Despite having only two solo movies, Wonder Woman has achieved something that even Superman hasn't in over seven decades of cinematic history, and the DCEU is to thank for it. While Lynda Carter turned Wonder Woman into a household name in the 1970s, it wasn’t until 2017 that Diana Prince finally made her theatrical debut. Gal Gadot brought the Amazon warrior to life in Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman and reprised her role in the less popular Wonder Woman 1984. Gadot also appeared in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Justice League and Zack Snyder's Justice League, Shazam: Fury of the Gods, and The Flash.
Gal Gadot was open to return for a Wonder Woman threequel, but Wonder Woman 3 was canceled when the DCEU came to a premature end and the DCU rebooted the franchise. While a few DCEU characters transferred over to the DCU, the DCEU's Justice League heroes were all left behind. As the DCU takes shape, Wonder Woman’s first appearance in this new universe remains unannounced, but her arrival is undoubtedly just around the corner.
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
Superman's movie history began with the 1948 film serial Superman and continued on the big screen with the 1951 feature film Superman and the Mole Men. Since then, the Man of Steel has starred in six more solo movies (soon seven), two crossover movies (not counting Zack Snyder's Justice League), plus a quadruple cameo appearance in The Flash. Meanwhile, Wonder Woman has only starred in two solo movies, and appeared in two crossover movies, plus two cameos in other DCEU heroes' solo movies. Yet, Wonder Woman has fought four of her own comic book villains on the big screen, while Superman has only fought three.
Gal Gadot's Diana Prince faced Doctor Poison and Ares in Patty Jenkins' Wonder Woman. Three years later, the DCEU's Wonder Woman fought Cheetah and Maxwell Lord. Meanwhile, almost every live-action Superman actor has faced Lex Luthor, and both Christopher Reeve and Henry Cavill's Supermen fought General Zod. Other than Luthor and Zod, the only classic Superman villain in the DCEU was Doomsday. Technically, Cavill's Superman met Darkseid in Zack Snyder's Justice League, but Darkseid barely exchanged a look with the Man of Steel in the Snyder Cut. Superman III's Ross Webster, Superman IV's Nuclear Man, and Superman and the Mole Men's titular villains are all original creations for their respective 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
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The DCU's Gods and Monsters chapter is setting its foundations with movies such as James Gunn's Superman and Andy Muschietti's The Brave and the Bold, but there are no confirmed Wonder Woman movies or shows confirmed for the DCU yet. However, the Paradise Lost series will delve into Amazonian lore with an exploration of Themyscira a.k.a. Paradise Island, presumably set before Diana becomes Wonder Woman. The DCU's first project, Creature Commandos, introduced the franchise's first on-screen supervillain in the form of Circe, the Amazonian sorceress known in DC Comics for being a recurring Wonder Woman antagonist.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav's confirmation that Wonder Woman will be one of the DCU's four most important characters suggests it won't take long for the DCU to introduce a new version of Wonder Woman. The DCU's emphasis on Wonder Woman also suggests many more classic villains will make their way to the big and the small screen sooner rather than later. Villains like Doctor Psycho, Giganta, and Veronica Cale are some of the Wonder Woman villains who could make their debut and fight the DCU's Wonder Woman soon.
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
While the DCEU introduced Wonder Woman to the big screen and delivered some of Superman’s most ambitious storylines yet, there’s still plenty of room for growth. James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Universe has the opportunity to explore Wonder Woman through stories that match, or even surpass, the heart and impact of her 2017 debut. Likewise, the DCU can finally give Superman the chance to confront his vast and underutilized rogues’ gallery. As two-thirds of DC’s iconic Trinity, both heroes have immense potential in this blooming universe, and the DCU seems poised to deliver fresh chapters in their movie history.
