A return for Cheetah (Kristen Wiig) in Wonder Woman 3 wasn’t ruled out by the ending of Wonder Woman 1984. The fact her fate wasn't sealed at the closing of the sequel could well mean that there’s a plan in place for the iconic DC Comics villain to get a second DCEU outing in Diana’s third solo movie, which is confirmed to be in development, with Patty Jenkins on board to direct.

Diana’s feline adversary was one of two villains she had to contend with in Wonder Woman 1984, a movie that involved a wish-granting mystical artifact. One of these wishes gave Kristen Wiig’s Barbara Minerva - a gemologist who suffered from self-esteem issues - abilities that rivaled Wonder Woman’s. Driven by jealousy of everything that Diana had, Barbara became an ally of Pedro Pascal’s Maxwell Lord and helped him follow through with his master plan. Thanks to his Dreamstone powers, Barbara was transformed into the cat-like Cheetah so that she could fight on par with Wonder Woman. Cheetah gave her a challenging fight, but was ultimately overwhelmed by Diana’s skills as an Amazon warrior and her new armor.

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At the end of Wonder Woman 1984, Diana managed to beat both villains and reverse the damage Lord did with all the wishes he granted. The next movie is expected to jump Diana’s story forward by taking her into the present. The film will likely focus on her meeting new friends and foes, but one Wonder Woman 1984 character in particular could be revisited. Patty Jenkins has so far avoiding confirming if the DCEU is done with Cheetah, and the way the movie ended her story certainly left the door open for another big-screen appearance. However, Barbara isn’t the Cheetah anymore. Here’s how she could make that transformation again, and why it would be a good move for Wonder Woman 3.

How Exactly Does Cheetah Turns Back Into Barbara In Wonder Woman 1984?

Wonder Woman 1984 Barbara Minerva

Following Maxwell Lord’s defeat, Wonder Woman 1984 revealed that Barbara was restored to her human form. It was assumed by some that this must have meant that she renounced her “second wish”, but this wasn’t the case at all. Barbara didn’t turn into Cheetah because of a “second wish; her transformation was the result of Lord’s choice to imbue her with powers. When Lord granted wishes to others, the magic of the Dreamstone made it possible for him to take things that belonged to them. Lord used a combination of what he took and transferred it to Barbara. Their wishes were able to empower Barbara with a new form that was fueled by emotions like rage and hatred.

When Diana used the Lasso of Truth to make everyone comprehend what was going on, they renounced their wishes in solidarity. Since it was these wishes that provided Barbara with her Cheetah form, it too had to be taken away. That’s the real reason why she had to go back to being a human. As for her first wish, it’s at least a possibility that she still possesses the powers she started with, considering that she was never seen renouncing her wish to be like Diana.

How Cheetah Can Return

Wonder Woman 1984 Cheetah

Max Lord and the Dreamstone are gone forever, but that doesn’t necessarily mean Barbara can’t be Cheetah again. The Dreamstone was the origin that was picked for Wonder Woman 1984, but it’s not how she acquired the cat-like transformation in the comics. It could be that this method is being saved for Wonder Woman 3. In most versions of the story, Barbara becomes the Cheetah after participating in a ritual in Africa. Exactly how it happens differs from relaunch to relaunch, but one particularly popular take on Cheetah’s origin was the one that played out in the New 52 reboot. In this continuity, Barbara cut herself on an Amazon dagger and transformed into the Goddess of the Hunt. The form that she received as the Goddess of the Hunt was of a warrior with the physical characteristics of a cheetah.

Related: What The DCEU Can Do After Wonder Woman 1984's Divisive Release

It could be that the DCEU’s Barbara will learn about the dagger – or perhaps some other artifact – that will allow her to get back what she lost in Wonder Woman 1984’s ending. For a few moments, she was able to enjoy the strength and confidence that came being with an “apex predator”, and losing that could have a big impact on her character. Instead of regretting what she did, she may just consider this a personal slight, and take measures to try and get her powers back. Since the DCEU is full of magical weapons and devices with divine and mystical origins, a different way could exist for Barbara to become the Cheetah. It may be revealed in Wonder Woman 3 that Barbara has spent the last few decades researching the gods and looking for ways to restore her Cheetah form.

Why Wonder Woman 3 Should Bring Back Cheetah

Wonder Woman Vs. The Cheetah

Cheetah is one DCEU villain that shouldn’t be abandoned after just one movie. That’s largely because the movie didn’t resolve her story – perhaps purposely. As pointed out by Patty Jenkins, Wonder Woman 1984 never really explored Barbara’s thoughts on what happened [via IndieWire]. Did she regret her actions or become even more hateful toward Diana? These are questions that weren’t answered by the movie’s ending. Her conflict with Wonder Woman could be continued and expanded on in the sequel. It could be that she’ll be back again as a secondary villain, but this time as an ally to a different DC character. Cheetah could join forces with Circe, a major enemy of Wonder Woman who fans are hoping will be introduced into the DCEU at some point. The powerful sorceress is high on the list of candidates for Wonder Woman 3’s main villain, and with her magic, she could be the person who helps Barbara find a way to regain her Cheetah abilities.

It would be interesting to see if she would be reduced to the role of a pawn for a second time, or if she will try to become more of an equal partner to the other villain. The latter being the direction Wonder Woman 3 takes would be best, as it would help elevate Cheetah into a more menacing adversary for Diana. It could also reflect Barbara’s evolution as a character. If the movie does bring her back as a villain, it needs to add a new element to her character to keep things fresh. Barbara was trying to find herself while also dealing with a great deal of self-doubt in Wonder Woman 1984; these issues could be resolved in Wonder Woman 3 with Cheetah acting as a more confident character who isn’t held back by jealousy anymore, for better or for worse.

More: Wonder Woman Becomes The DCEU’s Superman AND Batman In 1984

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