In December 2022, it was announced that a third ‘Wonder Woman‘ film starring Gal Gadot would not be moving forward. Despite the initial work that had begun on the project, including a submission of a script treatment, the movie was deemed incompatible with the new direction of the DCU.
The decision was surprising to many, as Wonder Woman had been one of the franchise’s most bankable properties with over $800 million in earnings worldwide. Now, actor Connie Nielson, who portrayed Queen Hippolyta in the film, has slammed DC’s decision to cancel ‘Wonder Woman 3’.
Connie Nielsen Deems ‘Wonder Woman’ A Franchise With Untapped Potential
Connie Nielsen joined millions of ‘Wonder Woman‘ fans who couldn’t make sense of DC’s decision to cancel the film’s upcoming parts. Nielsen, while talking to Den of Geek, expressed her disbelief and disappointment over the studio’s choice to abandon the project. Connie sees ‘Wonder Woman’ as a universally beloved and profitable corner of the DC Universe.
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“I think it’s crazy. I mean, frankly, I don’t understand it,” Nielsen stated. Moreover, she called the films spectacular and claimed that they had massive potential. She further revealed that all the ‘Wonder Woman’ films, despite having small budgets, succeeded. ‘Wonder Woman’ made $800 million just in theaters, and it has an enormous and passionate fan base.
The films were groundbreaking not just financially, but culturally as well. The first movie made waves as the first major superhero film with a woman lead, paving the way for more female-led superhero projects.
“I loved that island, those costumes, those characters, the values that those Amazons represented,” Nielsen recalled. “It was fantastic,” she added. For Nielsen, and likely for many fans, the cancellation of ‘Wonder Woman 3′ is a missed opportunity not just for the character of Diana Prince, but for the wider world of Themyscira.
“I Really Hope That They Change Their Minds”: Connie Nielsen Hopes For Reconsideration
With the film scrapped, the only glimpse fans will get into the Amazonian world will be in the form of the upcoming Paradise Lost TV series. The show is a prequel project set in Themyscira and aims to explore the origins of the Amazons.
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While it may delve into the backstory of the legendary warriors, Nielsen remains skeptical about it being a substitute for the iconic Wonder Woman herself. “It’s a pity,” Nielsen claimed. “I really hope that they change their minds and that they realize this is crazy. This is a billion dollars that is lying on the table,” she added.
Her frustration reflects that of many DC fans who have been bewildered by the abrupt abandonment of the beloved franchise. However, the legacy of Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman and the hope for her return still hangs in the balance.
