We’re less than five months away now from the long-awaited arrival of Wonder Woman, and excitement around it can be expected to increase exponentially over the coming weeks. To that end, producer Zack Snyder has been discussing with USA Today the nature of the Amazonian warrior’s character arc as it relates to the wider DC Extended Universe.
While Wonder Woman is directed by Patty Jenkins, it’s Zack Snyder that introduced audiences to Diana Prince in Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice – and the performance of Gal Gadot in the role was undeniably one of the highlights of that movie. Thus, Snyder is well-placed to comment on the epic journey this legendary character will be taking when her solo movie is released, followed by Justice League.
“Humanity isn’t always the most kind and awesome thing. It has its moments, but it can be brutal, and her coming to terms with that dichotomy is what we come to learn about her. And in Justice League, she’s fully evolved into someone who’s embraced mankind, partly through Superman’s sacrifice. She’s like, ‘All right, I’ve got to pick it up.’”
When we first met Wonder Woman in Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice, she was a reluctant hero – not revealed in full battle dress until the final act, when she felt compelled to intervene. She went on to explain to Bruce Wayne that she effectively abandoned mankind to its “century of horror” – but understands that she no longer has that luxury. She was referring, of course, to her reaction to fighting in World War I. Diana is an ancient being, and came to ‘Man’s World’ from her home – drawn to the need for peace when injured airman Steve Trevor washed up on Themyscira’s shores.
This means that, by the time Wonder Woman first plays for audiences later this year, we already have the broader points of a century-long character arc in which to immerse ourselves. Such a proposition means that the success of Wonder Woman will hinge most heavily on the strength of Gal Gadot’s performance – something in which she has already proved herself. Having come to know who she is in the contemporary DCEU timeline, audiences need Gadot to demonstrate a woman who progresses from idealistic to resigned, to battle-ready once more, in a compelling way.
Provided she’s supported in that endeavour by a great, well-paced story, and the marvellous kind of direction we have come to expect of Patty Jenkins, we should be in for something extraordinary when Wonder Woman arrives on June 2nd, 2017. When Zack Snyder’s Justice League then bows five months later, on November 17th, 2017, we’ll hopefully see Gal Gadot bring her performance full circle – leaving us with a thrilling, fully realized portrait of one of the most legendary comic book icons ever created.