Comic-Con was HUGE for fans of DC Comics. We were treated to news regarding DC’s TV shows like “Supergirl,” “Arrow,” “Flash” and “Legends of Tomorrow,” a new “Suicide Squad” trailer (in theaters THIS week!) in addition to the reveal of two EPIC trailers for “Justice League” and -- my personal favorite -- “Wonder Woman.”
While DC is yanking the curtain down and revealing some secrets of upcoming seasons of its television shows and teasing us with what’s to come in the cinematic universe, I can’t help but be most excited for “Wonder Woman,” the Amazonian princess’s first standalone theatrical event in the history of the superheroine.
Though plot details are being kept under wraps until we get closer to the film’s release next summer, the movie will follow Diana, the demigoddess daughter of Zeus, as she leaves her home of the mystical Amazonians to become one of Earth’s greatest heroes—the Wonder Woman.
Wonder Woman made her cinematic debut in “Batman v. Superman: Dawn Of Justice” March 2016. Though the film was a critical failure, currently holding a 27% on Rotten Tomatoes, Gal Gadot’s portrayal of the character and the character’s role in the story were highlighted as some of the better parts of the film.
“Wonder Woman” is already breaking new ground for female superheroes in both the DC and Marvel cinematic universes. Though action movies starring strong female actresses as warriors, fighters, and femme fatales are not anything new— “Tomb Raider,” “Resident Evil,” “The Hunger Games,” “Alien” and “Kill Bill” are just a few that come to mind—there is a severe lack of comic book films that are centered around female superheroes.
Yes, we have movies like “The Avengers” and “X-Men” that feature some pretty sick and strong female fighters, including, but not limited to, Black Widow (Scarlet Johansson) and Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence), yet there seems to be a misconception that superhero movies about a female heroine are not going to sell as well as movies about their male counterparts, at the box office and especially in the toy aisles.
“Wonder Woman,” however, is already combating this sexist claim by simply, well, existing. The visually stunning trailer already has me jumping up and down in my seat, along with millions of others across the internet. It’s being directed by Patty Jenkins (that’s right! They even got a female director to take on this project!!!), whose previous directorial projects include “The Killing” and “Arrested Development." Gal Gadot herself is of Mediterranean descent; the casting of a person of color in this role is perfect for the character, who is supposed to be an Amazonian goddess.
Gadot has already begun battling the first of many sexist questions and comments to come as well: when a reporter asked her how she would get Wonder Woman’s breasts from her comic book incarnation, she responded with, “Wonder Woman is Amazonian, and historically accurate Amazonian woman only had one breast. So, if I’d really ‘go by the book...’ it’d be problematic.”
My favorite thing about “Wonder Woman,” however, has to be the positive impact it’s going to have on the young ladies of the world today. Just like how “Ghostbusters” reinvented the brand so that girls, as well as boys, can feel like part of one of the most comedic franchises of all time, “Wonder Woman” sets yet another precedent of a woman that can take care of herself, that doesn’t need any saving, and fights as well as, if not even better, than the men she allies herself with.
My own 4-year-old sister’s reaction to the trailer melted my heart. She asked with wide eyes, “Wonder Woman is a princess?” When I answered yes, her excitement and awe was more than enough to make me smile wide. When we were done, I took her upstairs to outfit her with a Nerf sword a shield so that she could be Wonder Woman until the actual merchandise hits the shelves next year. She made me promise to take her to see it when it hits theaters, and that’s a promise I fully intend to keep.
I never want my sister to mature feeling like she’s not as good as the men in her life because of the media she grows up watching. I don’t want her to ever feel like she can’t be a hero just because she’s not Batman or Superman. I don’t ever want her to feel like there’s nothing at the movies for her to see because she can’t relate to anything that’s out at the moment.
I want more female titular characters at the movies. I want swords and shields and armor and action figures aimed at girls the same way that they’ve been aimed at boys for years. I want the tomboyish girl and the hyper feminine girl to both feel like they have a place in this world despite how different they might be.
To DC Comics, thank you for giving my sister a hero in the extended universe that she can dress up as, pretend to be, and most importantly, look up to. We can’t wait to watch your movie together—see you in a year!