One came from Jesse McLaren who states “Cameron’s just confused there’s a female hero whose motivations aren’t centered around motherhood.” Noah Berlatsky found areas of agreement between Cameron and Jenkins, stating that while Cameron’s objection is “an old point that’s been made over and over for decades”, Jenkins’s film is not “solely focused on objectifying Gal Gadot for a male audience”. A Newsweek article suggests that in contrast to his criticism of Jenkins, Cameron’s own films include “lot of objectification” and quotes Hollywood celebrities who echoed this view. She argued “there is no right and wrong kind of powerful woman” because “if women have to always be hard, tough and troubled to be strong and we aren’t free to be multidimensional or celebrate an icon of women everywhere because she is attractive and loving, then we haven’t come very far, have we?” Reaction to this debate was mixed.
Producer
Jenkins responded by giving him some extra creative control over his character, which Brave Rock said was “unprecedented”. Gadot described Diana as having “the heart of a human so she can be emotional, she’s curious, she’s compassionate, she loves people. And then she has the powers of a goddess. She’s all for good, she fights for good.” She also said that Diana has “many strengths and powers, but at the end of the day she’s a woman with a lot of emotional intelligence”. Nicole Kidman was in negotiations for the role of Queen Hippolyta, but was forced to drop out due to scheduling conflicts with Big Little Lies. As well, Elena Anaya’s performance as Doctor Poison is the cinematic debut of that character.
Patty Jenkins
By August 8, the film had garnered $400 million in ticket sales, becoming the second female-fueled film (after Disney’s Beauty and the Beast), Warner Bros.’ third-biggest movie (after Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises), holding the record of the highest-earning superhero origin film, replacing the previous record held by Spider-Man (2002). Its three-day opening alone made it the highest-grossing woman-led comic book superhero film ever (surpassing Ghost in the Shell). It was the biggest single-day gross for a woman-directed film, ahead of the $35.9 million opening Friday of Catherine Hardwicke’s Twilight in 2008 and the biggest opening day for a woman-led comic book superhero film, ahead of Ghost in the Shell ($7 million). O’Hara elaborated that the modest campaign route they took for Supergirl aided in establishing a large central fanbase among women well in advance of the series, which reportedly generated 5 million female superhero fans in one week. Wright noted that the film’s message was “not just female empowerment; it’s about love and justice. That’s what the film is about. And what a great message to spread to our little ones.” Danny Huston who is playing Erich Ludendorff, stated the film as an anti-war film.
Cast & Crew
Shortly afterward, Paul Feig said he had pitched the studio an idea for Wonder Woman as an action-comedy film. In 2010, Warner Bros. stated that a Wonder Woman film was in development, along with films based on DC Comics superheroes the Flash and Aquaman. Development for a live-action Wonder Woman feature film began in 1996, with Ivan Reitman attached as producer and possible director. The American Film Institute included it in its top ten films of 2017, and it won the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation in 2018. It grossed over $824 million worldwide, making it the tenth highest-grossing film of 2017 and the highest-grossing film by a solo female director until it was surpassed by the Chinese film Hi, Mom (2021). The film received critical acclaim for its direction, performances, visuals, story, action sequences, and cultural significance, though some criticism was directed at the climax.
Cast
They were then able to model over time and grow that audience leading up to the 15-months-later release of Wonder Woman. The success of the superhero television series Supergirl informed the marketing and promotion strategy used for Wonder Woman. Australian musician Sia sang a song for the film, titled “To Be Human”, featuring English musician Labrinth. On November 3, 2016, Rupert Gregson-Williams was hired to write and compose the film’s music. A standout shot involved a custom-built rig resembling a “roller-coaster of pipe and tracks,” designed to move the camera from a high vantage point down to ground level while capturing the action in slow motion. Jenkins and Jensen studied the vibrant portraits of Edwardian painter John Singer Sargent’s vibrant portraits, particularly those from around 1918, to create a period aesthetic without relying on muted tones.
- The estuary at Lower Halstow in Kent is featured in the scene in which Diana arrives at a Belgian creek to make her way to the warfront.
- Kyle Killian found an inherent contradiction in the construction of Wonder Woman as “a warrior” who, she states, is highly sexualized.
