Earlier this week, Gal Gadot teased a “Wonder Woman” update on Twitter and an announcement. Fans thought it to mean good news, probably word about Patty Jenkins’ “Wonder Woman 3,” and possibly an update, release date, or word that the project was officially moving forward. “A few years ago, it was announced that I was going to play Wonder Woman,” she wrote. “I’ve been so grateful for the opportunity to play such an incredible, iconic character, and more than anything, I’m grateful for YOU, the fans. Can’t wait to share her next chapter with you.”
READ MORE: James Gunn & Peter Safran To Lead WB’s Newly Branded DC Studios
That past tense, “I’ve been so grateful for the opportunity,” read like a kind of goodbye to some fans. And while that’s not official by any stretch, there’s some dire-sounding news tonight from the trades.
THR reports that “Wonder Woman 3” with Patty Jenkins is not moving forward in its current state. states ominously that DC is “hitting a turning point” and talks about an upcoming “messy transition period.” Evidently, the issue is the change in leadership. New DC Studios heads James Gunn and Peter Safran are in the final stages of prepping their multi-year plan ahead of next week’s pivotal presentation to Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, and by the sounds of THR’s report, they may have some drastic, reboot measures in mind. At least, some of those ideas sound like they are on the table.
Multiple sources tell THR “Wonder Woman 3” is not moving forward and is “considered dead in its current incarnation.” Apparently, Jenkins’ recently submitted her, co-written with Geoff Johns and Gunn, and the new WB management, including co-CEOs Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy, told her the pitch did “not fit in with the new [DC] plan.”
The same THR writer on Twitter, Borys Kit, suggested that despite the recent announcements, Henry Cavill’s “Man of Steel 2” could be dead, which, if true, is not only a massive about-face—Cavill recently announced his official return as the hero in October— but sounds like the roadmap for a major reboot at DC. (Cavill’s Superman appearance at the end of “Black Adam” was meant to boost that film, but it could not crack the $400 million mark at the worldwide box office, and today, Deadline wrote a strange piece doing some fundamental financial gymnastics to try and frame “Black Adam” as a box office winner, despite reports to the contrary).
Things are apparently in major flux. THR also basically spoils a well-known secret for fans: Cavill has shot a cameo appearance for “The Flash,” but he thinks it could be cut from the film. “The Flash” is already set to be a reboot film that changes much of the DC Universe, and if these worrisome reports are heading in the direction we think they’re going, they could use the movie to do a drastic reboot of the entire DC Universe.
While cost is not a factor, apparently, DC could save a ton of money by not making “Wonder Woman” with Gal Gadot. She was set for a $20 million payday for “Wonder Woman 3” while Jenkins would have received $12 million. So, it’s unclear where this is all heading, officially anyhow, but reading the tea leaves, this sounds very dire for the DC Universe and actors like Gadot and Cavill playing these parts moving forward. THR even points to rumors that suggest Jason Momoa wouldn’t return as Aquaman after “Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom,” and a potential reboot being a total refutation of the DC universe built by Zack Snyder and begun in “Man Of Steel.” All of these characters have shot cameos for “The Flash,” but sources tell the trade that the studio is considering cutting them all.
THR adds that also unlikely is a “Black Adam 2” (note that the water-carrying Deadline report initially said a “Black Adam” sequel and a “Hawkman” spin-off were in the works, but those elements were quickly scrubbed from the article).
The complications of full resets are many. There are four DC Universe films that are done and have release dates: “Shazam! Fury of the Gods” (March 17, 2023), on which Safran is a producer, “The Flash” in July, “Blue Beetle” (Aug. 18, 2023) and the aforementioned “Aquaman” sequel coming out December 2023 and if any of them are super successful that could have an impact. We stress that nothing is set and stone, and DC Studios is apparently weighing many different options. That said, if I were a DC fan, I would be very worried right now. All this sounds urgent and ominous, and a huge DC reset like this—if it happens—could be one of the biggest, most drastic measures ever taken by a studio in modern movie times.