James Gunn "reveals" new actress for Wonder Woman in DC Universe

Wonder Woman is one of the greatest superheroes the world has ever known. A warrior from Paradise Island, a.k.a. Themyscira, she fights for people's rights and always chooses love over hate; inspiring such hope across the world ever since her introduction into DC Comics in 1941.

We've seen multiple live-action versions of the character over the years, most notably Lynda Carter's in the 1975 Wonder Woman TV series, and Gal Gadot's in the DC Extended Universe movies. It was thought that the latter would continue playing the hero for many more years to come as the DCEU was just getting started, but her future was called into question when DC Studios took over the helm as Wonder Woman 3 was cancelled.

Now, DC Studios co-chairman and CEO James Gunn has seemingly confirmed on social media that the Amazonian warrior will be recast in the new DC Universe franchise.

James Gunn comments on Wonder Woman's DCU future

It's no secret that James Gunn is particularly active on social media platform Threads as he often shares tidbits and teasers with fans as to what they can expect from the upcoming launch of the DC Universe. In a recent post, however, he acknowledged the potential of casting Wonder Woman in the franchise in the future, responding to a fan inquiry about what he thought about the suggestion that Wonder Woman should be taller than Superman, commenting:

"Not good. I don’t know where I’d find an accomplished and talented actress 6’5' or over."

This doesn't particularly offer anything in terms of what he is or isn't looking for when it comes to casting the role, but it does appear to confirm that Wonder Woman will be recast whenever she does make her eventual debut in the DC Universe. It also comes after a previous post on the platform in which Gunn replied to a fan confirming that Wonder Woman hadn't been cast in the franchise yet. Gal Gadot fans were holding out hope that this could have been down to a potential return, but now it appears that this definitely isn't the case.

Gal Gadot portrayed the character in the DCEU, debuting in 2016's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, before headlining the critically-acclaimed masterpiece Wonder Woman in 2017. She then returned for the infamous Justice League (as well as its far superior Snyder Cut), Wonder Woman 1984 and The Flash in a cameo appearance. She was set to return for a third Wonder Woman movie prior to the Warner Bros. Discovery merger, which set the stage for DC Studios' formation.

It's not entirely surprising to hear that the role will likely be recast given that Variety reported that none of the actors who appeared in Zack Snyder's earlier DC movies would be back in the new DC Universe, but fans of the Wonder Woman movie series hoped that there might have been a way to bring Gadot back given how that particular franchise was the one thing that the DCEU got right.

Gadot herself had told Entertainment Tonight prior to that report that "things were being worked behind the scenes" when she was asked about whether or not she would ever return to the role of Diana Prince. It gave fans hope that it might happen someday. And it's easy to see why, because after Patty Jenkins' Wonder Woman 3 was cancelled for not aligning with Gunn and Peter Safran's vision for the DCU, there were conversations about Gadot still reprising the role in a very different third Wonder Woman movie, but no updates on that project ever materialized.

Gunn has been pretty upfront with fans about the projects currently in development at DC Studios, including the various stages of development they are all in. But the Wonder Woman conversation has remained the elephant in the room that has yet to be addressed in any official manner. We have a new Superman in David Corenswet (who will debut in Gunn's own Superman movie next year), and a new Batman will arrive in The Brave and the Bold, but there are no Wonder Woman projects on the horizon, so we don't expect any major casting announcements on who the new Diana Prince will be anytime soon.

Even so, now we finally know that there will be a new Wonder Woman actress in the DC Universe. And that is understandably going to divide fans.