Compared to what came before it, 2017’s Wonder Woman was unlike anything else in the DC Extended Universe’s canon. Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Suicide Squad left many fans underwhelmed, and the DCEU seemed to be waning before it had even begun. In contrast, Wonder Woman proved to be a hit with fans and critics alike, garnering 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and boasting an impressive $821.8 million box office worldwide. This resulted in Wonder Woman endearing itself to both critics and fans and the film is still remembered as a strong contender for the greatest DCEU offering. Unfortunately, the goodwill did not last.
The 2020 sequel, Wonder Woman 1984, flopped both financially and critically, though some of this can be attributed to releasing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lukewarm reception to subsequent movies such as Black Adam and The Flash only compounded this, and Wonder Woman’s future in the DCEU became uncertain. Since then, Gal Gadot has teased a Wonder Woman 1984 sequel, but to many fans’ dismay, this project appears to be a casualty of the DCEU’s conclusion following the release of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. This has left many viewers questioning just how viable and likely a Wonder Woman 3 now appears.
Updated by Timothy Blake Donohoo on April 29, 2024: Wonder Woman 3 at one point seemed like a sure thing, especially during the time in which the DC Extended Universe might have been able to turn things around. That didn't come to pass, however, and the future of a potential Wonder Woman 3, let alone one starring Gal Gadot, is increasingly unlikely. This is now especially the case with the rebooted DC Universe on its way, not to mention the fact that the World's Finest have been recast. Thus, the chances of a true Wonder Woman 3 that brings back any actors from the DCEU is highly unlikely.
Will There Be A Wonder Woman 3?
After the runaway success of Wonder Woman, Wonder Woman 1984 was seen by many as a certain win. Instead, it may very well have killed the franchise. Fans responded negatively for a host of reasons, and this was reflected in the general perception of the DCEU going forward. Firstly, many took umbrage with the movie’s excessive runtime, which was deemed overindulgent. Furthermore, Pedro Pascal’s villain, Maxwell Lord, was perceived as underdeveloped, and the movie’s poignant moments so expertly executed in Wonder Woman felt contrived the second time around. A particularly controversial aspect was the return of Steve Trevor, with his mind being transferred into the body of another man without that man's consent. To make matters worse, word of mouth and poor reviews led to underwhelming box office numbers: Wonder Woman 1984 only grossed $169.6 million against a $200 million budget.
Of course, the movie was also a victim of bad luck. Releasing Wonder Woman 1984 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic was a bold move but one that ultimately backfired. Some pundits noted the film finished above expectations after its first week at the box office given the context, but this wasn’t enough to prevent Warner Bros. from looking long and hard at the future of the franchise. A further string of bad luck arose as a result of the failings of other DC properties. The penultimate film of the DCEU, Blue Beetle -though critically well-received – only attained $129.3 million against a $104 million budget, making it the lowest-grossing film of the DCEU. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom was the final entry in the shared universe, and while it seemingly eked out a scant profit, it was far from an illustrious ending for what had begun a decade beforehand. With the near-universal financial and critical failure of the DCEU, a reboot seemed inevitable.
This had actually been announced a year earlier, with the failure of Black Adam seeing the announcement of James Gunn's Superman. This film was revealed as a reboot that wouldn't involve Henry Cavill's Superman, and the Batman who will appear alongside the Damian Wayne Robin in The Brave in the Bold (another upcoming project in the new DC Universe) will be portrayed by an actor other than Ben Affleck. Needless to say, the chances of a Wonder Woman 3 starring Gal Gadot are fairly low when both Batman and Superman have been recast. At the same time, there's still a strong likelihood that the Amazing Amazon will be premiering soon in the DCU.
What Does James Gunn’s DCU Mean for Wonder Woman?
