DCU's New Wonder Woman Movie Needs a Female Director

The iconic superhero's next big-screen outing should be helmed by a woman to honor her legacy.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 11:08pm

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A dramatic black silhouette of Wonder Woman's lasso curving across a deep red background, conveying the iconic superhero's strength and heroism.The DCU's next Wonder Woman film must be directed by a woman to properly capture the character's feminist legacy.Los Angeles Today

James Gunn and the DC Universe (DCU) are gearing up to reboot Wonder Woman for a new generation, but for the iconic hero's next big-screen outing to truly succeed, it needs to be directed by a woman. The 2017 Wonder Woman film, directed by Patty Jenkins, was a cultural phenomenon that proved there was a huge appetite for female-led superhero stories made by female filmmakers. As the DCU looks to reinvent Diana of Themyscira, it's crucial that they entrust her character to a female director who can bring the necessary nuance and understanding to this feminist symbol.

Why it matters

Wonder Woman is one of the most important female superheroes of all time, and her 2017 film directed by Patty Jenkins was a groundbreaking moment for representation both in front of and behind the camera. Giving a female director the reins for the DCU's next Wonder Woman movie is essential to honoring the character's legacy as a feminist icon and ensuring her story is told with the proper care and perspective.

The details

The 2017 Wonder Woman film, directed by Patty Jenkins, was a massive critical and commercial success, grossing over $820 million worldwide and earning the best reviews of the DCEU at the time. Jenkins was able to bring a unique perspective to the character, making Diana more vulnerable and nuanced compared to other superhero portrayals. This helped the film resonate with audiences and become a cultural phenomenon. The DCU's new Wonder Woman movie, which is still in early development, needs to continue this tradition by hiring a female director who can understand the character's significance and importance to female fans.

  • In 2017, Patty Jenkins directed the first solo female-led superhero movie in the DCEU.
  • The 2020 sequel, Wonder Woman 1984, was less warmly received than the original.
  • James Gunn confirmed a new Wonder Woman movie is in the works for the DCU.

The players

Patty Jenkins

The director of the 2017 Wonder Woman film, which was a critical and commercial success and helped establish Wonder Woman as a feminist icon.

James Gunn

The co-CEO of DC Studios, who is overseeing the development of the new DC Universe (DCU) including a planned Wonder Woman reboot.

Wonder Woman

The iconic DC superhero who is one of the most important female characters in comic book history.

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What they’re saying

“That's been a problem with some of the female characters they've tried to put forth. They're too hard or too strong.”

— Patty Jenkins, Director, 2017 Wonder Woman film

What’s next

As the DCU's new Wonder Woman movie is still in early development, the next key step will be hiring a female director who can bring the proper care and perspective to reinventing this iconic feminist superhero for a new generation.

The takeaway

The DCU's upcoming Wonder Woman reboot must be directed by a woman in order to properly honor the character's legacy as a feminist icon and ensure her story is told with the nuance and understanding it deserves. Patty Jenkins' 2017 film proved there is a huge appetite for female-led superhero stories made by female filmmakers, and the DCU should follow that successful blueprint.