WONDER WOMAN: Patty Jenkins Clashed With WB Over Vision For 2017 Movie And Diana Prince Cutting Off Heads

Wonder Woman 1984 director Patty Jenkins reveals early clashes with Warner Bros. over 2017's Wonder Woman, which included not wanting Diana to be depicted as being violent & cutting people's heads off.

By JoshWilding - Jan 05, 2021 05:01 AM EST

Filed Under: Wonder Woman

During a revealing interview with Marc Maron on his "WTF" podcast (via The Playlist), Wonder Woman 1984 director Patty Jenkins opened up about her early attempts to direct Wonder Woman for Warner Bros. The filmmaker was first approached by the studio in the late 2000s, and when talks broke down, Michelle MacLaren was eyed as a replacement.

Ultimately, Jenkins was rehired and got to deliver the movie she wanted (well, mostly) in 2017.

Reflecting on those early conversations with Warner Bros., Jenkins said: "They wanted to hire me like a beard; they wanted me to walk around on set as a woman, but it was their story and their vision. And my ideas? They didn’t even want to read my script. There was such mistrust of a different way of doing things and a different point of view."

"Even when I first joined ‘Wonder Woman’ it was like, ‘Uhh, yeah, OK, but let’s do it this other way.’ But I was like, ‘Women don’t want to see that. Her being harsh and tough and cutting people’s heads off. I’m a ‘Wonder Woman’ fan, that’s not what we’re looking for.’ Still, I could feel that shaky nervousness [on their part] of my point of view."

Adding that she believes the studio was "freaked out" by the female superhero movies that had failed in the past, Jenkins reveals that the project had been through so many iterations that there were at least 30 different screenplays written and considered over the years.

The filmmaker concludes by describing the situation as, "an internal war on every level about what ‘Wonder Woman’ should be."

Clearly, Jenkins and Warner Bros. eventually managed to see eye-to-eye, and it was recently confirmed that she'll be returning to the DCEU for Wonder Woman 3.

Click on the "Next" button below to check out some
of the storylines we could see in Wonder Woman 3!

10. A League of One

If Patty Jenkins wants to bring Wonder Woman 3 into the present day in a way that resonates with fans, then it should feature appearances from her fellow heroes (Shazam, Aquaman, and the Flash, for example). This one-shot depicted the Amazon Princess learning of a prophecy that says an ancient dragon will awake, killing her fellow members of the Justice League when they rush into battle to stop it.

As a result, Diana decides that she should be the only member of the team to confront the beast, and then proceeds to take down each and every one of her teammates in the hopes of preventing their deaths. This would be a surprising, but no doubt enjoyable, direction to take things in.

It may ultimately depend on whether cameos like those would distract too much from Diana, but there are definitely ideas here which could play nicely into a big screen adaptation.

9. Eyes Of The Gorgon

At one point in DC history, Themyscira was relocated to an area near the U.S. coastline. Of course, as their ambassador, Diana was forced to deal with the political ramifications of an island full of superpowered Amazons living alongside a country obsessed with their national security.

As if that wasn’t challenging enough for the hero, Wonder Woman’s enemies decide to take advantage of this by teaming together and sending the ancient Medusa after her, and this would serve as a fun way of having Diana Prince's two worlds collide in the present day.

Gorgon, meanwhile, would be a villain who ties into the character's mythological background.

8. Superman/Wonder Woman

Henry Cavill is still expected to make a series of cameo/supporting appearances in the DCEU moving forward (assuming talks with Warner Bros. work out; we still don't know), so he could very easily show up in Wonder Woman 3, giving Diana Prince a new love interest in the process.

In the pages of Justice League, Wonder Woman and Superman realised just how similar they are, leading to the two embarking on a relationship with each other. At the time, DC Comics teased that this would have some serious repercussions moving forward, and Batman was far from happy about the world’s two most powerful superheroes being so closely aligned.

As he warned them at the time, "They’re going to be gunning for you." When Superman asks who he’s referring to, the Caped Crusader simply states: "Whoever’s afraid of what you two could do."

7. Blood

Greek mythology has obviously always had a big role in stories featuring Wonder Woman, but that was taken to a whole new level in "The New 52" when it was revealed that Zeus is her father. This led to Diana clashing with a whole host of mythological characters as she sets off on a mission to protect a newborn baby who is also one of the Olympian Gods’ many children.

Wonder Woman obviously established Diana's ties to this world, but this movie could dive a little deeper into that, borrowing elements from Brian Azzarello's critically acclaimed comic book run.

We're sure Zeus might also have something to say about what happened to Ares in Wonder Woman, while the use of the Dreamstone firmly connected the franchise to Greek mythology yet again.

