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

2025 marks a significant milestone for DC as James Gunn's Superman film sets the stage for the new DCU's theatrical debut, alongside a robust lineup of films and TV shows from DC Studios. Additionally, the Absolute Universe in the comics is generating buzz within DC's publishing division. Amidst the excitement surrounding this fresh slate of DC universe media, one major question looms large: 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 pivotal figure in the DC universe, yet her presence in recent DC franchise media has been notably absent.

Beyond the pages of comics, Diana of Themyscira has faced challenges in recent years. Her live-action film franchise struggled following the mixed reception of Wonder Woman 1984, and she is noticeably absent from the current DCU lineup, with Gunn and his team choosing to develop a show about the Amazons instead. Wonder Woman has never had a dedicated animated series, and her anticipated first solo video game, announced in 2021, was unfortunately cancelled. With all these setbacks, it's crucial to examine how Warner Bros. and DC are managing the future of this legendary female superhero.

During the peak rivalry between the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DCEU in the late 2010s, the first Wonder Woman film stood out as a major success for the latter. Released in 2017, it garnered largely positive reviews and grossed over $800 million worldwide. Following the divisive reception to Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad, Patty Jenkins' portrayal of Diana resonated with audiences in a way that recent DC films had not. While the film was not without flaws, such as third act problems and Gal Gadot's performance focusing more on action than character depth, its strong performance suggested the potential for a thriving franchise.

However, the sequel, Wonder Woman 1984, released in 2020, did not meet these expectations. It received mixed reviews and failed to recoup its budget due to its simultaneous release on HBO Max and in theaters amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The sequel's narrative issues, tonal inconsistencies, and controversial elements, such as Diana having sex with Steve Trevor in another man's body, did not help its case. Despite these shortcomings, the absence of a third film in development and the lack of other Wonder Woman projects is disappointing, especially when characters like Batman and Spider-Man frequently receive reboots and relaunches.

Diana Prince, Missing in Action

With the new DCU launching a fresh wave of adaptations, one might expect Wonder Woman to be a focal point. Yet, the DCU's initial lineup, titled Chapter One: Gods and Monsters, does not include a dedicated Wonder Woman project. Instead, DC Studios head James Gunn and producing partner Peter Safran have prioritized less familiar properties such as Creature Commandos, Swamp Thing, Booster Gold, and The Authority. While there's merit in exploring lesser-known IPs, this choice is puzzling when compared to the inclusion of new takes on Superman, Batman, and Green Lantern, with no sign of Wonder Woman.

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The DCU has announced Paradise Lost, a series focusing on the Amazons of Themyscira, set before Wonder Woman's birth. While exploring the Amazons' history and enriching Wonder Woman's mythology is commendable, creating a show within the Wonder Woman franchise without featuring Wonder Woman herself evokes comparisons to the Sony Marvel Universe. This approach raises questions about whether DC Studios values Diana as a main attraction or merely as a backdrop for world-building. The urgency to launch Batman projects, potentially leading to two concurrent live-action Batman franchises, contrasts starkly with the lack of urgency for a Wonder Woman project.

The DC Animated Universe from the '90s and early 2000s did feature Wonder Woman prominently in Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, but she never received her own solo animated series. Despite her nearly century-long history, Wonder Woman has only starred in two direct-to-video animated films: Wonder Woman in 2009 and Wonder Woman: Bloodlines in 2019. Given the popularity of superhero media in recent decades, it's perplexing that Wonder Woman has not yet headlined a dedicated animated series or more animated films.

The cancellation of the Wonder Woman game in development at Monolith Productions adds to the frustration. Whether the poor performance of other DC-related games like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and MultiVersus contributed to its demise is unclear, but the long development cycle ending in cancellation feels like a missed opportunity for Diana's first leading role in a video game. With the resurgence of character action games, a game featuring Diana, akin to God of War or Ninja Gaiden, seems timely. Although Wonder Woman has been playable in titles like Injustice, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, and various LEGO DC games, the absence of a AAA action game starring her is glaring.

DC's failure to capitalize on the success of the Batman Arkham series with games featuring Wonder Woman, Superman, and the Justice League is a missed opportunity for revenue. It's particularly disheartening that Diana's first appearance in the Arkham timeline, in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, results in her being killed off as a non-playable character, while the male Justice League members, portrayed as evil clones, survive.

The combination of a faltering film franchise, the absence of dedicated animated content, and poor video game representation reflects a lack of respect from Warner Bros. and DC for one of their most iconic characters. If the third most significant hero in their roster is treated with such disregard, it raises doubts about their commitment to the broader DC brand. Hopefully, Gunn's Superman reboot will pave the way for a new era of DC adaptations, moving away from the struggles of the DCEU. As Warner Bros. relaunches its franchise, it's crucial that they recognize the value Diana Prince brings to their universe. After nearly a century, she and her fans deserve better.