Gal Gadot's appearance in BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE definitely got audiences hungry for more of the Amazonian warrior, but the upcoming WONDER WOMAN still has a lot riding on it. Not only will it be the first live-action film focused on Wonder Woman, but, should it be a success, it would also further open the door for more female directors to tackle big-budget projects. WONDER WOMAN director Patty Jenkins came quite close to directing THOR: THE DARK WORLD, but later departed the project over "creative differences." When WONDER WOMAN came calling, she knew that she needed to be sure that Warner Bros. and herself were on the same page.
Thankfully, everything seems to have worked out and Patty Jenkins told the Toronto Sun that she's already coming up with ideas for a WONDER WOMAN sequel.
I’m excited for her to come to America and become the Wonder Woman we are all familiar with from having grown up around her as an American superhero. I’d like to bring her a little farther along into the future and have a fun, exciting storyline that is its own thing. Wonder Woman 1 is so much about her becoming the person she is. I can’t wait to spring forward with who she is and have another great standalone superhero film.
Wonder Woman visited America in BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE, but from the sound of Jenkins' comment, the WONDER WOMAN sequel would stick with early 20th century time-frame and depict Wonder Woman's first visit to the United States. Warner Bros. haven't greenlit a WONDER WOMAN sequel yet, but I would think that the chances are pretty damn good. Patty Jenkins has wanted to make a Wonder Woman film for quite some time and knew that she wanted to see an origin story after growing up admiring Richard Donner's SUPERMAN.
I always thought the origin story would be the great way to go. I love origin superhero stories and I love the simplicity you can have with that journey. Also, there was the fact that no one had done her story and the fact that I love her. So it was a treasure trove of potential.
Assuming the WONDER WOMAN sequel doesn't get underway right off the bat, Patty Jenkins could just have another project on her hands, even though she may not know it yet. While speaking to the Associated Press, Dwayne Johnson said that he has Jenkins on his shortlist to direct Disney's JUNGLE CRUISE. "Patty has that really cool edge," said Johnson. "I felt like she could be a really cool choice for a movie like Jungle Cruise. Plus, you know what? I’m just a big fan." JUNGLE CRUISE will be based on the Disney ride of the same name and is set to start shooting in the spring of 2018.
WONDER WOMAN is set to hit theaters on June 2, 2017.