Wonder Woman Movie... Whats The Problem WB?

Wonder Woman Movie... Whats The Problem WB?

There have been talks, rumors, and a close start to headlining Wonder Woman in her own movie or TV series for a long time. My thoughts on what it would take and the mistakes WB is making concerning one of DC’s most powerful characters.

Editorial Opinion
By Tstubbs - Oct 26, 2013 10:10 AM EST
Filed Under: Wonder Woman

Recently WB CEO Kevin Tsujihara has said that he is all for a Wonder Woman movie and at the same time said that they would be making an animated Justice League movie centered on Wonder Woman.

WB seems to feel that their female characters can’t support their own films.

A few years ago Jill Pantozzi with themarysue.com interviewed casting/dialogue director, Andrea Romano, for their Superman/Batman: Apocalypse film. While it carried the names of both Superman and Batman in the title, the movie was actually the story of Supergirl, based on Jeph Loeb/Michael Turner’s 2005 comic book arc.

“So much more of these other pieces are male dominated and there’s women characters on the side. This is a very female focused piece,” Romano told me. “I think the main reason why they didn’t call this piece Supergirl is because for some reason the Wonder Woman home video that we made, which was very, very good and filled with male characters, didn’t sell well. And so marketing people said, female titled pieces don’t sell well. So this is a female piece, it’s got a very strong feminine character in it but they called it Superman/Batman: Apocalypse just to get people to come into the video stores and buy them.”

The truth is that the Wonder Woman direct to DVD film brought in
$7,584,099 coming in 4th behind;

1. Superman: Doomsday $9,455,120
2. Superman/Batman: Public Enemies $8,479,891
3. Batman: Gotham Knight $8,072,890
4. Wonder Woman $7,584,099
5. Batman: Under the Red Hood $7,162,929
6. Superman/Batman: Apocalypse $6,330,826
7. Green Lantern: First Flight $6,265,172
8. Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths $5,426,113
9. Justice League: The New Frontier $5,242,952
10. All-Star Superman $4,673,815

This proves that Woman Woman can pull in the money. What's The problem that WB/DC has with getting Woman Woman her own franchise? I believe they fail at marketing.


Notice anyone missing?



This is a book set with 12 mini figures and not one of them is a female character.

My daughter loves Wonder Woman, she’s 4, and picked this book over any princess book from the store that day.

I keep looking for a Wonder Woman action figure for her but I’ve only been able to find one in the packaged set for $50. She already has Superman, Bizzaro, and Zod action figures despite not seeing MOS. It’s not worth it to me to buy the pack.

It is very disappointing to me as a father to not be able to find more things Wonder Woman. She is a strong role model for my daughter to have.

WB/DC just seems to fail at getting Wonder Woman out there to the general public and because of that she has retained a small fan base.

Obviously with the cinematic universe about to explode with WB/DC it’s high time to get that character out there. I believe one way to do it is with an animated series on TV. There are a lot of ways to do that story line. You can just keep her young and on Themyscira telling stories from her youth (it's been talked about possibly for live action). Having her youth as an origin and in the real world.

Either way the wonderful thing about animation is no one expects them to coincide with the live action universe. The storylines wouldn't matter; plus, Wonder Woman in animation does pull in money with youth audiences, possibly into teens and young adults - WB/DC could have a reason to get into more merchandising and show even more that this character can hold her own.

You know the drill. Place your thoughts below.

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Tstubbs
Tstubbs - 10/26/2013, 11:26 AM
@ OmegaDaGod
Agreed. That's why I thinks a animates series for TV would be a safe bet for WB. There is practically no risk with that but has the ability to start building a foundation to add strength for a live action film.
Tstubbs
Tstubbs - 10/26/2013, 11:43 AM
They changed Supermans costume. I'm pretty sure they could do the same for her. And at this point you can probably accurately predict what kind of money you can bring in from a solo movie so budget accordingly. At least negate some risk. I'm more upset over all about the fact that they choose not to use her. There has been an out cry from fans and people in general to use female characters.
Tstubbs
Tstubbs - 10/26/2013, 11:50 AM
Im not saying that's my daughters only role model. She likes the superhero genre I would just like companies to support the female roles in that respect. Eventually she will get older and wonder why characters like that aren't getting used. What do you think that's going to say to her about bug companies? That's my beef. She has plenty of real life people to aspire just like your daughter.
Tstubbs
Tstubbs - 10/26/2013, 11:55 AM
Wonder Woman also had a strong female fan base during WW2 with decent stories. She was a strength to women who had to pick up the slack here cause the men were off to war. It wasn't until after the war and the fellas came home that her story lines became sappy and more based on the woman in distress.
JorEllinator
JorEllinator - 10/26/2013, 1:35 PM
@VIRILEMAN
Piss off.
It's not that she's dressed like a stripper (which she isn't) it's that the set is marketed to young boys and let's face it, when you were 4 or 5 girls were icky. Female athletes who young women look up to actually wear less clothes than Wonder Woman. During JMS's run on ol' Diana, Women complained when they gave her tights and a jacket. Even Gail Simone was opposed to it. Speaking of Gail Simone, she loves Wonder Woman's costume and so do most women. The only women who I have heard complain about it are hard feminists or feminazis.
Lhornbk
Lhornbk - 10/26/2013, 4:28 PM
No to stories from her youth on the island. That's just a dumb idea, whether in animation or live action. It might work for 1/2 season to a full season, but it would eventually get old and repetitive if you didn't move her to the real world. An animated series might not be a bad idea if you did it right. Although I'm not sure where you would put it. Maybe Cartoon Network, but they have not always shown the desire to support DC shows, canceling them after a year or so. I don't see the CW or any other network showing it, unless it was a Saturday morning cartoon, which would do nothing to increase her exposure (no pun intended) to adult general audiences.

