Stephanie Zacharek of Time magazine hailed the film as a "cut above nearly all the superhero movies that have been trotted out over the past few summers" while praising Gadot's performance as "charming" and "marvelous" and commending Jenkins's direction of the film as a step forward for women directors in directing big-budget blockbuster films in Hollywood. She states that it "is not enough to simply call yourself a feminist. It's not even enough to create a strong female character … You have to bring women to the table. You have to let them speak. You cannot speak for them. But speaking for women is exactly what Cameron is doing through his comments … Cameron is using his position of power as a respected producer and director to silence women." Separately, Fandango also found that 92% of people surveyed said that they were looking forward to seeing a film that features a standalone woman superhero and 87% wished Hollywood would make more women-led superhero films.
Cast & Crew
- A Newsweek article suggests that in contrast to his criticism of Jenkins, Cameron’s own films include “lot of objectification” and quotes Hollywood celebrities who echoed this view.
- Australian musician Sia sang a song for the film, titled “To Be Human”, featuring English musician Labrinth.
- She spares Maru and redirects Ares’s lightning into him, definitively killing him.
- Among the film sets were Lower Halstow, Kent, and Australia House in England and the Sassi di Matera, Castel del Monte and Camerota in Southern Italy.
- Though neither the film nor the series are aimed exclusively at women, the latter’s campaign gave them their first opportunity to begin collecting data about female superhero fans.
- Jenkins officially returned as director in September 2017, with Gal Gadot reprising her role, and David Callaham joined to co-write the script with Jenkins and Johns.
- Kelly Lawler of USA Today celebrated its feel-good tone, making it a refreshing contrast to the darker superhero films from both DC and Marvel.
Pine initially had no interest in playing the role, feeling that it was "second fiddle." However, after speaking with director Jenkins, his perspective changed. You know, two hours of weight training, two hours of swords training and then two hours of horseback riding". Robin Wright was cast as Antiope. Wright said training for the film included riding, weights, martial arts, and eating 2,000–3,000 calories a day. Every once in a while, there's superhero casting that transcends, because that person is so authentic to the character that it becomes identified with them, like Lynda Carter or Christopher Reeve. Jenkins emphasized that creating a relatable, multifaceted character was essential, citing The Hunger Games as a significant step in changing perceptions of female leads.
Director and Cast Quickview
Belgium, Singapore and South Korea received the film first, with May 31 openings. The film's London premiere, which was scheduled to take place on May 31 at the Odeon Leicester Square, was canceled due to the Manchester Arena bombing. Ticket selling site Fandango reported that Wonder Woman rounded the final leg of its marketing campaign as the most anticipated blockbuster of summer 2017, according to a poll conducted by 10,000 voters, the biggest survey in company history. The costs for television advertisements for Wonder Woman were higher in comparison to that of previous DCEU film Suicide Squad (2016). They were then able to model over time and grow that audience leading up to the 15-months-later release of Wonder Woman.
DC Entertainment president Diane Nelson said Wonder Woman "has been, since I started, one of the top three priorities for DC and for Warner Bros. We are still trying right now, but she's tricky." On October 5, 2013, WB chairman and CEO Kevin Tsujihara said he wanted to get Wonder Woman in a film or on TV. Both Wonder Woman and Aquaman were still under consideration for solo film subjects as of June 2013. The film would later be cancelled following production delays and budgetary concerns. That same year, Warner Bros. began development of a Justice League film with Michele and Kieran Mulroney writing the screenplay.
Filming
Jenkins and director of photography Matt Jensen said that the film's look was inspired by painter John Singer Sargent. Matthew Jensen was the director of photography, filming in the United Kingdom, France and Italy. She drew inspiration from sportswear, focusing on durability and flexibility to support the film's action sequences. Brave Rock raised several concerns with Jenkins over the representation of his character in the film, particularly that he was not comfortable playing into stereotypes and that he was not keen on his character being simply known as "Chief". On the genre of the film, Huston said "It's Greek mythology. It's the origin of story."
Women-only screenings
However, Silver stated that he had purchased the script because he did not want the rights reverting; while stating the script had good ideas, Silver did not want the film to be a period piece. In March 2005, Warner Bros. and Silver Pictures announced that Joss Whedon would write and direct the film. Leonard Goldberg focused on Bullock who said that she was approached for the role.
Jenkins noted that she faced pushback from the studio regarding her decision to make Wonder Woman vulnerable, as some questioned portraying the character with flaws rather than as purely strong or perfect. The film also incorporates elements from DC Comics' origin changes in The New 52 reboot, where Diana is the daughter of Zeus. Director Jenkins drew inspiration from William Moulton Marston's 1940s stories and George Perez's 1980s in which he modernized the character. When Patty and I had our creative conversations about the character, we realized that Diana can still be a normal woman, one with very high values, but still a woman. In 2015, Patty Jenkins accepted an offer to direct Wonder Woman, based on a screenplay by Allan Heinberg and a story co-written by Heinberg and Zack Snyder and Jason Fuchs. While Michelle MacLaren was the studio's initial choice to direct standalone film, and while she initially indicated interest, she eventually left the project due to creative differences.