- Hippolyta tells Diana the story of how Ares became jealous of humanity and orchestrated its destruction.
- He compared Gadot’s representation of the character to Raquel Welch films of the 1960s, and reinforced a comparison with Linda Hamilton’s portrayal of Sarah Connor.
- The project remained in development hell for many years, with writers and directors like Jon Cohen, Todd Alcott, and Joss Whedon attached at various points.
Gadot said that the movie is a “coming-of-age story, it’s about her become an adult, really. From a child to an adult, and understanding the complexities of life.” Jenkins noted that she faced pushback from the studio regarding her decision to make Wonder Woman vulnerable, as some questioned portraying the character with flaws rather than as purely strong or perfect. The film also incorporates elements from DC Comics’ origin changes in The New 52 reboot, where Diana is the daughter of Zeus. Director Jenkins drew inspiration from William Moulton Marston’s 1940s stories and George Perez’s 1980s in which he modernized the character. When Patty and I had our creative conversations about the character, we realized that Diana can still be a normal woman, one with very high values, but still a woman.
However, even in London, Jensen avoided complete desaturation, achieving a balance by filming under overcast winter light chicken road game money to create a soft patina. Themyscira, Wonder Woman’s utopian homeland, was depicted with azure skies, verdant fields, and clear waters, symbolizing a paradise untouched by war. Bill Westenhofer served as the visual effects supervisor for the film and Martin Walsh served as editor. The estuary at Lower Halstow in Kent is featured in the scene in which Diana arrives at a Belgian creek to make her way to the warfront.
Development of a live-action Wonder Woman film began in 1996, with Ivan Reitman initially set to produce and possibly direct. The film stars Gal Gadot as the title character, alongside Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Danny Huston, David Thewlis, Connie Nielsen, and Elena Anaya. Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences. Fighting alongside man in a war to end all wars, Diana will discover her full powers and her true destiny. Steve tells Diana of the ongoing First World War, and she becomes convinced that Ares, the Greek god of war, is behind it.
Among the film sets were Lower Halstow, Kent, and Australia House in England and the Sassi di Matera, Castel del Monte and Camerota in Southern Italy. The film was shot on 35mm, with principal photography on the film began on November 21, 2015, under the working title Nightingale. Whitaker recalls, “We built around 160 costumes in total,” highlighting the meticulous attention to detail that conveyed Diana’s evolution from a princess on Themyscira to a warrior hero.
- Emily Shire, politics editor at Bustle, highlighted how Gadot’s portrayal of Wonder Woman challenged longstanding stereotypes of Jewish women, who were often relegated to secondary or unattractive roles in film.
- By April 2008, Silver hired Jennison and Strickland to write a new script set in contemporary times that would not depict Wonder Woman’s origin, but explore Paradise Island’s history.
- In the present day, Diana sends an email to Bruce Wayne thanking him for the photographic plate of her and Steve.
- Gadot had previously been offered the role of the Faora-Ul in Man of Steel (2013) but turned it down due to her pregnancy.
- You know, two hours of weight training, two hours of swords training and then two hours of horseback riding”. Robin Wright was cast as Antiope. Wright said training for the film included riding, weights, martial arts, and eating 2,000–3,000 calories a day.
- Gadot initially signed a contract for three DC Extended Universe (DCEU) films, including Wonder Woman, later extending it to include appearances in further DCEU projects.
Deadline Hollywood calculated the film’s net profit as $252.9 million, accounting for production budgets, marketing, talent participations, and other costs; box office grosses and home media revenues placed it sixth on their list of 2017’s “Most Valuable Blockbusters”. Estimates for the number the film needed to surpass internationally in order to cover its production and promotional costs and break even ranged from $300 million to $460 million. On April 17, it was announced that Wonder Woman would be released in China on June 2, the same day as its North American release. Belgium, Singapore and South Korea received the film first, with May 31 openings.
