800 million worldwide. Following the divisive reception of Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad, Patty Jenkins' vision of Diana resonated deeply with audiences. While the film wasn't flawless, with third act problems and Gal Gadot's performance focusing more on action than depth, its success 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 in theaters, 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, didn't help its case. Despite these setbacks, Wonder Woman deserved more than being shelved. The third film was phased out of development, leaving fans without a new Wonder Woman feature. Given the numerous reboots and relaunches other characters like Batman and Spider-Man receive, it's disheartening to see Wonder Woman sidelined after one underwhelming sequel.

Diana Prince, Missing in Action

With the new DCU set to launch a fresh wave of adaptations, one might expect Wonder Woman to be a priority. However, the Chapter One: Gods and Monsters slate lacks a dedicated Wonder Woman project. Instead, DC Studios head James Gunn and producing partner Peter Safran have opted for lesser-known properties like Creature Commandos, Swamp Thing, Booster Gold, and The Authority. While there's value in exploring obscure IP, as Gunn did successfully with Guardians of the Galaxy, it's notable that these projects accompany new takes on Superman, Batman, and Green Lantern, yet Wonder Woman remains absent.

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Instead, the DCU has announced Paradise Lost, a television series focused on the Amazons of Themyscira, set before Wonder Woman's birth. While exploring the Amazons' history is valuable, creating a show within the Wonder Woman franchise that doesn't feature her evokes Sony Marvel Universe vibes. It raises questions about whether DC Studios views Diana as less of a draw than the world-building around her. Why rush to launch another Batman franchise but not prioritize Wonder Woman in the new DC universe?

This approach reflects a familiar pattern in adapting the third member of DC's Trinity. The DC Animated Universe from the '90s and early 2000s included Wonder Woman prominently in Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, but she never received a 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 decades, it's puzzling why it's so challenging to bring a Wonder Woman project to life.

The recent cancellation of the Wonder Woman game developed by Monolith Productions underscores this issue. While other DC games like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and MultiVersus have struggled, the loss of Wonder Woman's first leading role in a game feels like a missed opportunity, especially as character action games are making a comeback. An action-adventure game starring Diana, akin to God of War or Ninja Gaiden, could have been a perfect fit.

Sure, Diana has been playable in games like Injustice, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, and various LEGO DC titles, but she deserves a AAA action game of her own. 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 significant oversight. It's particularly insulting that in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, Diana appears only to be 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 from animated series, and poor representation in video games highlight a concerning 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 respect for the broader DC brand. With James Gunn's Superman reboot on the horizon, hopefully, it will pave the way for a renewed focus on DC adaptations. As Warner Bros. relaunches their franchise, they must recognize the value Diana Prince brings to their enterprise. After nearly a century, she and her fans have waited long enough.