‘Wonder Woman’ Producers Boast She Will Be ‘Taking The Spotlight’
Even though Wonder Woman isn’t due out until next year, Gal Gadot’s appearance in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice as the DC Comics heroine has amplified fan interest and prompted Wonder Woman producers to tease the film, possibly earlier than planned.
Adding to Gadot’s initial portrayal of the Amazonian warrior and the plot details outlined by the film’s producers, a new image teases Wonder Woman’s origins and her upbringing among the women of Themyscira, revealing that this superhero comes from a long line of strong and powerful warriors.
Wonder Woman Was Forged By Themyscira’s Most Powerful Women
Themyscira is an island concealed from the prying, covetous eyes of man and, as such, has allowed the Amazonian women of Greek mythology to thrive in a self-governing utopia. The hidden island is also the homeland and training grounds of Wonder Woman. It’s this origin story that director Patty Jenkins (Monster) will use to begin her Wonder Woman film, showing fans how the superhero came to become a symbol for truth and justice, far removed from the evils of civilization.
Wonder Woman’s given name is Diana and she’s the only child on Themyscira, which would seem to make for a dull time, except that three women of Themyscira’s royal elite have taken it upon themselves to train the young girl. Diana’s mother, Queen Hippolyta (Connie Nielsen), is aided by her two militant aunts, General Antiope (Robin Wright) and Lieutenant Menalippe (Lisa Loven Kongsli) in rearing Diana and guiding her path, though, as Jenkins reveals, they often disagree as to the appropriate methods for advancing the girl’s training.
“She is the only child they raised together,” says Wonder Woman‘s Jenkins. “And their love for her manifests in a different way for each of them.”
Wonder Woman Will Appeal To Hardcore Comic Book Readers As Well As New Fans
Charles Roven, who produces the live action adaptations of DC Comics along with co-producer Deborah Snyder, says that Wonder Woman was written and planned to appeal to loyal fans as well as new followers, adding that avid comic book readers will find easter eggs hidden throughout Wonder Woman and that much of the story will be loyal to the source material. Wonder Woman will also tell a complete tale, so anyone new to the Wonder Woman story will not be lost in off screen references and story arcs.
“Even though Wonder Woman has changed as women’s place in society has changed, I think what she stands for—her pillars of truth and of love and of peace, of justice—those things are very constant,” adds Ms. Snyder. “I think maybe with all the talk about gender equality, this is the right time for her to be coming and taking the spotlight from all the male superheroes.”
Snyder adds that Wonder Woman is geared toward young girls more than anyone else, building up a great female superhero who preteen girls can look to as a role model. Deborah adds that she feels it’s important for girls to see that there are heroic women out there, just as powerful and ethical as Batman and Superman.
Even so, the producer adds that the film will appeal to men and adult women.
Rover’s big concern for Wonder Woman is that a flop might adversely affect future films with female superheroes. He says a box office failure for Wonder Woman might make studios think twice about producing other similar movies, but he hopes, if the film does fail, it would be viewed as more of a personal failure than a sign that there’s no interest in female superheroes or in Wonder Woman.
“Hopefully we’ll be successful and we don’t have to have a post-mortem discussion like that, but if the film wasn’t successful I would simply say that we just didn’t get it right, as opposed to the idea of, it isn’t worthy,” says the Wonder Woman producer.
Wonder Woman, starring Gal Gadot, Robin Wright, and Chris Pine, is scheduled for a June 2, 2017 theatrical release.
[Image by Warner Bros./DC Entertainment]
