Like most superhero films, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice will likely divide audiences, but one thing they'll all be able to agree on is that Wonder Woman, as played by Gal Gadot, steals the show. In a recent poll done by Fandango, Wonder Woman was named the most highly anticipated character in BvS, and the reason why most audiences wanted to see it. It's not surprising that she's emerged as the main draw of the film, as Gadot's debut in the role marks the first time Wonder Woman has ever been brought to the big screen. It also serves to give impatient fans a sort of sneak peek at the hero's groundbreaking upcoming solo movie, Wonder Woman, set for release on June 23, 2017. It's about time a female superhero got to headline her own movie, and Wonder Woman 's release date can't come soon enough.
The movie is still in production, but sneak peeks and photos have been released here and there. Still, most of the details on the plot have remained secret. And with every piece of information teased, the anticipation for the film grows. Wonder Woman has been waiting 75 years for her shot at the big screen, but we can't all have the patience of an Amazonian goddess. Here are seven reasons why I'm counting down the days until Wonder Woman's release.
1. It's Freakin' Wonder Woman
It's no secret that superhero movies have a women problem. For years, Marvel fans watched Black Widow kick ass and take names, while also being the only woman on the superhero team, as well as one of the longest-running Marvel Cinematic Universe heroes without her own film. The studio has yet to release a female-led superhero movie, but meanwhile, Spider-Man has been rebooted twice in the past five years. Women have been waiting a long time to have a female superhero finally take the spotlight, so Wonder Woman is way overdue.
2. It's An Origin Story
Even though Wonder Woman is probably the most well-known female superhero, her origin story is not. Everyone knows that Bruce Wayne's parents were killed when he was a kid, or that Superman was sent to Earth when Krypton was destroyed, but I can't tell you the first thing about Wonder Woman's origin story. What little I do know can barely be considered common knowledge, or even popular trivia. What's nice about Wonder Woman is that it will finally bring the hero's backstory to the forefront. Hopefully ignorant fans like myself will learn a thing or two.
3. Gal Gadot
Gal Gadot has been talking about Wonder Woman non-stop ever since she was cast as the lead, and all her interviews have made it even clearer that she's the woman for the job. "What's so lovely about Wonder Woman is yes, she has the strength and power of a goddess, but she has the heart and mind of a human.... You treat her as a normal woman who happens to be fantastic and almighty," Gadot told Variety when asked about how she approached the role.
4. Director Patty Jenkins
Although the film was originally set to have a different director, Patty Jenkins (Monster) landed the job of making Wonder Woman, and fans everywhere breathed a sigh of relief. It felt important to many, myself included, that Wonder Woman be made by a woman, and the fact that the studio decided to put Jenkins in the driver's seat shows that they aren't just talking the talk.
5. Wonder Woman's Costume
I'll admit, I am not a fan of Wonder Woman's costume. As far as I am concerned, it's a male fantasy that looks both ridiculously uncomfortable and impractical. That said, I have to say that her current costume looks pretty great. It helps that it doesn't look like just a scrap of fabric, but real armor. She's not just wearing a bathing suit, she's wearing a protective bathing suit. As Jenkins told Entertainment Weekly, "I, as a woman, want Wonder Woman to be hot as hell, fight badass, and look great at the same time."
6. Kick Ass Supporting Women
A new photo released to Entertainment Weekly gives fans a first look at the three women who raised Wonder Woman: her mother, Queen Hippolyta (Connie Nielsen), her aunt General Antiope (Robin Wright) and her other aunt Lieutenant Menalippe (Lisa Loven Kongsli). According to Jenkins, the movie will show how these three women offered her different perspectives as she grew up on Themyscira, a mythical island populated only by women warriors.
7. Chris Pine
It's basically law that superhero movies need to star at least one handsome Chris in it. Marvel's got Chris Pratt, Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth, so it's only fair Chris Pine got his turn in Wonder Woman. What's so lovely about Pine playing Steve Trevor is that fans are finally going to see a man in the "girlfriend" role — in this case, the boyfriend role. Granted, Steve will probably be doing more than just watching anxiously while Wonder Woman fights some bad guys, but, still, it's cool to see a male actor embrace a secondary part in a superhero movie like this.
Is it 2017 yet? Wonder Woman, we're waiting for you!
Images: Warner Bros. (3); Giphy (3)
