Wonder Woman's DC Future Uncertain After 5 Years

2025 is shaping up to be a monumental year for DC. The cinematic launch of James Gunn's Superman will herald the new DCU, with DC Studios developing a robust slate of upcoming films and television series. In the comic book world, the Absolute Universe is creating significant buzz within DC's publishing arm. Yet, amid all the anticipation for this new era of DC content, one major question persists: What is the future of Wonder Woman? Created by William Moulton Marston and H. G. Peter, she stands as one of comics' most iconic superheroes and a cornerstone of the DC Universe—a status that seems strangely absent from the franchise's recent output.

For Diana of Themyscira, the past several years have been challenging outside the pages of comics. Her live-action film series faltered following the mixed reception of Wonder Woman 1984. She currently has no project announced for the new DCU lineup (with Gunn and his team opting instead for a series about the Amazons). She has never headlined her own animated series. Even her first-ever dedicated video game, announced back in 2021, was ultimately cancelled. Considering everything this beloved character has endured, it's fair to ask what Warner Bros. plans for the most iconic female superhero ever. Let's examine how Warner Bros. and DC are mishandling the Wonder Woman franchise.

One Hit Wonder

During the peak rivalry between the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DCEU in the late 2010s, the first Wonder Woman film emerged as one of the latter's clearest triumphs. The 2017 movie earned largely positive reviews and grossed over $800 million worldwide. Following the divisive audience reactions to Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad, Patty Jenkins' portrayal of Diana resonated with moviegoers in a way recent DC films had not. This isn't to call it flawless; the film has third act issues, and Gal Gadot's performance prioritized poise and action credibility over deep character exploration. Still, a film with such success logically should have launched a enduring and profitable blockbuster series.

That, however, wasn't the outcome with the follow-up, Wonder Woman 1984. The 2020 sequel proved a significant disappointment compared to its predecessor, dividing critics and failing to recoup its production costs in theaters. Not all of this is the film's fault; its release coincided with a day-and-date HBO Max and theatrical strategy as audiences remained cautious during the COVID pandemic. Yet, its weak narrative structure, inconsistent tone, and unaddressed problematic elements (who can forget the uncomfortable premise of Diana having sex with Steve Trevor while he inhabited another man's body?) did little to win over viewers. It was, at best, a mediocre sequel that failed to build on the strengths of the original.

Given the frequent reboots for characters like Batman and Spider-Man, it's disappointing that Wonder Woman has been sidelined.“

Even with 1984's shortcomings, Wonder Woman deserved better than being shelved. Plans for a third film were quietly phased out of development, with no movement on a new Wonder Woman feature since. Considering the numerous relaunches for heroes like Batman and Spider-Man, it's a shame to see Wonder Woman neglected after a single disappointing outing. Other media within the franchise could have compensated, but there's a pronounced absence of Wonder Woman content beyond the big screen.

Diana Prince, Missing in Action

With the new DCU launching a fresh wave of adaptations, you might assume Wonder Woman would be a top priority. Yet, the DCU's initial slate, Chapter One: Gods and Monsters, includes no dedicated Wonder Woman project. Instead, DC Studios heads James Gunn and Peter Safran are developing lesser-known properties such as Creature Commandos, Swamp Thing, Booster Gold, and The Authority. While adapting obscure IP is commendable (it worked for Gunn with Guardians of the Galaxy), these projects are launching alongside new versions of Superman, Batman, and Green Lantern. Wonder Woman, however, is conspicuously absent.

DC Universe: Every Upcoming Movie and TV Show

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Instead, the DCU has announced Paradise Lost, a television series centered on the Amazons of Themiscyra, set before Diana's birth. Exploring Amazonian history and enriching Wonder Woman's mythos is a valid approach, but a Wonder Woman-centric show without Wonder Woman herself gives off strong Sony Marvel Universe vibes. It raises questions about why DC Studios views world-building as a bigger draw than Diana herself. Why is it a priority to launch the DCU's Batman so quickly that we might have two concurrent live-action Batman franchises, while Wonder Woman is absent from her own universe?

This adaptation strategy for DC's trinity member is all too 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 received a solo series like Batman or Superman. In fact, Wonder Woman has never had her own dedicated animated series, even after nearly a century in print. She also regularly appears in DC Universe's direct-to-video animated films but has only starred in two: 2009's Wonder Woman and 2019's Wonder Woman: Bloodlines. Given the sustained popularity of superhero fiction over the last two decades, it's puzzling why getting a Wonder Woman project off the ground remains so difficult.

Let Me Play as Wonder Woman, Dammit

This question feels especially relevant following the recent cancellation of the Wonder Woman game in development at Monolith Productions. It's unclear if the commercial failures of other DC games like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and MultiVersus sealed its fate, but its lengthy development ending in cancellation feels like a cosmic joke, especially since it would have been Diana's first solo video game. With character action games seemingly making a strong comeback, the timing would have been ideal for a Wonder Woman action-adventure game in the vein of God of War or Ninja Gaiden. If Kratos is unavailable, shouldn't Wonder Woman step in to battle monsters from Greek mythology?

With character action games making a serious comeback, it feels like the perfect moment for a title starring Diana, similar in playstyle to God of War or Ninja Gaiden. “

To be precise, Diana has been a playable character in the Injustice series, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, and various LEGO DC games. But let's be honest: there is no valid excuse for Wonder Woman to lack a AAA action game. DC's failure to follow up on the success of Rocksteady's Batman Arkham series with games centered on Wonder Woman, Superman, or the Justice League is a shocking waste of potential revenue. This is further compounded by the insult of Diana's first appearance in the Arkham timeline—being killed off as an NPC in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. For context, the male Justice League members survived; those were revealed to be evil clones.

All these factors—the struggling film series, the absence of cartoons, and the poor representation in gaming—highlight a startling lack of regard from Warner Bros. and DC for one of their most culturally significant characters. If they undervalue the third-biggest hero in their roster, why should audiences trust their handling of the thousands of other characters under the DC banner? Ideally, Gunn's Superman reboot will pioneer a new wave of successful DC adaptations, moving beyond the troubled DCEU. But as Warner Bros. progresses with its relaunched franchise, one can only hope they recognize the immense value Diana Prince brings. After almost 100 years, she and her fans have waited long enough.