Kelly Lawler of USA Today celebrated its feel-good tone, making it a refreshing contrast to the darker superhero films from both DC and Marvel. Though neither the film nor the series are aimed exclusively at women, the latter's campaign gave them their first opportunity to begin collecting data about female superhero fans. Unlike other franchise films that prioritize brand consistency, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. gave Jenkins and Jensen creative freedom, allowing them to craft a distinctive aesthetic that aligned with Wonder Woman's character and origin story.
He has stolen a notebook of the chief chemist Dr. Isabel Maru, who is attempting to engineer a deadlier form of mustard gas under the orders of General Erich Ludendorff from a weapon facility in the Ottoman Empire. Steve is interrogated with the Lasso of Hestia and reveals that a great war is consuming the outside world and that he is an Allied spy. Although she initially forbids Diana to be trained as a warrior, Hippolyta reluctantly agrees to let General Antiope, Hippolyta's sister and Diana's aunt, train her, only more rigorously than any other warrior.
The success of the superhero television series Supergirl informed the marketing and promotion strategy used for Wonder Woman. Australian musician Sia sang a song for the film, titled "To Be Human", featuring English musician Labrinth. On November 3, 2016, Rupert Gregson-Williams was hired to write and compose the film's music. A standout shot involved a custom-built rig resembling a "roller-coaster of pipe and tracks," designed to move the camera from a high vantage point down to ground level while capturing the action in slow motion. Jenkins and Jensen studied the vibrant portraits of Edwardian painter John Singer Sargent's vibrant portraits, particularly those from around 1918, to create a period aesthetic without relying on muted tones. However, even in London, Jensen avoided complete desaturation, achieving a balance by filming under overcast winter light to create a soft patina.
Steve and Diana separately infiltrate the party; he intends to locate the gas and destroy it and she hopes to kill Ludendorff, believing that he is Ares. Although forbidden by his commander to act, Steve, with secret funding from Morgan, recruits Moroccan spy Sameer, Scottish marksman Charlie, and Native American smuggler Chief Napi to help prevent the gas from being released. Diana translates Maru's notes, revealing that the Germans plan to release the deadly gas at the Western Front. Believing Ares to be responsible for the war, Diana arms herself with the "god-killer" sword, the lasso, and armor before leaving Themyscira with Steve. He dingo casino login has stolen a notebook from the Germans' chief chemist, Dr. Isabel Maru, who is attempting to engineer a deadlier form of mustard gas under the orders of General Erich Ludendorff. Steve is interrogated with the Lasso of Hestia and reveals that a great war is consuming the outside world and that he is an Allied spy.
- Diana translates Maru’s notes and reveals that the Germans plan to release the deadly gas at the Western Front.
- Diana translates Maru’s notes, revealing that the Germans plan to release the deadly gas at the Western Front.
- Gadot had previously been offered the role of the Faora-Ul in Man of Steel (2013) but turned it down due to her pregnancy.
- Jenkins and director of photography Matt Jensen said that the film’s look was inspired by painter John Singer Sargent.
- A standout shot involved a custom-built rig resembling a “roller-coaster of pipe and tracks,” designed to move the camera from a high vantage point down to ground level while capturing the action in slow motion.
- The film stars Gal Gadot as the title character, alongside Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Danny Huston, David Thewlis, Connie Nielsen, and Elena Anaya.
It grossed over $824 million worldwide, making it the tenth highest-grossing film of 2017 and the highest-grossing film by a solo female director until it was surpassed by Barbie (2023). The film received critical acclaim for its direction, performances, visuals, story, action sequences, and cultural significance, though some criticism was directed at the climax. Steve and Diana separately infiltrate the party, with Steve intending to locate the gas and destroy it, and Diana hoping to kill Ludendorff, believing that he is Ares and thus killing him will end the war. The Lebanese government did not ban Gadot's Fast & Furious films which did screen in Lebanon. The film's release was delayed several times, including owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was not released until December 25, 2020.
One criticism was directed towards aspects of the final act, with the reveal of Ares and the climactic fight. "First off, mustard gas is such a horrible, terrifying weapon, it doesn't need to be made more potent. But if you were a chemist bent on raining destruction on the Allied forces, you wouldn't do it by replacing the sulfur atom in mustard gas with a hydrogen atom. You'd know that sulfur is the linchpin holding together this poisonous molecule." Steve Rose in The Guardian criticized the film for failing to explore the material's potential for "patriarchy-upending subversion".
O'Hara elaborated that the modest campaign route they took for Supergirl aided in establishing a large central fanbase among women well in advance of the series, which reportedly generated 5 million female superhero fans in one week. Wright noted that the film's message was "not just female empowerment; it's about love and justice. That's what the film is about. And what a great message to spread to our little ones." Danny Huston who is playing Erich Ludendorff, stated the film as an anti-war film. Shortly afterward, Paul Feig said he had pitched the studio an idea for Wonder Woman as an action-comedy film. In 2010, Warner Bros. stated that a Wonder Woman film was in development, along with films based on DC Comics superheroes the Flash and Aquaman. Development for a live-action Wonder Woman feature film began in 1996, with Ivan Reitman attached as producer and possible director. The American Film Institute included it in its top ten films of 2017, and it won the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation in 2018.