On May 31, Wonder Woman was banned in Lebanon after the Campaign to Boycott Supporters of Israel asked the Lebanese government's Ministry of Economy and Trade to block the film because its star, Gal Gadot, is a former Israel Defense Forces soldier. Jenkins later confirmed her departure in December 2022, citing creative differences, with Gunn and Safran's reboot ending Gadot's iteration of the character. By May 2018, long-time DCEU producer Zack Snyder confirmed on social media platform Vero that he, along with his wife Deborah Snyder, would serve as producers on the Wonder Woman sequel. In March 2018, Kristen Wiig was confirmed to play Cheetah, the villain of the film. Patty Jenkins initially signed on for only one film, but began working on a sequel with Geoff Johns, who revealed they had a "cool idea for the second one." At the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con, Warner Bros. officially announced a sequel, initially titled Wonder Woman 2, set for release on December 13, 2019, later moved to November 1, 2019. She argued that the film is powerful not because Gadot is Israeli, but because it symbolizes Israel's strength and potential.
Preview directions in Street View in Google Maps
That same month, it was announced that Pedro Pascal would have a key role in the film. Jenkins officially returned as director in September 2017, with Gal Gadot reprising her role, and David Callaham joined to co-write the script with Jenkins and Johns. Gadot initially signed a contract for three DC Extended Universe (DCEU) films, including Wonder Woman, later extending it to include appearances in further DCEU projects. Annika Hernroth-Rothstein, writing for Israel Hayom, highlighted how Wonder Woman is a feminist masterpiece, portraying a strong, independent woman who challenges traditional female stereotypes. The film's release also sparked debates about reconciling feminist values with Gadot's support for Israel.
Wonder Woman ( Credits – Full Cast and Crew
Christina Cauterucci felt Wonder Woman's ability to be considered a "feminist antidote" was undermined by her "sex appeal". Killian suggests these elements "should not be the focus of a kickass heroine—her beauty, bone structure and sexiness—if she is to be a feminist icon". Kyle Killian found an inherent contradiction in the construction of Wonder Woman as "a warrior" who, she states, is highly sexualized. Wonder Woman, according to the BBC had "some thinking it's too feminist and others thinking it's not feminist enough".
Williams then juxtaposes Wonder Woman with past female action heroes Sarah Connor, Ellen Ripley and Lara Croft, whom she suggests were all constructed for the male gaze, in which a "female warrior becomes a sex object". Chris Nashawaty applauded the film's "smart, slick, and satisfying" tone, while emphasizing the irony that a female hero and director set new standards in a male-dominated genre. Scott Mendelson of Forbes called it "the best female-centric comic book movie," far surpassing films like Catwoman (2004) and Elektra (2005), though he noted it has flaws and doesn't match the 2009 animated film Wonder Woman.
Gal Gadot
The project remained in development hell for many years, with writers and directors like Jon Cohen, Todd Alcott, and Joss Whedon attached at various points. Believing the war is orchestrated by Ares, the god of war, she sets out to stop him and end the suffering. Directed by Patty Jenkins from a screenplay by Allan Heinberg, based on a story by Heinberg, Zack Snyder, and Jason Fuchs, it is the fourth installment in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU).
Get directions & show routes in Google Maps
Emily Shire, politics editor at Bustle, highlighted how Gadot's portrayal of Wonder Woman challenged longstanding stereotypes of Jewish women, who were often relegated to secondary or unattractive roles in film. He compared Gadot's representation of the character to Raquel Welch films of the 1960s, and reinforced a comparison with Linda Hamilton's portrayal of Sarah Connor. In contrast, he states, his character Sarah Connor "was not a beauty icon. She was strong…troubled…a terrible mother and…earned the respect of the audience through pure grit." Jenkins responded that Cameron's "inability to understand what 'Wonder Woman' is, or stands for, to women all over the world is unsurprising as, though he is a great filmmaker, he is not a woman".
- They were then able to model over time and grow that audience leading up to the 15-months-later release of Wonder Woman.
- She said, “I trained six hours a day for six months—gym, fight choreography, and horseback riding. It was more intense than the army.”
- It was the biggest single-day gross for a woman-directed film, ahead of the $35.9 million opening Friday of Catherine Hardwicke’s Twilight in 2008 and the biggest opening day for a woman-led comic book superhero film, ahead of Ghost in the Shell ($7 million).
