James Gunn’s DCU Is Already Failing Wonder Woman

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James Gunn’s newly launched DC Universe is facing early challenges with Wonder Woman. Today, on International Women’s Day, is a great time to talk about this incredibly iconic superhero. Wonder Woman was recently named the most popular female superhero in the US, and she’s been a beloved character in comics, movies, and on TV – thanks to actresses like Lynda Carter and Gal Gadot – for almost a century.

DC Comics has traditionally recognized Wonder Woman’s importance, often placing her alongside Batman and Superman as one of their three leading heroes. Recent Wonder Woman comics have been particularly well-received. However, despite being a globally recognized icon and a key part of DC’s publishing, the DC Universe hasn’t fully showcased her as the major cultural force she is.

Wonder Woman Deserves A Solo Project In James Gunn’s DCU

James Gunn’s vision for the DC Universe is taking shape quickly. Projects like Superman, Peacemaker, The Suicide Squad, and Creature Commandos have launched the franchise successfully. With more shows and movies like Supergirl, Lanterns, and Clayface on the way, the DCU seems to be heading in a positive direction. However, one major character, Wonder Woman, is currently being overlooked in these plans.

Currently, the only Wonder Woman project planned for the DC Universe is the series Wonder Woman: Paradise Lost. While James Gunn recently confirmed the series hasn’t been cancelled, it’s still likely years away from release. There haven’t been any announcements about a new Wonder Woman movie since June, which suggests that the character isn’t a major focus for the DCU, despite her iconic status.

Wonder Woman is such a significant and well-known character that she should have been a central part of the DC Universe from the beginning, similar to Superman. It’s surprising that a villain like Clayface is getting his own project before Wonder Woman does. It doesn’t make sense that even an animated series like Creature Commandos was prioritized over a Wonder Woman project.

James Gunn’s new DC Universe should be prioritizing Wonder Woman, and the fact that it isn’t suggests a misstep. She deserves to be a central figure, not treated as secondary to less prominent or male-focused characters. By not making her a priority, the DCU is overlooking a chance to make Wonder Woman even more popular than she already is.

Wonder Woman Was One Of The Best Parts Of Zack Snyder’s DCEU

The current direction for the new Wonder Woman project in James Gunn’s DC Universe feels like a step back, especially when compared to how well Zack Snyder’s previous DC films portrayed the character. While Snyder’s universe had its issues – films like The Flash and Black Adam weren’t always successful, and some choices about Superman were debated – most people agree that Wonder Woman was consistently well-handled.

The 2017 Wonder Woman film was a huge hit with both audiences and critics, earning a 93% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and being considered one of the best movies in the DC Extended Universe. Though Wonder Woman 1984 didn’t fare as well, the first film was a well-made and respectful portrayal of the character, finally showcasing Wonder Woman as a truly compelling hero.

Wonder Woman played a key role in the DC Extended Universe, both within the stories and in the studio’s overall plans. The DCEU recognized her importance as an iconic character and gave her significant focus. This wasn’t the case at the start of James Gunn’s new DC Universe, however.

A Solo Wonder Woman Show Is Long Overdue

Despite strong portrayals of Wonder Woman in Zack Snyder’s DC films, the character has been surprisingly overlooked by DC for many years. While Gal Gadot’s movies were a positive move, Wonder Woman hasn’t received the same television attention as other major DC heroes. In fact, the classic Lynda Carter series from 1975 remains her only solo live-action TV show – a gap of over fifty years.

Since the debut of Lynda Carter’s Wonder Woman over 50 years ago, DC Comics has created numerous TV shows featuring its heroes. There have been six live-action Superman series and many animated ones, and Batman has appeared in nine animated shows. Green Lantern also has an animated series, and The Flash, Green Arrow, and Batwoman have all had live-action shows on The CW.

The situation continues to worsen regarding standalone superhero shows. We’re getting a live-action Lanterns series, a show focused on Amanda Waller, and Batman: The Caped Crusader has been renewed for a second season. Meanwhile, Wonder Woman has only appeared in ensemble shows like Justice League Unlimited since her last solo series in 1979. There’s a potential origin story show, Paradise Lost, in development, but it might not happen.

DC’s past and future TV plans show they haven’t prioritized Wonder Woman enough. Now, with James Gunn in charge, it’s time to address how the character has been treated for decades. While the launch of the DCU didn’t immediately give Wonder Woman the respect she deserves, there’s still an opportunity to change that with projects like Paradise Lost and future solo adventures.

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2026-03-09 01:54