Yes,Wonder Womanis getting another shot at a movie, and there’s a perfect run of comics that is waiting to be adapted. It’s been years since Diana came to life on the big screen with her DCEU duology, and fans have been clamoring for the Amazon to get asecond chance in James Gunnand Peter Safran’s rebooted universe.
Thankfully, Gunn has confirmed that aWonder Womanmovie is currently being written, though details are far and few between. Fans are already speculating over what Diana’s next film should be about or what series it should take influence from.While Wonder Woman has hada lot of great series,the one that would serve as the best foundation is Greg Rucka’s run on theWonder Womanseries from 2003 to 2006. Often cited as one of the best modern runs for Wonder Woman, DC Studios could score some major points with fans basing its upcoming movie on Rucka’s run.
Greg Rucka’s Run is the Best Foundation for Wonder Woman’s Next Movie
Action, Good Villains, and a Solid Understanding of Diana
Since she first graced the cover ofSensation Comics #1,Wonder Woman has beenone of DC Comics’ most iconic characters, and possibly the most well-known female superhero of all time. Over the years, Diana has been written by a number of impressive writers. AfterCrisis on Infinite Earths, she was overseen by George Pérez, who pumped new life into Diana and her mythos. Gail Simone also had a beloved run on the character. Heck,Kelly Thompson is really making waves inAbsolute Wonder Womanwith her bold reinvention of the iconic Amazon.
While all these writers are great and there are plenty of others who have done well penning Wonder Woman, one that really stands out is Greg Rucka’s original run onWonder Womanfrom 2003 to 2006. Paired with artists such as James Raiz, Drew Johnson, and Sean Phillips, Rucka’s time on the series began withWonder Woman #195and really gets to the core of Diana’s multifaceted nature. It explores her as a hero, a pacifist, an Amazon and moreas Wonder Woman navigates both the world of myth and man’s world while serving as an ambassador to Themyscira.
…read her battle with Medusa where Diana intentionally blinds herself so that she can decapitate the monster…
Rucka’s run excels at showing Wonder Woman as a hero on her own, and as a hero that lives in the grander DC Universe. Not to mention, the villains and their subsequent battles with Diana in this run are top-notch. Just read her battle with Medusa where Diana intentionally blinds herself so that she can decapitate the monster in order to win the fight. That’s not even getting intoWonder Woman’s confrontations with other villains like Doctor Psycho, Veronica Cale, and, perhaps most infamously, Maxwell Lord.
Diana’s killer battle with Medusa can be seen inWonder Woman #210!
Wonder Woman Needs a Good, Modern Story
Wonder Woman fans have had a rough go when it comes to live-action adaptations. While Diana’s Trinity compatriots Batman and Superman have had the lion’s share of television shows, movies, cartoons, and video games, Wonder Woman fans had to wait decades after Lynda Carter brought her to life in the ‘70s for a new live-action Diana. In 2016,Wonder Woman made her first appearance in the DCEU inBatman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, portrayed by Gal Gadot, who played the character until 2023.
Gadot’s last portrayal of Wonder Woman was an uncredited cameo inShazam! Fury of the Gods!
Fans got to know this version of Wonder Woman in several movies, most notably in her solo duology, consisting ofWonder Womanand its follow-up,Wonder Woman 1984. Both movies are set in the past and explore Diana’s past. The first film focuses on her Amazon culture and her first foray out into the world during World War I, while the sequel delves more intoDiana living in America while secretly operating as Wonder Woman during the height of the Cold War.
…while there were plans for a thirdWonder Womanmovie that would be set in the present day, the plans fell through…
Fans did get to see Diana in modern day withBatman v. Superman: Dawn of Justiceas well asJustice League(both cuts). However, because these were ensemble movies,not too much time is devoted to Wonder Woman and how she acts or operates as a hero in a world of public heroes. Unfortunately, while there were plans for a thirdWonder Womanmovie that would be set in the present day, the plans fell through, preventing fans from giving fans an in-depth look at Diana in modern times.
Greg Rucka’s Run Serves as a Great Model for the DCU’s Wonder Woman
Gunn and Safran Should Take a Cue from Fans and Look to This Perennial Favorite
Wonder Woman fans will be the first to admit that she is a hard character to get right (even Greg Rucka has admitted as much). That being said, while many writers struggle with Diana’s voice, Rucka understood Diana from the get-go,not just her as a character, but what Wonder Woman means to the entire DC Universe and to the world at large. Not only that, but he made a compelling series that had fans entertained for three years, which is no easy feat for any comic creator.
Gunn made it clear that Wonder Woman is important to the DCU, which is good, because fans have gotten quite tired of having her passed over (especially after her video game that had been in the works for years fell through). While it’s nice to hear that Diana is a priority,it’s important that the DCU captures what’s important about Wonder Woman and take influence from good source material. Gunn’s already acknowledged a few storylines that have influenced the upcomingSupermanandSupergirlfilms, so it’s best he does the same for Diana, and look to a run like Rucka’s.
…when it comes to how Diana’s upcoming film should be presented, Rucka’s run is the best way to go.
That’s not to say that Rucka’s run is the end-all, be-all for Wonder Woman. Ideally, a goodWonder Womanmovie will touch on the best parts of her long history. But when it comes to how Diana’s upcoming film should be presented, Rucka’s run is the best way to go. Whether it’s having her actually be a diplomat or simply lifting Veronica Cale as an antagonist, anything pulled from Rucka’s run would be a win in the eyes ofWonder Womanfans everywhere.
