Diana Prince callback in Wonder Woman 1984 not likely
Patty Jenkins has released a new look at Diane Prince in Wonder Woman 1984, but does it hint at a depowered version of the superheroine?
This week is Gal Gadot’s birthday and Wonder Woman ’84 director Patty Jenkins is marking the occassion on Twitter.
Jenkins’ tweet includes a new photo from the film. We see Diana Prince in an outfit that is reminiscent of the Diana Prince series (1968 – 1973). The Hollywood Reporter is already freaking out that this is the case. But it’s hard to fathom that DC and Warner Bros. will be going down this path.
Happy Birthday to my most spectacular, incredible, amazing, beautiful, loving, powerful, hilarious and awe inspiring friend and partner. I love you more than words can say. Happy Birthday @GalGadot #WW1984 pic.twitter.com/eRqmuFWdlX
— Patty Jenkins (@PattyJenks) April 30, 2019
Diana Prince series and what it is
Due to low sales for the Wonder Woman title at the time, DC Comics took drastic measures to boost sales. They killed off Steve Trevor and took away Wonder Woman’s powers and her outfit. She was only Diana Prince, operating as this international spy, with a Chinese martial artist mentor, I-Ching.
This is not all that different from when television shows add characters or revamp things to keep ratings up. Most of its influence came from the British television series, Avengers, with the character Emma Peel. The series lasted only twenty six issues, over the course of almost five years.
Diana Prince is not returning
Of course, we still know little about this film, save for a few actors and their roles. All we know is it takes place in 1984 with the Cold War, Steve Trevor is back (somehow), and Cheetah is the villain.
As stated before, The Hollywood Reporter almost seems scared that the depowered Wonder Woman a.k.a. Diana Prince is making her big screen debut. This particular period in DC Comics’ publishing history is not a moment they highlight much. Keep in mind, it didn’t last. One reason was due to new editorship. The other was that feminist Gloria Steinem made a huge deal out of this.
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Wonder Woman is doing fine and is probably the most popular character within the DCEU right now across the board. The DCEU fans love her, and the more Marvel-oriented fans like her just fine. Second, Gloria Steinem is hardly relevant anymore. She made some noise again when a new costume appeared in the Finch run during The New 52. Luckily, nobody heard her, and the costume was not all that popular to begin with.
We have to keep in mind Patty Jenkins’ background, as well. She grew up with the Lynda Carter series to begin with. Patty Jenkins was still a baby when the Diana Prince series finally restored Wonder Woman back to her roots. With the television show and the time period, it is doubtful that Patty Jenkins grew up reading a lot of back issues of that particular period of Wonder Woman’s publication history.
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Lastly, the costume does not look ’60s enough. The entire Diana Prince series is a huge time capsule of the late sixties to early seventies. The stories have not aged well due to both the gender politics, if you want to call it that, and especially the visuals. Diana running a mod boutique, and being a globe-trotting spy, with her Chinese mentor behind her? Because that’s what made the first film big, right? Is Patty Jenkins paying an homage? Maybe, but paying complete faithfulness to Diana losing her powers, Steve Trevor and her classic costume? Not a chance.