The 2017 Warner Brothers film Wonder Woman, starring Gal Gadot, became a cinematic success. Directed by Patty Jenkins, Wonder Woman not only has action-packed scenes but also delivers a meaningful message about the possibility of women in positions of power. Wonder Woman proved to be a film for the ages, leaving an unforgettable mark on the superhero genre by predominantly featuring a female protagonist and overcoming many of the male-dominated tropes that are characteristic of these films.
The story of Wonder Woman unfolds as we watch the upbringing of Diana Prince on the mystical island of Themyscira, home to the fierce Amazonian warriors. Diana is trained by her mentor Antiope. Diana’s powers suddenly begin to surface and her world is shaken when a plane crashes near the island, with Steve Trevor in it, a World War I pilot. With Steve’s help Diana learns of the devastating truth of the world and she feels a responsibility to help. Accompanied by Steve, Diana begins her mission to stop the war and the god of war, Ares. Diana believes Ares is the source of the conflict in the world. Their journey takes them through battlefields, where Diana’s remarkable combat skills and her iconic Lasso of Truth come in very handy. Along the way, Diana and Steve collect a group of allies. They each contribute their own unique strengths to help out. As they get closer to the heart of the conflict, secrets are revealed and challenge Diana’s beliefs and force her to confront the complex emotions and actions of humanity. The battle against Ares and Diana is visually spectacular and an emotionally filled scene. We get to see Diana’s true power and her relentless commitment for justice to shine through.
This film holds up six years after its release in a way that many superhero, or action-oriented, films do not because it actively seeks to break the mold of the genre into which it has been grouped. Yes, there’s no shortage of superpowers and explosions, but in putting an iconic female protagonist front and center—and casting an established action-franchise A-lister as her sidekick—a case could be made that this film anticipates the casting decisions, story structure, and feminist ethos of this summer’s most celebrated and beloved blockbuster: Barbie.
There doesn’t appear to be much interest in continuing this particular version of the Wonder Woman franchise at Warner Bros., but its influence on likeminded films ensures its popularity, and secures its legacy, for years to come.