@Chumofsky, you pretty much have to do some kind of origin story, although if they do use a movie instead of a TV show, they should keep the origin part of the movie to a minimum and move to the action quickly. And no to fighting Aquaman. I just watched Flashpoint Paradox, and hated seeing the war part of it (never mind that having Aquaman, who is still seen by general audiences as being a fairly dumb character, would probably kill the movie.)

All those people who think a female superhero movie will automatically bomb are stupid. Hunger Games proved that an action movie centered around a woman can make a ton of money, and I believe that next month Catching Fire will kick Thor's butt. And that is what a Wonder Woman movie should be, basically an action movie centered around a woman. Hopefully, if Catching Fire does as well as I think it will, WB executives will realize that a Wonder Woman movie can work if done right.
Lhornbk
Lhornbk - 10/26/2013, 4:38 PM
@Tstubbs, don't let that idiot @Virileman make you be defensive. There is nothing wrong with your daughter having Wonder Woman as a role model, anymore than there is anything wrong with a young boy having Superman or Batman or Iron Man as a role model. That whole argument about Wonder Woman's outfit being to skippy is mainly an excuse used by men who don't like female superheroes at all. As others have pointed out, most women don't mind it, and a lot of female athletes do wear just as little, or even less. You can tell from his comments that @Virileman just hates Wonder Woman. Her outfit is secondary to that hatred.
Poolio
Poolio - 10/26/2013, 5:28 PM
The problem...It is a female led action movie. Unless it's material from a tween romance book series, they tank 90% of the time. WB needs to focus on Flash instead, because as much as I like Marvel, I hate that we get to see Quicksilver before Flash...twice.
GuardianDevil
GuardianDevil - 10/26/2013, 8:15 PM
What's the problem?? The problem is that WW is a sucky character with retarded villains. The other problem is that there has never been a solo female hero CBM that did anything even close to good financially and critically. WB doesn't want a big bomb to come in and ruin an otherwise promising franchise. (DCCU)
CaptainAmerica31
CaptainAmerica31 - 10/26/2013, 10:23 PM
Honestly I can't think of a WW film being made that's good. She's just not interesting IMO
SnapperCarr
SnapperCarr - 10/26/2013, 10:45 PM
@JJ63 Wonder Woman isn't a sucky character. Have you ever read any of her comic books?

I think Wonder Woman just needs an animated series to gain a bigger fanbase. Batman and Superman are thriving because they had popular shows in the 90's that made them relevant for today's audience. Wonder Woman needs that kind of treatment, and her own show would be the best way to go. Legend of Korra is having so much success with a female lead so Wonder Woman can do the same.

SnapperCarr
SnapperCarr - 10/26/2013, 10:52 PM
For Wonder Woman, you need to set up a core supporting cast. Steve Trevor, Etta Candy, and Hippolyta are mainstays and should be there. Bring back General Phil Darnell,Trevor Barnes and Julia Kapatelis. Use the Greek Gods more. Clean up the backstories of both Wonder Girls.

