The New Direction James Gunn Needs to Take with Wonder Woman in the DCU
James Gunn takes on the DCU, aiming to revolutionize Wonder Woman's portrayal He delves into fresh perspectives, unleashing a contemporary standalone film without recasting, emphasizing her pivotal role Brace for a groundbreaking Wonder Woman experience!
James Gunn is set to give the DC Comics universe a fresh new look, starting with his highly anticipated project, Superman: Legacy. Scheduled for release in 2025, Gunn has taken on the roles of writer and director for this exciting venture. Following his remarkable success with Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy and DC's The Suicide Squad sequel, Gunn has been entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing the DCU for the foreseeable future.
With his extensive experience in the superhero genre, Gunn was the undeniable choice for this task. However, the task at hand involves more than just reinventing Superman. Wonder Woman, another beloved character, requires significant development in this new iteration. Several changes are needed to propel her character forward and ensure the success of the DCU.
A romance with Batman or Superman or both
Wonder Woman possesses an immense power that surpasses both Batman and potentially even Superman, although a confrontation with the latter would be more evenly matched. There have been numerous indications of a potential romance between Wonder Woman and The Dark Knight, as well as some degree of romantic connection with the Man of Steel, but nothing has materialized for either superhero within the context of the movies.
Although Wonder Woman and Superman have always maintained that they are merely close friends, this is particularly true as Clark Kent's alter ego holds a strong affection for Lois Lane. On the other hand, Batman and Wonder Woman have shared a romantic relationship in the comic books, though this connection has not progressed beyond flirting in the movies. It is high time for these sparks to intensify and create a captivating romantic dynamic for Wonder Woman.
A standalone movie set in the present-day
One alternative could be to introduce a love triangle involving Wonder Woman, Batman, and Superman. This would have provided a more logical justification for the conflict between Batman and Superman in the movie, as opposed to the reasons portrayed in the actual film. The inclusion of a classic love triangle would have generated friction between the two superheroes, ultimately leading to a full-blown war. However, as the story progresses, they would come to the realization that their mothers share the same first name, allowing them to reconcile and mend their broken relationship. The fate of this concept ultimately lies in James Gunn's plans for the future of the DCU and the direction he chooses to take.
In both of the previous Wonder Woman movies, the main storyline was set predominantly in earlier times. The first installment served as an introduction to the character's origins, while the sequel unfolded in the year 1984. Considering the potential for a Wonder Woman 3, it would be fascinating to witness the renowned superhero embark on a contemporary adventure.
Instead of Wonder Woman needing to enter Batman or Superman's world to be part of the present day, her movie could showcase some DCU characters making appearances. Similar to Thor navigating earth in his original film, a rebooted Wonder Woman could adapt to her new surroundings and life in the present day, far from her origins on Themyscira.
James Gunn recently announced the development of a Wonder Woman prequel show called Paradise Lost for HBO Max. This show will focus on Paradise Island before Diana Prince's birth and have a Game of Thrones-style narrative. With Gunn's evident dedication to expanding the Wonder Woman mythology, hopefully he will explore her present-day timeline in a future film or TV series.
Don't recast Wonder Woman, and make her a central focus
Gal Gadot, Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Ezra Miller, and Jason Momoa will not be reprising their roles in the DCU, which is a disappointment to fans. There are rumors that Momoa may return to play a different character, possibly Lobo in Superman: Legacy. Fans believe Gadot is the perfect Wonder Woman and hope that James Gunn will reconsider his decision. Gunn's decision to replace Cavill with David Corenswet in Superman: Legacy has also caused controversy, but his commitment to charting a new path for the DCU should be admired.
Fans recognize that in order for the new DCU to succeed where past movies have failed, certain changes need to be made. However, it is important to acknowledge that Gal Gadot should not be replaced as Wonder Woman. When James Gunn took over The Suicide Squad sequel, he made the decision to primarily focus on different main characters, with the exception of Margot Robbie reprising her role as Harley Quinn. Robbie was the standout performer in the initial Suicide Squad movie, which was otherwise disappointing. Similar reasoning applies to Gal Gadot's portrayal of Wonder Woman. Despite the letdowns of some previous DC movies, Gadot delivered exceptional performances in the Wonder Woman solo films, as well as her appearances in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League. Instead of being replaced in future installments, she should be given a central role in the DCU.
