By Megan Cheah

 

The film industry’s diverse array of superheroes will soon see a game-changer joining their league – the first superheroine, Wonder Woman, in the lead.

Following an appearance in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), the iconic Amazonian warrior will step into the limelight for her eponymous movie.

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Amazonian princess Diana (Gal Gadot) was raised in Themyscira by a trio of warrior ladies. From left: Lieutenant Menalippe (Lisa Loven Kongsli), Diana, Queen Hippolyta (Connie Nielsen) and General Antiope (Robin Wright). Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

Unlike previous installments in the Warner Bros. DC movie universe, Wonder Woman will be set during the early 20th century. Amazonian princess Diana (Gal Gadot) meets American military pilot Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) after he is washed ashore on her home island of Themyscira. Upon finding out about the ongoing World War I, she leaves home to put an end to it.

When asked about how her character will differ from her first onscreen outing, Gadot told online entertainment site Digital Spy that Wonder Woman goes back “100 years to when Diana was more naïve”.

“She’s this young idealist, very different to the experienced, super-confident, grown-up woman you’ve seen [in Batman v Superman],” Gadot shared.

Besides being the first movie to revolve around a female superhero, the film’s production also features another novelty. Spearheading Wonder Woman’s charge to theaters is director Patty Jenkins, making her the first woman to direct a superhero film with a female protagonist.

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Diana’s armor was modeled to be practical while featuring elements from the comics such as the wrist braces. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

Having a female lead in an action-packed movie is a two-pronged answer to critics of a largely male-dominated Hollywood, something that has been under fire for gender discrimination in recent years. It’s no wonder then that Jenkins has made sure that Wonder Woman not only looks fierce and battle-ready, but is also feminine.

“It’s total wish-fulfillment,” Jenkins said in an article by Entertainment Weekly: “I, as a woman, want Wonder Woman to be hot as hell, fight badass and look great at the same time – the same way men want Superman to have huge pecs and an impractically big body.”

Wonder Woman will also finally put the DC movie universe ahead of its rival, Marvel, in starring a female protagonist. Despite its huge plethora of supporting superheroines, Marvel’s movie universe will only put out its first lead female superhero flick, Captain Marvel, in 2019.

 

With all that’s going for Wonder Woman, it could prove to be a turning point for the struggling DC movie universe, which has so far failed to match up to Marvel’s popular fan appeal. Here’s hoping the Amazonian princess can turn the tide in their favor at last.

Wonder Woman opens in cinemas on Jun 1. Check out the trailer here: