2017’s Wonder Woman quickly became one of the most iconic superhero films of all time. After being introduced in Zack Snyder’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Wonder Woman reclaimed international superstardom. Her first solo film, Wonder Woman was successful both financially and critically, immediately putting a sequel into development.
Gadot and Jenkins are not the only ones returning to their respective roles for Wonder Woman 1984. Chris Pine, who played Steve Trevor in the 2017 film, is also returning. Trevor sacrificed himself at the end of the first film, making his return to the world of the living a central plot point, which is being kept under wraps. Joining them are newcomers to the franchise Kristen Wiig and Pedro Pascal.
Wigg will be playing the classic Wonder Woman villain Barbara Minerva, who eventually adopts the name Cheetah. Pascal will play Maxwell Lord, a sleazy businessman who will be at the crux of the story. Judging by their DC Comics history, the pair will serve as the primary villains to the story, with an emphasis on Minerva’s transformation into Cheetah.
Speaking on Wiig as Cheetah, Jenkins told Entertainment Weekly. “Kristen’s playing a character who’s both ends of the spectrum — she’s your warm, funny friend who’s kind and interesting and then can transform into something completely different. Yes, she happens to be a woman, but she’s straight out of the Gene Hackman Superman school of great, funny, tremendous actors.”
The first Wonder Woman film took place during World War I. Creating a bleak and desolate landscape for the superhero to shine into and save made for powerful imagery. For Wonder Woman 1984, the film takes place in..you guessed it, 1984.
The setting allows Wonder Woman to exist in her own bubble without worrying about where other DC heroes like Superman, Batman, or Aquaman are to help. More importantly, the setting gives Jenkins a new world for Wonder Woman to exist in, apart from the World War setting of the first film or the superhero-filled modern era.
Speaking on the setting of the film, Gadot told Entertainment Weekly. “I was born in ‘85, but it’s funny, I really do remember. Probably more so because of my parents, but it was such a standout decade as much as it goes with fashion, music, politics. And the look of everything! The colors.”
Wonder Woman will be spotting a new look to go along with the new film. As the poster revealed at San Diego Comic-Con 2019 showed, Diana will be sporting new golden armor. Taking heavy inspiration from Alex Ross’ designs from 1996’s Kingdom Come, Wonder Woman’s new outfit will showcase a set of wings, as well.
On the producing side, Snyder and his wife Deborah Snyder return to produce the project. Zack Snyder has directed and produced multiple DC films including 2013’s Man of Steel and 2016’s Batman v Superman. Joining them is Charles Roven, who produced Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy.
Hans Zimmer, the iconic composer behind The Dark Knight trilogy, Man of Steel and Batman v Superman returns to the DC world to score Wonder Woman 1984. The composer originally created the Wonder Woman theme for Batman v Superman.
Wonder Woman 1984 is set to release on June 5, 2020.
