During an interview with Deadline’s Crew Call Podcast, Wonder Woman 1984 director Patty Jenkins teased an important reason for choosing that specific year for the setting of the long-awaited sequel.
The highly-anticipated sequel to Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman is set to hit theaters next summer and while there is still plenty audiences don’t know about Diana Prince’s second adventure in the DCEU, we do know that the film will be set during the Reagan Era of the 1980s, specifically in the year 1984. In fact, some fans have theorized the year of choice is a nod to George Orwell’s dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, suggesting the Patty Jenkins film could examine the excess and questionable Wall Street practices of the decade. While director Patty Jenkins did not reveal too many details on why she chose to set the Wonder Woman sequel in 1984, she did confirm it will be important in the film and resonates with current events as well:
“All I can say is that 1984 itself is definitely very evocative to what’s important in that movie and resonates with right now. I picked 1984 for a very specific reason. I think it was the pinnacle of the success in the ‘80s, in my opinion, because it’s before the market started to get a little more struggling as the ‘80s went on. And it was like the top of the top. It was such an incredible time. I feel like there’s something about the excess of that period of time, which is so linked up to where we are in the world right now, that it’s set there for a reason.That’s all I can say.”
Are you excited to see what Patty Jenkins has planned for Wonder Woman 1984? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
Full details on the Wonder Woman 1984 plot are currently unknown, though the film will follow Gal Gadot’s titular hero as she comes into conflict with the Soviet Union in the 1980s and encounters a formidable new adversary named Cheetah.
Directed by Patty Jenkins from a script she co-wrote with David Callaham and a treatment she developed with Geoff Johns, Wonder Woman 1984 stars Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Kristen Wigg, Pedro Pascal, Natasha Rothwell, Ravi Patel, Gabriella Wilde, Connie Nielson, and Robin Wright.
Wonder Woman 1984 will be released in theaters on June 4, 2020.
Source: Deadline (via SyFy Wire)
Suicide Squad Characters That Can Appear In The James Gunn Sequel
James Gunn is directing The Suicide Squad for Warner Bros. but that comes at a cost.
When the first Suicide Squad was about to hit theaters DC fans were completely ecstatic. The trailers looked great and the feel of the movie was much different than the darkness that preceded it in Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. This movie was expected to be one of DC’s biggest hits and it turned out to be one of the biggest let-downs of all time.
Suicide Squad was bad and its reviews reflected that. It was one of the only movies I’ve ever been upset at and it made me want to leave the theater. A sequel was announced because the film did well at the box office, going through a number of drafts until James Gunn was brought on to write it. With James Gunn now officially set to direct The Suicide Squad, it looks like the film will be a bit of a soft reboot.
Last night was a bit of a DC maelstrom of news. We got the release dates and official titles of Matt Reeves’ The Batman and James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad. Both movies will be hitting theaters in Summer 2021. Throughout all of the chaos a small tidbit surfaced about The Suicide Squad: the James Gunn-directed film will be some sort of relaunch with new characters and actors. Here are the characters I think James Gunn should introduce in his Suicide Squad movie.
Amanda Waller
Warner Bros. and DC may want to reboot Suicide Squad, but it would be seriously dumb for them to recast Amanda Waller. Viola Davis was one of the saving graces of the first film and bringing her back is the smart thing to do. Amanda Waller is the one that puts the group together and she shouldn’t be changed due to a new director.
Black Manta
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II made his debut as Black Manta in Aquaman and he didn’t get much screen time. The Suicide Squad is the best place for Black Manta to receive some character development and for audiences to see him grow as a villain. Black Manta is a main squad member in the New 52 and I think James Gunn could do the character justice.
Deadshot
Another bright spot from the first film: Will Smith as Floyd Lawton, a.k.a. Deadshot. Will Smith is one of the most famous actors of all time and throughout every review of Suicide Squad his character shines. His charisma and screen presence dominated the film. Not bringing Smith back would be sabotaging the sequel as fans will expect the actor to return following his great performance.
Deathstroke
Joe Manganiello made his debut as Deathstroke in the post-credits scene of Justice League. His character wasn’t as eager for a team-up as Lex Luthor, but we could see the assassin enroll in the Suicide Squad. It could be great for Manganiello as his Deathstroke film has been put on the back-burner.
Killer Frost
This character is unlikely to show up in The Suicide Squad as she’s being heavily utilized in The Flash series on The CW. But, if James Gunn does get his hands on Killer Frost, I guarantee the character will not be a complete shitshow like in the series. Hopefully the director can make Killer Frost as villainous as possible.
Poison Ivy
Poison Ivy will definitely return to the big screen. Pamela Isley made her big screen debut in Batman & Robin with Uma Thurman playing the character and while that film is so campily terrible, fans are looking forward to a modern take on the iconic DC Comics villain. Poison Ivy is rumored to be part of a Gotham City Sirens film and a rumored Birds of Prey versus The Gotham City Siren project. Ivy could definitely make her DC Extended Universe debut in The Suicide Squad and then return for more movies.
King Shark
King Shark was supposed to be in the first Suicide Squad, but ultimately didn’t make the cut. The concept art of the character shows the cold-blooded amphibious mutant in a Hawaiian shirt looking like a totally monstrous shark. If James Gunn does decide to utilize this character it would be fun to see what he does on screen.
Bronze Tiger
Bronze Tiger was heavily featured in the first half of Arrow season 7. He was a major help to Oliver Queen during his tenure in prison. But Arrow hasn’t done a very accurate version of Bronze Tiger and The Suicide Squad could be the first place we get to see Ben Turner really let loose.
Bane
Bane is an interesting choice to join The Suicide Squad. He is a member in the comics and even the first film had some concept art featuring his mask. Fans are clamoring for Guardians of the Galaxy star Dave Bautista to join the film as the iconic Batman villain, having the actor reunite with James Gunn.
Cheetah
Kristen Wiig will make her debut as infamous Wonder Woman villain Cheetah in 2020’s Wonder Woman 1984. Maybe after the film, Cheetah gets locked up by A.R.G.U.S. and joins the Squad in present day. It would be great to see Wiig’s character be explored more in future films.
