Since James Gunn and Peter Safran have stepped into their roles of leading DCU, many changes have fueled endless speculation about the franchise’s future. On the one hand, fans are devastated to learn that Henry Cavill will no longerplay Superman, but on the other hand, many are also holding out hope that this sudden change in the DC Universe marks a fresh start.
Wonder Woman 3was one of the most anticipated installments in the DCEU, even though its prequelWonder Woman 1984was not well received by fans. Shortly after the prequel’s debut, Warner Bros. stated that a sequel was in the works. However, after years of development, a turnover in DC Studios' leadership delivered fans bad news:Wonder Woman 3has been canceled since it did not fit with the new DCU’s unfolding vision.
Update August 7th, 2023: This article has been updated by Evan Lewis to better reflect recent developments in the DCU and Gal Gadot’s recent comments regarding her future as Wonder Woman.
WithWonder Woman 3being canceled, many were left to wonder what this meant for the future of Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman in the new DCU. While she made cameo apperances in bothShazam! Fury of the GodsandThe Flash, since those were part of the old DCEU, it seemed like those would be her last time as the character. However, Gal Gadot has recently hinted she is not done playing Wonder Woman and thatsome version ofWonder Woman 3is in development. Here is how Wonder Woman 3 could fit into the DCEU.
How Gal Gadot Could Return In The DCU
Of all the casting in the DCU, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman is easily one of the most iconic. While Cavill and Affleck were great as Superman and Batman, respectively, audiences were used to many different versions of those characters. Wonder Woman, on the other hand, had not had a new live-action performer sinceLynda Carter in the 1970s. For an entire generation, Gal Gadot is now Wonder Woman, and recasting her will be a difficult hurdle to get over.
With it rumored that some DCEU characters will remain in the DCU, like Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, John Cena as Peacemaker, and Viola Davis as Amanda Waller, there is always a chance Gadot could return as Wonder Woman. While some might claim the DCU needs a clean reboot to make sense, audiences accepted Judi Dench in two different Bond continuities and J.K. Simmons as two different versions of J. Jonah Jameson, so Gadot could easily be Wonder Woman in the new DCU.
The Flash, despite being a box office flop, did provide a handy explanation for why Gadot can be Wonder Woman in both universes. The spaghetti multiverse analogy shows that two strands can be together and split off, explaining how characters can look the same but be different versions. This is a simple explanation to say that both the DCEU and DCU Wonder Woman look like Gal Gadot, and maybe they both have the same back story as the 2017 film, but it separates from there.
Paradise Lost Is A Priority
When James Gunn announced Chapter One of the DCU, titled Gods and Monsters, one of the television series in development will be centered on the Amazons of Themysicara. The series is titledParadise Lostand is described as a prequel seriesbefore the birth of Wonder Woman. It is described as being a political drama with various power struggles, similar toGame of Thrones.
Related:How to Watch the Wonder Woman Movies to See Her Full Arc in the DCEU
While both Superman and Batman were given feature film projects, it was interesting that the other member of the DC Trinity did not only get a project announced but instead a prequel series without her. While Superman and Batman have had prequel series like Krypton and Gotham told about the origins of their notable locations, it is an odd pick for the first part of a new interconnected DC Universe. It also could be a placeholder while James Gunn and Peter Safran decided what to do with Wonder Woman or if they want to bring Gal Gadot back.
Elseworlds Is a Possibility
James Gunn has made it clear that not all future DC films will be part of the larger canon.The Batman: Part IIandJoker: Folie à Deuxare the most known examples of this. Anything labeled an “Elseworlds” story is self-contained and part of a totally different universe entirely. While this may confuse more casual fans, it is not out of the question that Gunn is planning a grand send-off for Gadot as the iconic female hero, seeing he seems to be fond of the actress.
As mentioned previously, this could muddle the canon of both the old and new universes if not done properly. It might not be a risk Gunn is willing to take, but if anyone is capable of making it work, it is him. YetWonder Woman 3, set apart from the DCU, might be the best way to give some sense of closure to the original DCEU than whatThe Flashdelivered.
Wonder Woman’s Place In The New DCU
If Gadot stays on as Wonder Woman in the DCU, what could her role be? The casting ofSuperman: Legacyalready features characters like Hawkgirl, Mr. Terrific, Metamorpho, and Guy Gardner as one of many Green Lanterns, so this is aworld already populated with superheroes. Wonder Woman could just be one of many superheroes that exist in this world.
With a younger Superman and a slightly older Batman planned forThe Brave and the Bold, given Batman will have a son, it seems to be a similar dynamic that was set up in the DCEU inBatman V. Superman: Dawn of JusticeandJustice League. However, one key difference is that the filmmakers could lean into Gadot’s Wonder Woman being a season veteran, a meta-commentary on how she has already played the superhero before. She could recruit Superman and Batman into a team, laying the foundation for the Justice League.
Related:Patty Jenkins' Wonder Woman Films: How One Director Captured Two Distinct Styles
Wonder Woman could also factor into some of the bigger plans James Gunn has in store. Notably, in the comics, Wonder Woman was part of the supernatural DC superhero team,Justice League Dark. With a prominent member of the team, Swamp Thing, is set to get his own feature film and the plan being calledGods and Monsters, a supernatural angel might be a big aspect of the series moving forward, and being a demi-god herself, Wonder Woman is perfectly set up for this new world.
Gal Gadot could return as Wonder Woman in a new solo film, but instead of a traditionalWonder Woman 3, it could be a team-up movie with many other supernatural characters like Swamp Thing or fan favorites like Zatanna, Constantine, and Etrigan the Demon.
Due to the present state of the DC Universe, it is quite unlikely thatWonder Woman 3will be released in the next few years. Following the departure of Jenkins, WB is in need of new story ideas and filmmakers to construct a new storyline that will add to the weight of the DCU. Since Gadot’s portrayal of Wonder Woman is still one of the DCEU’s biggest successes, whatever Gunn and Safran have in store for her will be significant.
