Chris Pine is “stunned” DC canceled Wonder Woman 3 from director Patty Jenkins, saying it walked away from a billion dollar franchise.
Speaking to Business Insider, Pine said he wasn’t expecting to return as Steve Trevor after appearing in Wonder Woman and sequel Wonder Woman 1984 already, but he was still shocked DC walked away from the Gal Gadot led franchise.
“I’m stunned that they said no to a billion dollar franchise and decided to pivot elsewhere,” Pine said. “I don’t know what the reasoning was behind that. It’s above my pay grade, but Wonder Woman is an incredible character. Patty is such a thoughtful director.”
“I’m stunned that they said no to a billion dollar franchise and decided to pivot elsewhere.
While Wonder Woman wasn’t quite a billion dollar franchise for DC it did almost get there. The first film, which was released in 2017, reached $824 million at the box office, while its 2020 sequel earned $170 million. This puts it at $994 million, and although DC’s latest films have struggled at the box office, a third Wonder Woman film would definitely tip it over the billion mark.
Wonder Woman 3 was announced by Warner Bros in December 2020 with Jenkins and Gadot both set to return, but as James Gunn and Peter Safran took over DC Studios and brought the Gadot, Henry Cavill, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson-starring DC Extended Universe to close, the film was quietly canceled despite its star believing otherwise.
Just as Cavill and Johnson were also confused by their involvement in the new DCU, however, Gadot’s claims she’d be starring in more films were quickly shut down. Gunn and Safran announced a strict slate of 10 films and TV shows which would make up the DCU’s Chapter 1, Gods and Monsters, and while a handful of these have been chopped and changed in the year since, there’s no word on Gadot making a return.
DCEU Movie Teases That Were Never Paid Off
Gunn, who’s in charge of the creative side of DC Studios, isn’t against bringing back some actors from the expired DCEU, however. Blue Beetle star Xolo Maridueña is already confirmed to return but does not have a debut film or show yet, while Peacemaker star John Cena will continue to play his character in a second season of his show (which will be part of the DCU too).
The new universe will officially kick off with the late 2024 animated series Creature Commandos but will look to make its mark proper with the July 11, 2025 release of Superman, a David Corenswet starring film directed by Gunn.
A first look at the new Man of Steel was released yesterday, May 6, and apparently teased a Braniac appearance despite Lex Luthor already being confirmed for the film. Superman will star myriad other DC heroes and villains too, including Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern, Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho, María Gabriela as The Engineer, and more. Gunn has confirmed these actors will play the roles in other DCU projects too.
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.
