With DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn currently assembling his new DCU, nothing from the original universe is certain, and it’s unclear exactly which characters will return. Among those at risk is Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman, who recently had her third solo outing canceled following a fallout between the studio and director Patty Jenkins.
Nevertheless, there have been some positive signals indicating that Gadot’s Princess Diana may not be replaced. This comes as Gunn’s DC Studios is developing a new HBO Max prequel series that tells “origin story” of Wonder Woman’s homeland of Themyscira, years before her birth.
DC Merch Teases Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman Return
Instagram user nerdserviceeeee shared a photo showing the Funko Pop line for DC’s The lightning film, included in which is a figure of Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman carrying her Lasso of Truth.
The Hollywood Reporter revealed in December 2022 that Warner Bros. Discovery had chosen to cut Gadot’s Justice League hero The lightning after cancellation of Wonder Woman 3 earlier this month. Although this report was refuted by notable insider KC Walsh.
Another image shared by funkoinfo_ gives a closer look at the new Funko Pop of Princess Diana of Themyscira.
While the fate of Gadot’s Wonder Woman in James Gunn’s new DCU slate remains uncertain, the actress still has at least one more appearance. Shazam! Wrath of the Godswhere the first look at the return of the Justice Leaguers has surfaced recently.
These Funko Pops don’t offer explicit confirmation that Gadot will still be appearing The lightning as the merch line was likely designed and created prior to the cancellation of the Wonder Woman 3 and the reports that she had been cut from the DC Multiverse blockbuster.
Wonder Woman’s DCU Future Explained
Both Shazam 2 and The lightning coming as part of the final four DCU films to come from the Old Regime before James Gunn’s slate kicks in afterwards. So whether Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman makes the final cut of these films shouldn’t be taken as an indication of her chances of returning to the new DCU.
In the original “Flashpoint” story The lightning will at least adapt, Wonder Woman played a pivotal role when her homeland of Themyscira went to war with Aquaman’s kingdom of Atlantis. However, there has been no indication that Jason Momoa’s Aquaman is or has ever been in the film.
It’s unclear if Wonder Woman’s potentially scrapped role in the The lightning came as part of an adaptation of these story elements, or perhaps a minor cameo. The Amazon hero was seen in set photos in an ad on the side of a Central City bus, though she probably had a bigger part on top of that to justify her own Funko Pop.
Only time will tell fate The lightning‘s Wonder Woman appearance, but if her scenes end up being cut, it suggests that Gadot’s role was smaller after all.
Gunn has already confirmed that Ben Affleck’s Batman and Henry Cavill’s Superman will be reworked, and the futures of Gadot’s Wonder Woman, Momoa’s Aquaman and Ezra Miller’s Flash are still undecided. That could be due to the extensive roles they still have to play in the old guard’s four remaining DCU projects coming this year.
The lightning hits theaters June 16.