As a lifelong cinephile who has witnessed the rise and fall of countless franchises, I can’t help but feel a pang of disappointment at the scrapping of the Wonder Woman series. Having grown up watching Gal Gadot’s transformative portrayal of Diana Prince, I find it baffling that Warner Bros. would let such a golden goose fly away.
Although the Gal Gadot-led series enjoyed both critical acclaim and commercial success when it premiered in 2017, it seems to have slipped into obscurity within the DC Universe. Notably, actress Connie Nielsen, who portrayed Hippolyta in Patty Jenkins’s film adaptation of the iconic comic book character, has since expressed her disapproval over Warner Bros.’s decision to end the franchise, arguing that it was a questionable move.
The third “Wonder Woman” movie was officially canceled in December 2022, but there’s still lingering frustration about the lost potential of this popular franchise. Despite encountering numerous challenges as a female-led production, the first “Wonder Woman” film raked in $800 million at the box office and won a Hugo Award, paving the way for other superhero movies. Its sequel, “Wonder Woman 1984,” fell short, but Warner Bros. still gave the green light for a third installment, probably anticipating the challenges of theatrical success during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, administrative changes ultimately nixed the project. Warner Bros. rebranded DC Films as DC Studios, brought in new executives, and established a whole new cinematic universe.
In an interview with Den of Geek, Nielsen expressed her disagreement with the idea of discontinuing the DC universe franchise due to restructuring, stating: “These movies are nothing short of amazing, and I can’t fathom any reason for not pouring resources into them.” She added, “From a business perspective, it would be leaving money on the table,” further emphasizing that the budgets for Wonder Woman films were lower than any previous DC projects. In the end, she expressed her hope that they reconsider their decision, stating, “It’s unfortunate. I truly hope they see the error in their ways and understand this is irrational.
Here’s a staggering sum of one billion dollars sitting on the table. I simply can’t fathom why someone wouldn’t use it to delight their supporters.
How Scrapping Wonder Woman Will Affect Warner Bros. and the DCU
It’s hard to understand why Wonder Woman was cancelled, especially considering the poor performance of the Joker sequel. Given its smaller budget, a devoted fanbase, and a highly praised director, it seems almost certain that Wonder Woman would be a box office hit. The film’s unique gender perspective is also much needed in today’s superhero movie landscape. Even Nielsen isn’t the only one taken aback by Warner Bros.’s decision to end the franchise – stars Chris Pine and Gal Gadot have both voiced their disappointment and astonishment. Clearly, the absence of Wonder Woman is a contentious move for Warner Bros., which is the last thing they need as they work hard to get out of the mess that is Joker: Folie à Deux.
Although there may be pushback, it seems unlikely Warner Bros. will reverse their decision given their lineup of upcoming projects lacks Wonder Woman. However, fans might find some solace knowing that a spinoff TV series focusing on other Amazon characters, including Nielsen’s character, is being developed at this time.
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2024-10-13 16:04