‘Wonder Woman’ Rumored Setting Lays a Proper Foundation for Iconic Heroine

Wonder Woman Batman v Superman

Ever since it was first announced that the DCEU would contain at least one solo Wonder Woman film, fans have been eager to learn more about what kind of story it would tell. Would it take place after the events of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice? Would Gal Gadot’s be portraying the heroine in a period piece?

Thanks to a scoop broken by Heroic Hollywood’s EIC Umberto Gonzalez yesterday, we now have reason to believe that the answer will most likely be a blending of the two. According to the rumors, 2017’s Wonder Woman, which is being directed by Patty Jenkins and begins filming this November, will probably take place during World War I and in present time.

I believe that splitting the movie up in between two separate time periods is smart. We’ve heard rumblings for years that Warner Bros. wanted Wonder Woman’s solo movie to be a period piece. Dividing up the film between the first world war and modern times gives them a chance to do that, while also maintaining continuity with the rest of the DCEU.

Let’s examine why this rumor, if true, could prove to be a very smart move, shall we?

This Will Not Be an Origin Story

Because Wondy has never been seen on the big screen before, fans have been wondering if her standalone would be an origin story. If the rumors are to be believed about Wonder Woman being over 200 years old -no doubt a testament to her divine heritage- setting part of the movie during World War I pretty much nixes this idea. It is more likely that we’ll be seeing how she comes to know people in our world. If we see anything of her origin on Themyscria, it will probably be covered in a flashback scene.

Yes, it would be sweet to see her talking with Hippolyta and being trained in combat by the God of War, but as long as we see her kick some serious butt in the first world war, I think audiences will be satisfied.

At Least Some Unfair Comparisons Will Be Avoided

Making her debut on the comics page in December 1941, some of Wonder Woman’s most important early storylines involved fighting the Nazi’s in World War II. Unfortunately for the purists out there who long to see a faithful origin adaptation, Captain America: The First Avenger got to the box office first.

Critics, whether professional or amateur, are a pretty unforgiving bunch. If they were to set Wonder Woman during World War II, the “ripoff” chants would be endless. Setting her story a generation earlier not only does away with comparisons, but also gives comic and film fans to see something they don’t see quite as often. The Nazi’s are a commonly used villian. There will probably be another four or five movies featuring them between now and then. Why not go for something different?

One of the main things that Warner Bros. has set out to do with the new DCEU is to avoid comparisons. It’s evident in everything from the tone and marketing of the films to the color palates and toned down humor. If they want to go the extra mile to avoid comparisons with arguably the most popular member of The Avengers, I’m all for it. Wonder Woman is insanely popular, but why put up with the hassle?

The Film’s Locations Are Rich With History

The fact that this movie will take place in two different timelines explains the two confirmed filming locations that we know of so far, which are London, England and Basilicata, Italy. Both countries were major players in World War I, and would provide a lavish landscape to tell that part of the story.

Speaking of landscapes, have you seen what Basilicata looks like? This backdrop is a terrific choice. Beautiful coastline, ancient ruins, and mountains. If they were aiming for a brief origin flashback sequence on Themyscria, this would be the place to do it.

Steve Trevor Could Exist in Either Time

Steve Trevor has been Diana Prince’s on-again, off-again boyfriend for quite some time. His character has been featured from the early 40’s all the way up to the New 52. Chris Pine’s take on the character could be an American Intelligence Officer during World War I, or he could be set in modern times.

Either way, I have no doubt that Pine will to a fantastic job portraying the character. He knows how to work well as part of an ensemble, which is exactly what this film needs. The last thing any of us want is to see the world’s most popular female superhero get overshadowed in her own film.

The Story Can Continue

As we’ve touched on several times, the films that make up the DCEU appear to be forming a linear pattern. Each successive story will have more of a direct connection than the movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, although I should point out that neither approach is really better than the other.

By the time it hits theaters in 2017, Wonder Woman will be the fourth film in this shared universe. Setting at least part of the movie in the present time will allow for the story that was set up in Man of Steel, and continued in Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad to be grow even further.

Diana Prince is just as recognizable as Batman, Superman, and the Joker, but has never been featured before on the big screen. That perhaps is the best reason to tell her story over the course of a century. The more we can learn about her, the more likely that Patty Jenkins and Gal Gadot will be able do the character justice.

Despite the fact that Gal Gadot’s take on the icon will already have been introduced in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice next year, they’re going to want to make sure that her solo outing surpasses all expectations. While they don’t necessarily need to go overboard to make that happen, it’s nice to see that they’re not exactly playing it safe. Go big or go home, right?

Jesse M

Jesse M

Jesse M is a lover of film, science fiction, and DC Comics. He currently works as a professional writer, and lives in frigid Upstate, NY.