Wonder Woman is one of the most beloved comic book characters of all time and fans have waited decades to see her finally make a live-action film debut. They got their wish with her supporting role in Batman v Superman, but it was her solo film Wonder Woman that really made an impact.
The amazing superhero film took place during WWI and explored Wonder Woman's discovery of the good and evil in mankind. The massive success of the first film guaranteed a sequel which we will finally get to see next summer. While details have been scarce and secrecy is at a high, we have learned some very interesting details about the follow-up film. Here's everything we know so far about Wonder Woman 1984.
Patty Jenkins
A large part of the success of Wonder Woman must be given to director Patty Jenkins. Stepping into the DCEU with a character who had already been established, Jenkins managed to make a film of her own vision and give audiences a fun, action-packed epic with moving themes.
Not surprisingly, Jenkins will return for the sequel and will have an even bigger creative role this time around. Along with directing the film, Jenkins will also be serving as producer and wrote the script along with Geoff Johns and David Callaham.
Gal Gadot
Before getting the role of Wonder Woman, Gal Gadot was primarily known for her supporting role in the Fast and Furious franchise. There were some who questioned if she was suited for the role of the Amazonian hero, but after stealing the show in Batman v Superman and carrying the solo film, few people question her casting now.
Gadot will indeed be reprising her role in Wonder Woman 1984 which will mark her fourth time playing the part. At this point, Gadot has become one of the most iconic superhero actors working today and a leading figure of the DCEU.
Period Piece
The WWI setting for the first film proved to be a brilliant idea as it allowed Diana to see the horrors mankind is capable of as well as the heroism. Thanks to the other DCEU films, we know Diana continues her adventures in modern times, but the sequel will also be set in the past.
As the title suggests, the movie will be taking place in 1984. While that might seem like an unusual and oddly specific setting for a superhero film, Jenkins assures that the year was chosen for a specific reason. According to Jenkins, she views this time as a high period for the world before things went bad again.
Steve Trevor's Return
Romances have rarely been successful in the comic book genre, but the relationship between Diana and Steve Trevor was actually one of the highlights of the first film. The chemistry between Gal Gadot and Chris Pine was magnificent and their romance was ultimately heartbreaking.
Quite surprisingly considering his death in the first film, Pine has been confirmed to be returning as Trevor in the sequel. Jenkins has said that she had this idea while filming the 2017 film and his return is not just tacked on to please fans.
The Look
Given the wartime setting of the first film, the look of Wonder Woman was grey and dreary. Jenkins looks to be lighting things up with the sequel as least based on the few images we have seen so far.
From the official film images to the amazing posters, the look of Wonder Woman 1984 is arrestingly vibrant and colorful. That certainly makes sense given the 80s setting. This aesthetic could make for a unique and fun feel different from the other superhero films we've seen.
Kristen Wiig As Cheetah
If there was one common criticism for 2017's Wonder Woman it was the lackluster villains. Like the early days of the MCU, the DCEU has had a real problem creating compelling bad guys for their heroes to face. That may change with Wonder Woman 1984's interesting villain choice.
The sequel will find Diana battling one of her best-known enemies, Cheetah. According to her origin story, Barbara Minerva was transformed into a human-cheetah hybrid and became a villain. In a surprising bit of casting, Kristen Wiig will be taking on the role in her first comic book movie.
Pedro Pascal's Unknown
Along with the already impressive cast, including returning stars Robin Wright and Connie Nielsen, Pedro Pascal will also have a role in the upcoming sequel. Pascal is probably best known as Oberyn Martell in Game of Thrones but has also appeared in films like Triple Frontier and Kingsman: The Golden Circle. He will next be seen in The Mandalorian on Disney+.
Beyond an official image from the film, not much is known about Pascal's role. Many are speculating that he is playing Maxwell Lord, a powerful villain from the DC Universe but nothing has been confirmed.
A Standalone Movie
After a rough start for the DCEU, things seem to be back on track with a number of fun films. One change that seems to have been working is allowing the solo films to be standalone adventures.
Despite a few links to the larger universe, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and Shazam! were their own stories. Wonder Woman 1984 has promised to take a similar route. The setting will allow it to avoid much of the overlapping storylines and Jenkins said they will just focus on their own hero's story.
Plot Rumors
Jenkins and company have done a remarkable job at keeping the plot of this sequel under wraps. Not much has been confirmed at this point so all we have are a few interesting rumors.
It has been suggested, the Cold War will play some role in the film with Diana serving as a spy. Other rumors suggest Maxwell Lord is collecting ancient artifacts that end up being responsible for Cheetah's transformation which leads her on a path of revenge. Lord persuades Diana to protect him in exchange for using one of his artifacts to bring Steve Trevor back from the dead.
Release Date
It probably feels like this movie has been teased forever. Filming is complete on the follow-up but we have still yet to see any footage. Even more frustrating, the film was originally supposed to release only a few months from now.
The sequel was first slated to be released in November 2019, however, it has since been changed to June 5, 2020. The reason for the change boils down to the studio wanting to give the filmmakers more time in pre-production which is ultimately good for everyone.