Wonder Woman’s Movie Villains Outshine Superman’s: Why the DCU Needs to Keep This Surprising Trend

In just two standalone films, Wonder Woman has managed an accomplishment that Superman, with his over seven decades in cinema, hasn’t achieved. This milestone can be attributed to the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). Although Lynda Carter popularized Wonder Woman in the 1970s through television, it was only in 2017 that Diana Prince first graced the big screen. Gal Gadot brilliantly portrayed this Amazonian heroine in Patty Jenkins’ “Wonder Woman” and reprised her role in the less-favorably received “Wonder Woman 1984”. Besides these films, Gadot also played Wonder Woman in “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice”, “Justice League”, Zack Snyder’s “Justice League”, and upcoming movies like “Shazam: Fury of the Gods” and “The Flash”.

Gal Gadot was willing to reprise her role as Wonder Woman for a third movie, but the production of Wonder Woman 3 was halted when the DCEU concluded abruptly and the DCU restarted the franchise. Although some characters from the DCEU moved to the DCU, the Justice League heroes from the DCEU were never carried over. As the DCU continues to develop, it’s yet to be announced when Wonder Woman will make her debut in this new universe, but her introduction is eagerly anticipated.

Wonder Woman Has Had A Wider Variety Of Movie Villains Than Superman

There Have Been More Wonder Woman Villains Than Superman Enemies On The Big Screen

The cinematic journey of Superman started with the 1948 serial film “Superman” and was followed by the 1951 feature film “Superman and the Mole Men”. Since then, the Steel Man has featured in six standalone films (soon to be seven), two joint movies (excluding Zack Snyder’s “Justice League”), as well as a four-part guest appearance in “The Flash”. Meanwhile, Wonder Woman has appeared in just two solo films and two crossover movies, plus two cameos in other DCEU heroes’ standalone films. However, it is worth noting that Wonder Woman has battled four of her own comic book enemies on the big screen, whereas Superman has only confronted three.

In Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman, Gal Gadot portrayed Diana Prince who confronted Doctor Poison and Ares. Three years advanced, the DCEU’s Wonder Woman battled Cheetah and Maxwell Lord. Meanwhile, most live-action Superman actors have encountered Lex Luthor, with both Christopher Reeve’s and Henry Cavill’s Supermen engaging General Zod. Apart from Luthor and Zod, only Doomsday emerged as a classic Superman villain in the DCEU. Although Cavill’s Superman met Darkseid in Zack Snyder’s Justice League, their interaction was minimal in the Snyder Cut. The antagonists of Superman III, Superman IV, and Superman and the Mole Men were all unique creations specifically designed for those movies.

The DCU Is Already On Track To Keep Diving Deeper Into Wonder Woman’s Lore

A Wonder Woman Villain And Prequel Were Confirmed To The DCU Before It Even Started

The basis for the Gods and Monsters chapter within the DCU is being laid with films like James Gunn’s Superman and Andy Muschietti’s The Brave and the Bold, but there haven’t been any confirmed Wonder Woman movies or series announced for the DCU as of now. However, the Paradise Lost series is set to investigate Amazonian mythology by examining Themyscira, also known as Paradise Island, which will likely occur before Diana assumes her role as Wonder Woman.

In its inaugural project, Creature Commandos introduced the DCU’s first on-screen supervillain in the form of Circe, an Amazonian sorceress who is well-known among DC Comics readers for frequently appearing as a nemesis to Wonder Woman.

David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, confirmed that Wonder Woman is among the four most vital characters in the DC Universe (DCU). This implies a fresh take on Wonder Woman might be introduced by the DCU sooner rather than later. Given the focus on Wonder Woman, it’s likely we’ll see more classic adversaries from her roster appearing on both big and small screens faster. Potential villains such as Doctor Psycho, Giganta, and Veronica Cale are strong contenders to appear and face off against the DCU’s Wonder Woman in upcoming productions.

The DCU Will Likely Fix Wonder Woman And Superman’s Movie Mistakes

James Gunn’s DCU May Put More Focus On Wonder Woman And Superman

The DCEU initially brought Wonder Woman to life on the big screen and crafted some remarkable Superman narratives, but there’s still a lot of room for improvement. The new DC Universe led by James Gunn and Peter Safran offers an excellent chance to portray Wonder Woman in tales that not only equal, but surpass, the emotion and impact of her 2017 debut. Similarly, it’s high time for Superman to engage with his extensive and largely unexploited rogues, as a key member of DC’s Trinity, both heroes hold immense potential in this burgeoning universe, and the DCU appears ready to pen new chapters in their cinematic journey.

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2025-05-23 15:33