Despite the relative failure of Wonder Woman 1984, it’s common knowledge that Patty Jenkins (director and co-writer of both previous installments) submitted a Wonder Woman 3 script for consideration to Warner Bros. Little is known of the project, other than that it would likely feature Lynda Carter’s Asteria, the Amazon warrior teased during Wonder Woman 1984’s post-credits scene. However, Jenkins made the behind-the-scenes drama clear when she stated she was willing to re-approach her treatment after it seemingly failed to gel with James Gunn and Peter Safran’s vision for the new DC Universe. At this point, a Wonder Woman 3 still seemed salvageable, especially given Gal Gadot’s cameos in Shazam! Fury of the Gods and The Flash, along with her comments regarding a future installment. In Gadot’s own words, she stated,
However, Gadot’s optimism about the fledgling project now seems entirely unfounded. By December 2022, it became apparent Jenkins was unable to produce a script treatment that aligned with Gunn and Safran’s plans, and she left the project over creative differences. In a defiant statement, Jenkins claimed,
Since then, Gunn announced that none of the cast of Justice League will be returning to the DCU, including Gal Gadot. While some still hoped this may mean Wonder Woman 3 would simply move on with a new director and star, the movie has subsequently been canceled, and Gunn has expressed clear disinterest in taking the property forward.
What’s Next for Wonder Woman On the Big and Small Screen?
Although Gal Gadot and Patty Jenkins have exited, and Gunn has exhibited little interest in Wonder Woman’s future, fans shouldn’t lose hope of one day seeing the Amazonian warrior grace the DC Universe. Intriguingly, part of the DCU’s Chapter 1 – “Gods and Monsters” slate features Paradise Lost, an upcoming HBO Max series set on Wonder Woman’s own Themyscira. Gunn has described the project as a Game of Thrones-esque prequel set before the time of Wonder Woman. Named after John Milton’s epic poem of the same name detailing the biblical fall of man, viewers can expect a high-stakes, philosophical tale, if not an appearance from Wonder Woman herself. The name also recalls the "Paradise Lost" storyline from Wonder Woman comics, and it may even incorporate elements from the DC Black Label book, Wonder Woman: Historia. Whether Woman herself appears or not, a prequel set in Themyscira will help to establish the Amazons as part of the DCU and pave the way for Wonder Woman’s emergence in the future.
Further excitement was sparked via a tweet from James Gunn on October 21st, affectionately known to fans as Wonder Woman Day. Gunn commemorated the character with David Finch’s artistic portrayal of the character, with actor Eiza González (of Alita: Battle Angel and Baby Driver fame) commenting, “This image is the one.” This left many speculating that González is open to or even being considered for the role of Wonder Woman. While this is pure speculation at this point, Gunn’s celebration of Wonder Woman on Wonder Woman Day demonstrates he has not forgotten about nor doesn’t hold respect for the beloved DC character. Coupled with the fact that he has chosen to launch a Wonder Woman prequel as part of the DCU’s Chapter 1 – “Gods and Monsters” lineup, viewers can probably expect to see Wonder Woman on the big screen once more in the not-too-distant future. Given the announcement of James Gunn's Superman and The Brave and the Bold, it is evident Gunn is open to adapting DC legacy characters outside of the lesser-known properties that populate the “Gods and Monsters” slate. Thus, a new Wonder Woman movie (in the place of the likely canceled Wonder Woman 3) should be on the docket.
While 2017’s Wonder Woman arguably stands as the jewel in the DCEU’s crown, Wonder Woman 1984 regrettably derailed the franchise. Poor reviews, word of mouth, and launching during the COVID-19 pandemic created a perfect storm that saw the highly anticipated sequel flop. Given the failings of other DCEU properties and the subsequent launch of the DCU, Wonder Woman 3 stands as one of the many casualties of the massive overhauls currently occurring in DC’s cinematic efforts. It would be rather ridiculous to reboot the cinematic DC Universe – to the point of even recasting Batman and Superman – while keeping the same actress as Wonder Woman. Now that it's been confirmed that previous Justice League actors won't return, anything tied to or resembling the planned Wonder Woman 3 is entirely out of the window. More information on when and where Wonder Woman will appear will likely come after the release of 2025's Superman, but Gal Gadot's time with the Amazing Amazon is now at an end.