- Rothstein explored how Israeli women, empowered by mandatory military service, are treated equally and encouraged to grow, contrasting this with societies where women face oppression.
- Gadot had previously been offered the role of the Faora-Ul in Man of Steel (2013) but turned it down due to her pregnancy.
- Diana translates Maru’s notes, revealing that the Germans plan to release the deadly gas at the Western Front.
Beyond the US and Canada, the film was released day-and-date with its North American debut in 55 markets (72% of its total release) and was projected to debut with anywhere between $92–118 million. It was also the 16th superhero film to cross $100 million in its domestic box office launch. This included $11 million it made from Thursday previews, also the best start for a film directed by a woman, surpassing Fifty Shades of Grey's (2015) $8.6 million which was directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson and the third-biggest of the year, behind Beauty and the Beast and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. The film opened Friday, June 2, 2017, across 4,165 theaters and made $38.2 million on its opening day, including $3.7 million in IMAX. Jenkins wanted to make a "classic, Richard Donner-style superhero movie— a tentpole of yesteryear" film.
In present-day Paris, Diana receives a photographic plate from Wayne Enterprises of herself and four men taken during World War I, prompting her to recall her past. Fighting alongside man in a war to end all wars, Diana will discover her full powers and her true destiny. On July 18, Alamo Drafthouse proposed settlement offers of a Wonder Woman DVD to the complaints, stating "Respondent did not realize that advertising a 'women's only' screening was a violation of discrimination laws." The chain responded with an online statement saying the event "may have created confusion—we want everybody to see this film" and announced a similar event at their Brooklyn location. Jordan was reportedly also considering a ban of the film and suspended screenings pending a decision, but on June 11, it was reported that the government decided not to do so, as there was no legal precedent for it. On June 6, Variety reported that Algiers, the capital of Algeria, pulled the film from the "Nuits du Cinéma" film festival.
- The American Film Institute included it in its top ten films of 2017, and it won the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation in 2018.
- Unlike other franchise films that prioritize brand consistency, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. gave Jenkins and Jensen creative freedom, allowing them to craft a distinctive aesthetic that aligned with Wonder Woman’s character and origin story.
- The project remained in development hell for many years, with writers and directors like Jon Cohen, Todd Alcott, and Joss Whedon attached at various points.
- Ticket selling site Fandango reported that Wonder Woman rounded the final leg of its marketing campaign as the most anticipated blockbuster of summer 2017, according to a poll conducted by 10,000 voters, the biggest survey in company history.
- The chain responded with an online statement saying the event “may have created confusion—we want everybody to see this film” and announced a similar event at their Brooklyn location.
Production
Jenkins responded by giving him some extra creative control over his character, which Brave Rock said was "unprecedented". Gadot described Diana as having "the heart of a human so she can be emotional, she's curious, she's compassionate, she loves people. And then she has the powers of a goddess. She's all for good, she fights for good." She also said that Diana has "many strengths and powers, but at the end of the day she's a woman with a lot of emotional intelligence". Nicole Kidman was in negotiations for the role of Queen Hippolyta, but was forced to drop out due to scheduling conflicts with Big Little Lies. As well, Elena Anaya's performance as Doctor Poison is the cinematic debut of that character. She said, "I trained six hours a day for six months—gym, fight choreography, and horseback riding. It was more intense than the army."
Director
Others said she was too thin to portray the character, who traditionally is depicted as busty and muscular. Some criticized the casting, arguing that Gadot's Israeli background should have disqualified her from playing the role, which is often seen as an American symbol of freedom. Gadot later signed a three-picture deal and received a base salary of $300,000 for the film itself. Gadot had previously been offered the role of the Faora-Ul in Man of Steel (2013) but turned it down due to her pregnancy. Gadot said that the movie dingo casino login is a "coming-of-age story, it's about her become an adult, really. From a child to an adult, and understanding the complexities of life."
Rachel Becker of The Verge stated that despite the scientific liberties of using a "hydrogen-based" chemical weapon as a plot device, the film succeeds in evoking real and horrifying history. Roger Denson highlighted the "No Man's Land" sequence, calling it "one of the most powerfully mythopoetic scenes ever filmed," and that it raises "the esteem for powerful yet compassionate women as heroes and leaders to a level equal with that of men for having won over a huge and adoring popular audience around the world." Wonder Woman received a highly positive response from critics, with some calling it the DC Extended Universe's best film, praising Jenkins's direction and the acting, chemistry between Gadot and Pine, musical score and action sequences.