"Wonder Woman's Future Uncertain After Five Years of Setbacks"

2025 marks a pivotal year for DC, with James Gunn's Superman film set to kickstart the new DCU theatrically, alongside a robust lineup of films and TV shows from DC Studios, and the Absolute Universe shaking up the comic world. Amidst this flurry of activity, one glaring question looms large: What's happening with Wonder Woman? Created by William Moulton Marston and H. G. Peter, she stands as one of the most iconic superheroes and a cornerstone of the DC universe, yet her presence in recent DC franchise media has been surprisingly scarce.

Beyond the pages of comics, Diana of Themyscira has faced a challenging period. Her live-action film series lost steam following the mixed reception of Wonder Woman 1984, and there's no Wonder Woman project slated in the current DCU lineup, with Gunn and his team choosing instead to focus on a series about the Amazons. Diana has never had her own animated series, and her anticipated first solo video game, announced in 2021, was cancelled. Given all these setbacks, it's crucial to examine how Warner Bros. and DC are managing—or mismanaging—their most iconic female superhero.

One Hit Wonder

During the intense rivalry between the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DCEU in the late 2010s, the first Wonder Woman film emerged as a standout success for DC. 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' vision of Diana resonated with audiences in a way that previous DC films hadn't. While not flawless—the film had third act problems and Gal Gadot's portrayal focused more on poise and action prowess than deep character exploration—it set the stage for what should have been a thriving franchise.

However, the sequel, Wonder Woman 1984, released in 2020, fell short of expectations. It split 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 issues extended beyond its release strategy, with a poorly structured narrative, tonal inconsistencies, and problematic elements (such as Diana having sex with Chris Pine's Steve Trevor in another man's body) contributing to its lukewarm reception. Despite these setbacks, the absence of a third film and the lack of other franchise media featuring Wonder Woman is disappointing, especially when other characters like Batman and Spider-Man receive multiple relaunches.

Diana Prince, Missing in Action

With the DCU poised to launch a new era of adaptations, one would expect Wonder Woman to be a focal point. Yet, the lineup for Chapter One: Gods and Monsters does not include a dedicated Wonder Woman project. Instead, DC Studios' James Gunn and Peter Safran have chosen to highlight lesser-known properties like Creature Commandos, Swamp Thing, Booster Gold, and The Authority. While there's value in exploring these niche IPs, the inclusion of new Superman, Batman, and Green Lantern projects without a Wonder Woman counterpart raises questions.

DC Universe: Every Upcoming Movie and TV Show

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The DCU has announced Paradise Lost, a series focused on the Amazons of Themiscyra set before Wonder Woman's birth. While delving into the Amazons' history and enriching Wonder Woman's mythology is commendable, a show about the Wonder Woman universe without Wonder Woman herself evokes comparisons to the Sony Marvel Universe. It begs the question: Why isn't Diana seen as the central attraction in her own franchise? The urgency to establish a Batman franchise, potentially running two live-action versions concurrently, while neglecting Wonder Woman, is puzzling.

Historically, the DC Animated Universe in the '90s and early 2000s featured Wonder Woman prominently in Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, yet she never received her own solo series, unlike Batman and Superman. Even in DC's direct-to-video animated films, she's a recurring character but has starred in only two: Wonder Woman in 2009 and Wonder Woman: Bloodlines in 2019. With the surge in superhero popularity, the absence of a dedicated Wonder Woman project is baffling.

AnswerSee ResultsLet Me Play as Wonder Woman, Dammit

The cancellation of the Wonder Woman game by Monolith Productions adds insult to injury. Whether the poor performance of other DC games like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and MultiVersus influenced this decision is unclear, but the loss of what would have been Diana's first leading role in a 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 could have been a perfect fit.

While Diana has appeared in games like Injustice, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, and various LEGO DC titles, the lack of a dedicated AAA action game for her is glaring. The success of Rocksteady's Batman Arkham series should have spurred similar ventures for Wonder Woman, Superman, and the Justice League. Instead, Diana's first appearance in the Arkham timeline in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League saw her killed off as a non-playable character, with only the male Justice League members surviving as evil clones.

The mishandling of Wonder Woman across films, cartoons, and video games reflects a broader issue of respect for one of DC's most iconic characters. If Warner Bros. and DC show such disregard for the third pillar of their Trinity, what does that say about their commitment to the rest of their roster? As Gunn's Superman reboot aims to rejuvenate the DCU, let's hope Warner Bros. recognizes the untapped potential of Diana Prince and gives her the spotlight she deserves after nearly a century of waiting.