"Wonder Woman: 5 Years of Cancellations and Uncertainty Since 1984"

2025 marks a significant year for DC, with James Gunn's Superman film set to kick off the new DCU theatrically, alongside multiple other film and television projects in development. Additionally, the Absolute Universe in comics is generating considerable buzz in DC's publishing arm. Amidst this exciting new lineup of DC universe media, a pressing question looms large: What is happening with Wonder Woman? Created by William Moulton Marston and H. G. Peter, Wonder Woman stands as one of the most iconic superheroes and a cornerstone of the DC universe. Yet, her presence has been noticeably lacking in recent DC franchise media.

Outside of the comics, Diana of Themyscira has faced challenges over the past few years. Her live-action film series stumbled following the mixed reception of Wonder Woman 1984, and there's no Wonder Woman project in the current DCU slate, with Gunn and his team choosing instead to develop a series about the Amazons. Furthermore, Wonder Woman has never had her own dedicated 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 one of the most iconic female superheroes of all time.

During the peak of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and DCEU rivalry in the late 2010s, the initial Wonder Woman film emerged as one of the DCEU's most triumphant stories. Released in 2017, it garnered largely positive reviews and grossed over $800 million worldwide. After Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad divided viewers, Patty Jenkins' portrayal of Diana resonated with audiences in a way that previous DC films had not. While the film isn't flawless—exhibiting third act problems and with Gal Gadot's performance leaning more on poise and action than character depth—it certainly deserved to launch a long-lasting and profitable franchise.

However, the sequel, Wonder Woman 1984, released in 2020, did not meet the same success. It disappointed critics and failed to recoup its theatrical budget, largely due to its simultaneous release on HBO Max during the COVID-19 pandemic. The sequel's narrative issues, tonal inconsistencies, and controversial elements (such as Diana having sex with Chris Pine's Steve Trevor in another man's body) further alienated audiences. This mediocre follow-up did not capitalize on the first film's strengths.

Despite the sequel's flaws, Wonder Woman shouldn't have been sidelined. A third installment was phased out of development, and no new Wonder Woman feature has been announced since. It's disheartening to see Wonder Woman sidelined after one underwhelming movie, especially when characters like Batman and Spider-Man receive numerous reboots and relaunches. Other franchise media could have filled the gap, but there has been a notable absence of Wonder Woman content beyond the big screen.

Diana Prince, Missing in Action

With the new DCU ushering in a fresh era of DC adaptations, one would expect Wonder Woman to be a priority. Yet, the ambitiously titled Chapter One: Gods and Monsters lacks a dedicated Wonder Woman project. Instead, DC Studios head James Gunn and producing partner Peter Safran have chosen to focus on less-known properties such as Creature Commandos, Swamp Thing, Booster Gold, and The Authority. While there's merit in exploring obscure IPs (as seen with Gunn's success with Guardians of the Galaxy), these projects accompany new adaptations of Superman, Batman, and Green Lantern—yet Wonder Woman remains absent.

DC Universe: Every Upcoming Movie and TV Show

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Instead of a Wonder Woman project, the DCU has greenlit Paradise Lost, a television series set in Themiscyra 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 Wonder Woman feels reminiscent of the Sony Marvel Universe. This raises questions about DC Studios' perception of Diana's draw compared to the world-building around her. Why rush to establish another Batman franchise but overlook the need for Wonder Woman in the DC universe?

This approach to the third member of DC's Trinity is unfortunately familiar. The DC Animated Universe from the '90s and early 2000s featured Wonder Woman prominently in Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, but she never had her own solo animated series, unlike Batman and Superman. Even after nearly a century since her debut, Wonder Woman has not had a dedicated animated series. She's a recurring character in DC Universe's direct-to-video animated films, yet has only led two of them: Wonder Woman in 2009 and Wonder Woman: Bloodlines in 2019. Given the popularity of superhero fiction in recent decades, it's puzzling why it's so challenging to produce a Wonder Woman project.

The recent cancellation of the Wonder Woman game developed by Monolith Productions only heightens the frustration. It's unclear if the commercial failures of games like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and MultiVersus contributed to this decision, but the cancellation after years of development feels like a missed opportunity, especially since it would have been Diana's first leading role in a video game. With character action games experiencing a resurgence, it's an ideal time for a Wonder Woman action-adventure game reminiscent of God of War or Ninja Gaiden.

Yes, 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. The absence of a Wonder Woman game following the success of Rocksteady's Batman Arkham series is a significant oversight, particularly when her first appearance in the Arkham timeline in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League saw her being killed off as a non-playable character. Meanwhile, the male members of the Justice League survived as evil clones.

The combination of a struggling film franchise, the lack of animated series, and poor video game representation underscores a troubling lack of respect from Warner Bros. and DC for one of their most iconic characters. If they undervalue the third most significant hero in their lineup, it raises questions about their regard for the broader DC universe. As Gunn's Superman reboot aims to revitalize DC adaptations and move away from the troubled DCEU, Warner Bros. must not overlook the immense value that Diana Prince brings to their franchise. After nearly a century, she and her fans have waited long enough.