6. Paradise Lost

"Paradise Lost" was a collection of stories which featured Wonder Woman heading to Gotham City.

However, she didn't clash with the Caped Crusader, as the two instead teamed up to face a common enemy. When Ares - the God of War - and his children join forces with some of the worst villains that Batman’s home city has to offer (including The Joker and Poison Ivy), the two members of the Justice League had to combine forces to face these mystically powered baddies.

Some changes would obviously need to be made for this to work, with Ares switched out for another Greek God. However, a team-up with Michael Keaton's Batman, or even Batgirl, would be awesome.

5. Challenge Of The Gods

Penned by the legendary George Perez (with Len Wien), "Challenge of the Gods" sees Zeus demand that Wonder Woman become his wife. It goes without saying that won't make it into Wonder Woman 3 because he's her father, but he could just as easily request that she fight for Olympus.

Refusing his request (she protects everyone, remember), Diana is then forced to travel deep beneath Themyscira to take on a series of challenges, most of whom are monsters from Greek mythology.

Cyclops, harpies, and even a hydra ultimately come into play, while Diana's relationship with her mother is also fleshed out a little more, and that's a reunion it would be great to see happen on screen.

4. The Circle

Gail Simone joined Wonder Woman at just the right time, and "The Circle" features plenty of great moments this third instalment could borrow from. While a good chunk of it revisits Diana's origin story, it's her now role as an agent of the Department of Metahuman Affairs which really stands out.

Throw in a newfound romance with her DMA partner, Tom Tresser, and this adventure could firmly establish Wonder Woman's new place in the DCEU, while helping her move on from Steve Trevor.

We're not sure whether the genetically enhanced gorillas who plague the Amazon warrior here are the best choice of villain, but Gorilla Grodd would certainly be an unexpected foe for this hero! There was an even hint that could be the case in Wonder Woman 1984, while we certainly wouldn't say no to Cheetah somehow making a return after her fate was handled so ambiguously.

3. The Hiketeia

When Wonder Woman takes part in an ancient ritual called the Hiketeia, she is honour-bound to protect a young woman named Danielle Wellys. Unfortunately, the girl just so happens to be on Batman’s radar in Gotham City as she killed the drug dealers who murdered her sister.

This leads to Diana becoming extremely conflicted as she finds herself forced between choosing to turn her back on justice or be disowned by the entirety of Themyscira. Inevitably, Wonder Woman comes to blows with the Caped Crusader, and as the duo battle on the top of a cliff, Danielle throws herself over the edge in order to release the Amazonian Princess of her duties.

Batman wouldn't necessarily have to be the hero Diana clashes with as there are lot of potential great team-ups, but dropping another hero from this story wouldn't make it any less impactful. For example, how much fun would it be to see Wonder Woman match wits with one Harley Quinn?

2. The Contest

Despite being a very dated 90s comic book, there's a lot in "The Contest" we think would work on the big screen. Stripped of her "Wonder Woman" identity by her mother, Diana has to find out who she really is without that title, and a new "Wonder Woman" - Artemis - ends up taking her place.

Boxer Ann Wolfe made a blink and you'd miss it appearance as Artemis in the first Wonder Woman movie, but we're assuming someone with a little more acting experience would fill this role.

A lot is bound to have changed on Themyscira since Diana left, so it would be interesting discovering their new champion, and someone who wants to take Wonder Woman's place. Of course, when the reason why she was really chosen to replace Diana comes out, this story could take a dark turn.

1. "War-Torn"

Following Azzarello's Wonder Woman run, David and Meredith Finch took over the series and delivered a story which saw Diana attempting to get her fellow Amazons to accept men on Themyscira.

While this was happening, Donna Troy (a character fans would definitely like to see on the big screen) stepped up to challenge Wonder Woman's role as Queen of the Amazons, a position we could see her take on early in Wonder Woman 3. While not sisters in this continuity, they could be in the DCEU.

This has a lot of potential and if Gal Gadot wants to move on from playing this character after the threequel, Donna could become the new Wonder Woman...the question is, who should play her?

Gal Gadot's WONDER WOMAN Not Part Of James Gunn And Peter Safran's DCU According To Hollywood Trade

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95 Comments

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Kman - 1/5/2021, 5:17 AM

Although I did not like WW84... I’m glad Patty did this in WW. That was a good movie. Sounds like they were pretty dug into being dark, gritty, and snyderish.

Humperdink - 1/5/2021, 5:22 AM

@Kman -

While I'd be okay with Wonder Woman killing, and EVEN beheading an enemy if need be, walking around with human heads attached to her belt as trophies on a battlefield is just completely wrong for the films.