Also tie in the Greek Gods to DC's New Gods somehow. Wonder Woman's mythology needs a bigger connection to the overarching DCU.
SnapperCarr
SnapperCarr - 10/26/2013, 10:58 PM






SnapperCarr
SnapperCarr - 10/26/2013, 11:12 PM
Her villains need to be updated for the 21st century. Look at Iron Man, he went from fighting commies to be able to be a character who operates as a hero of today. Wonder Woman's villains need that treatment. Ares, Circe, Cheetah and Giganta are good the way they are and are popular. Silver Swan, Dr. Cyber, Angle Man and Cyborgirl can use Apokaliptian tech. Paula Von Gunther can be used as an assasin ala Deadshot. Dr. Psycho can be great mental attacks, and same with the Duke of Deception. Dr. Poison can be a great behind the scenes villain and Devastation and Genocide are great for physical opponents. The Crow Children can make for creepy villains and Alkylone would be great as a personal villain. Queen Clea can be used to tie in Aquaman's mythos.
GuardianDevil
GuardianDevil - 10/26/2013, 11:28 PM
@SnapperCarr
To me she sucks...she's the most outdated character ever and I don't mean that in a good way like Cap or Superman. You also have to see that out of every one of those villains you named, not a single one of them is even 10% as cool or interesting as any villains of Batman, Spider-Man, Superman, X-Men, etc. Sure I could say the same about Iron Man for instance but he is actually a semi-interesting character. Personally I never found WW interesting in the least I agree with @Spidey31.
GuardianDevil
GuardianDevil - 10/26/2013, 11:32 PM
Just to me all of her villains are really half assed in the same way Iron Man villains are. But Iron Man has made it okay as a character because there are other things about his character that are interesting. IMO, Wonder Woman isn't.
SnapperCarr
SnapperCarr - 10/26/2013, 11:35 PM

















I think that's a substantial rogues gallery that just needs to be shown some love to and will catch people's attention.
SnapperCarr
SnapperCarr - 10/26/2013, 11:38 PM
@JJ63 With Wonder Woman, I think the potential is there, but she just needs a better costume and more utilization and that's it. Her mythology needs more love and it definitely needs more connection to the main DCU for people to start respecting it more. And I think Ares, Circe, Cheetah or some other character could really hit it big in terms of popularity if utilized right.
OcciferPing
OcciferPing - 10/27/2013, 12:42 AM
I think they're waiting for the opportune moment. I honestly think she's going to somehow be in Batman VS Superman. What better and perfect way to market her than to have her in one of the most anticipated movies of all time? I mean who is not going to flock to the theater and see Batman and Superman throw down?

So if they add Wonder Woman in it, it's a perfect way to advertise her and build up hype for her to either A) be in her own solo film or B) appear again in the Justice League movie.
Tainted87
Tainted87 - 10/27/2013, 9:58 AM
It really is marketing.
My job has me asking customers if they want a boy or girl toy with their happy meal.
On screen, it shows up as Doll or Truck.
When we've had superhero toys or Transformers, Arcee is nowhere to be found, as well as Black Widow or Wonder Woman.
We had Shrek a few years back, and the only time Fiona was present was on our special collector's glasses, which were of course, unisex.

Is it about selling toys? Not really, but the same logic applies. They are sexist and programmed.
Tainted87
Tainted87 - 10/27/2013, 10:05 AM
You also have the rather obvious fact that the vast majority of screenwriters are men. And even some of the most overrated writers have no idea how to write women. There is such a thing as the "Bechdel Test"...

In order to pass, a production must
* Include at least two named women...
* Who have at least one conversation lasting at least a full minute...
* About something other than a man or men in general.

Not often passed, although it might seem like it would.
Tstubbs
Tstubbs - 10/27/2013, 10:17 AM
I do hope that they find a way to utilize WW in the Superman/Batman movie. Either a teaser or written in. I still think an animated series would do well. I can think of a dozen popular kids shows with a female lead. WB/DC just needs to start pulling in the fan base for her.
JorEllinator
JorEllinator - 10/27/2013, 2:08 PM
MAC, you truly are a genius. Even though I don't always agree with you, hats off.
Tstubbs
Tstubbs - 10/27/2013, 2:09 PM
@martianabominationclone
That would be awesome
marvel72
marvel72 - 10/27/2013, 4:56 PM
warner needs to grow some balls.they had balls once when they decided to make the green lantern but sadly it didn't perform well at the box office so their newly grown balls shrunk back up into their stomach.
aresww3
aresww3 - 10/28/2013, 5:07 AM
w
aresww3
aresww3 - 10/28/2013, 5:08 AM
great article well done
Tstubbs
Tstubbs - 10/28/2013, 11:35 AM
@ aresww3
Thanks.
kenjim152
kenjim152 - 10/28/2013, 3:08 PM
Actually WW was well treated on JLU, she was always pissed ambassador who taught human kind deserves better than their leaders. I believe they just need to keep her in her own mythology which is very vast, then move her out a little bit so the world knows she is there, then as she was forced out to leave her Island to save the day she gets forbiden to go back. Then you have her journey through the world of men to deserve going back. Using that main concept you can pull a Trilogy easily.
aresww3
aresww3 - 10/30/2013, 4:41 AM
h
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