The summer box office of 2017 has been one of the poorest in recent memory, but that is in no due part to the efforts of Wonder Woman. The DCEU blockbuster would be a saving grace for theaters around the country, seeing the Patty Jenkins title capitalize on their 92% fresh rating with Rotten Tomatoes by soaring past the $800m mark.
Now the hit is on the cusp of a home digital release and the director had an opportunity to revel in the success. Speaking with Entertainment Tonight, the filmmaker argued that the opening feature was just the tip of the iceberg, proving the platform for Gal Gadot to seriously strut her stuff in future installments.
Diana To Cut Lasso Loose In WW2
While it might not have been the achievement for female empowerment on James Cameron's count, the public consensus said otherwise. This response even took Jenkins by surprise.
"It’s actually been interesting seeing peoples’ reactions to this. Particularly women coming up and saying, ‘That action scene was made for me! I don’t even like action movies!'" she recalled. "There is something about this movie that felt like it was speaking to (women) more than they had seen before because of the point of view being slightly different. I think that has been remarkable."
With all the drama and uncertainty behind the scenes that would see Jenkins in and out of the project over creative concerns, could she have ever imagined a resounding win like this would occur - both commercially and critically?
"It’s wonderful, it’s what you hope for," she replied. "You work so hard on (films) for so long, everybody that makes them hopes for success in every way they can possibly get it. So it’s felt very lucky and incredible to get both."
Given the official tick of approval by Warner Brothers for Wonder Woman 2, Jenkins sees the sequel as an entirely new adventure. Telling the origin tale to establish Diana as a true superhero, now she can have fun with the world and character she has created.
"The greatest thing about making this movie was the fact that you're really building to the Wonder Woman that we all love, but not until the end of the movie. The most exciting thing about (the sequel) is literally seeing her loose in the world now, living those classic stories. Here's Wonder Woman, and what can she do? It should be a totally different movie, but a grand and now full-blown Wonder Woman in the world."
Charlize Theron To Enter DCEU Fold?
Gal Gadot's portrayal of the DC heroine has been an overwhelming success for all parties, but her involvement was never a guarantee. When Charlize Theron appeared on The Howard Stern Show prior to the release, the actress said that her Monster director reached out.
"No, I’m not in Wonder Woman," she admitted. "We’re friends. I think the world of her (Jenkins). We have a mutual respect for each other. She did come to me, and at the time I was either working on something or I don’t know. There was a reason I couldn’t do it."
The only other public time Theron would make public reference of Wonder Woman was on the press circuit of Atomic Blonde. While many saw these movies as a continuation of an increasing female presence in big budget hits, Theron was left frustrated that studios like Warner Brothers would take this long to give female leads and filmmakers the type of money that men have forever enjoyed.
"I am ashamed that I’m part of an industry that has never allowed a woman to work with a budget higher than what the budget has been on Wonder Woman.That’s so f***ing caveman-like. I am always hoping that this is the movie that’s going to change it and keep it for us."
Quizzed by ET about her relationship with Theron, Jenkins expressed an interest in working together again after their Oscar-winning effort with 2003's Monster. With the filmmaker tied in for Wonder Woman 2, this lends itself to a potential casting coup.
"I always want to reunite with her, I’m shocked that we haven’t," Jenkins said. "We left our partnership on Monster planning on doing many more things together, and we had such a great experience; I can’t wait to work with her again and I’m sure we will."
Source: ET, Screen Rant
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