You don't want to start her off committing war crimes, but Zack said Batman could get raped in his origin film so he's got a lot of "issues" with wanting to twist and pervert these characters.

I think Zack should just create his own "heroes" and do what he wants with them instead.

bman263 - 1/5/2021, 5:29 AM

@Humperdink - As much as I despise snyder I would absolutely watch [frick] out of a Znyder original Superhero universe

Vigor - 1/5/2021, 6:04 AM

@bman263 - just watch "the boys" on Amazon

LameLuka - 1/5/2021, 5:18 AM

I get the head cutting part. But as for the overall movie. It turned out a big hit. WW84 though....maybe Patty should just stick to directing. And get rid of Johns, the dude is still stuck in 1978 on how a superhero movie should look and feel like

Humperdink - 1/5/2021, 5:26 AM

@LameLuka -

Less writing more directing. She claims to be a Wonder Woman fan but like many comic film directors, it feels more like PR than reality. I wonder if she's ever read the comic and like many simply remember her from the TV show. What I saw in WW84 made me feel she doesn't get the character at all.

It seems everyone associated with comic movies are suddenly fans of the material and have been for years. After looking at the product they create I often don't buy it.

BestAtWhatIDo - 1/5/2021, 5:19 AM

In the post-Watchmen/The Boys era, the gritty, deconstructed, post-modern take has become the cliche. For Jenkins to do a sincere, naive, throwback version of the character was more radical than Snyder's vision. I had some problems with the movie, but I appreciated leaving a superhero movie thrilled and uplifted, as opposed to depressed and confused.

JFerguson - 1/5/2021, 5:20 AM

TheUnworthyThor - 1/5/2021, 5:28 AM

Freaked out that complete garbage like Elektra and Catwoman failed? Did they think Catwoman failed because she wasn’t cutting enough heads off her enemies? Nothing to do with making a broken movie that had no relationship to the Catwoman in the comics? She should of been eating her victims like a cat does after their owner dies. That’s what will get butts in seats. They can be so clueless.

Vision85 - 1/5/2021, 5:30 AM

The middle ground actually worked well for WW. Ckesrly she was given more freedom with 1984 and I think her inclinations lean too deeply into cheese.

WakandanQueen - 1/5/2021, 5:30 AM

The guy who wrote the first Wonder Woman film. Where is he? He should work with Jenkins on the third one.

bman263 - 1/5/2021, 5:34 AM

Has anyone ever wondered how tone had never been an issue with those Fox era X-men movies? The best X-men movies were never hung up on being "dark" or "light". They just told good stories and those stories decided the tone.
X-men, Xmen-United, X-1st Class & Xmen-Dofp were tonally balanced movies simply focused on saying the story in the best possible way without ever being under the pressure of making them "dark" or "light"

Doomsday8888 - 1/5/2021, 5:44 AM

@bman263
This man spittin'.

vegetaray - 1/5/2021, 6:25 AM

@bman263 - Exactly!

This is where Snyder seems to have a disconnect...He approaches every project with the intent on making it edgy and dark...Story comes second and is a way for him to realize the tone he’s pushing for...I need Wonder Woman to be a violent beheading war machine Patty, try and work your script around that...

JFerguson - 1/5/2021, 5:36 AM

“Women don’t want to see that. Her being harsh and tough and cutting people’s heads off. Still, I could feel that shaky nervousness [on their part] of my point of view."

You know it’s funny that Patty mentions this. When WW 1 first came out a couple of my friends and I went to see the movie. The two girls in our group got bored right around the No Mans Land celebration and actually snuck off to sneak into a showing of GOTG2 that was playing at the room across from us. Keep in mind these ladies were not big superhero movie fan girls and said they enjoyed that much more than WW.

So either Patty still winded up failing at capturing females’ attention or she didn’t 100% get the movie she wanted from the WB execs.
😂 😂

Kumkani - 1/5/2021, 5:40 AM

@JFerguson - Your two females friends don't represent all women though

Kumkani - 1/5/2021, 5:36 AM

Why are DC and WB so obsessed with tone?

JoeInTheBox - 1/5/2021, 6:04 AM

@Kumkani - It's marketing speak for "we don't know what we want. just make us something that produces money!"

Spock0Clock - 1/5/2021, 7:56 AM

@Kumkani - Because movie executives are obsessed with market share and believed that Marvel fully-occupied that "family-friendly-with-a-bit-of-edge" niche that most superheroes of both publishers naturally fit.

Marvel was Nintendo, and WB wanted to be the Sega Genesis that "Does What Nintendon't"

Which is great a fostering an aging narrow fanbase of dead-enders who will forever insist that the Dreamcast was the greatest console ever made, but it's not great at... you know... making a lot of money because satisfied customers keep wanting to give it to you.

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