For Israeli audiences, there was an added sense of pride in seeing a Jewish woman lead such a prominent international film. According to Times of Israel, Gadot’s portrayal of the superhero carries special significance, symbolizing a strong, empowered woman. Dan Lainer-Vos, a sociology professor at University of California in Los Angeles, who is Israeli, explained that American Jews fit into U.S. society easily and don’t see themselves as different, while Israeli Jews, influenced by mandatory military service, are seen as tougher or more “macho.” He added that Israeli women are often viewed as “exotic” and admired for their strength. The Atlantic, examined how Jewish identity has evolved in the U.S., noting that Ashkenazi Jews were gradually assimilated into broader racial structures over time. Similarly, The Forward questioned whether Jews should be considered “white,” exploring the nuances of Jewish identity. The release of the film sparked discussions about the racial identity of Jews, particularly whether Gal Gadot should be considered a woman of color due to her Jewish and Israeli heritage, as well as broader conversations surrounding race in the United States.
It was also the 16th superhero film to cross $100 million in its domestic box office launch. This included $11 million it made from Thursday previews, also the best start for a film directed by a woman, surpassing Fifty Shades of Grey’s (2015) $8.6 million which was directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson and the third-biggest of the year, behind Beauty and the Beast and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. The film opened Friday, June 2, 2017, across 4,165 theaters and made $38.2 million on its opening day, including $3.7 million in IMAX.
Director
It was chosen because most beaches in the world that sit below big cliffs disappear beneath the tide for part of every day. Jenkins said she shot the movie on film instead of digital video “because there’s a certain type of epic grander escapism that film gives you that you cannot – you will struggle very hard – to get that on video”. In late April, filming took place at the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, where a Wayne Enterprises truck was spotted alongside Gadot.
Matthew Jensen
A sequel, Wonder Woman 1984, was released in December 2020, with Patty Jenkins returning as director and Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Robin Wright, and Connie Nielsen reprising their roles. The film drew inspiration from William Moulton Marston’s 1940s Wonder Woman stories, George Pérez’s 1980s comics, and the New 52 version of the character. Warner Bros. officially announced the film in 2010, and Patty Jenkins was hired as director in 2015.
Zack Snyder
The Lebanese government did not ban Gadot’s Fast & Furious films which did screen in Lebanon. The film’s release was delayed several times, including owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was not released until December 25, 2020. That same month, it was announced that Pedro Pascal would have a key role in the film. Jenkins officially returned as director in September 2017, with Gal Gadot reprising her role, and David Callaham joined to co-write the script with Jenkins and Johns. Gadot initially signed a contract for three DC Extended Universe (DCEU) films, including Wonder Woman, later extending it to include appearances in further DCEU projects.
Casting
Steve is interrogated with the Lasso of Hestia and reveals that a great war is consuming the outside world and that he is an Allied spy. Overprotecting Diana, Hippolyta conceals Diana’s true origin from her, but reluctantly agrees to let her sister, Antiope, train Diana as a warrior. Hippolyta tells Diana the story of how Ares became jealous of humanity and orchestrated its destruction. In present-day Paris, Diana Prince receives a photographic plate from Wayne Enterprises of herself and four men taken during World War I, prompting her to recall her past.a Plans for a third film were canceled after DC Films was restructured into DC Studios in 2022.
By May 2018, long-time DCEU producer Zack Snyder confirmed on social media platform Vero that he, along with his wife Deborah Snyder, would serve as producers on the Wonder Woman sequel. In March 2018, Kristen Wiig was confirmed to play Cheetah, the villain of the film. Patty Jenkins initially signed on for only one film, but began working on a sequel with Geoff Johns, who revealed they had a “cool idea for the second one.” At the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con, Warner Bros. officially announced a sequel, initially titled Wonder Woman 2, set for release on December 13, 2019, later moved to November 1, 2019. She argued that the film is powerful not because Gadot is Israeli, but because it symbolizes Israel’s strength and potential. Rothstein explored how Israeli women, empowered by mandatory military service, are treated equally and encouraged to grow, contrasting this with societies where women face oppression. Palestinian-American activist Linda Sarsour argued that feminists could not support both Israel and Palestinian rights, causing a rift in feminist circles.
Steve Rose in The Guardian criticized the film for failing to explore the material’s potential for “patriarchy-upending subversion”. The San Francisco Chronicle’s Mick LaSalle lauded the performances of Gadot, Pine, Huston and Thewlis while commending the film’s “different perspective” and humor. Critics commented favorably on Gadot’s performance of the titular character and Chris Pine’s Steve Trevor.