“Wonder Woman 3” Being Fast Tracked By Warners

The release of Wonder Woman 1984 was something of a shot in the dark. But with the costly film being pushed back numerous times, and a backlog of projects piling up, Warners had do something drastic, and so they decided to simultaneously release the film in theaters and on their streamer, HBO Max, along with the rest of their 2021 film slate, which has led to a lot of frustration in the industry.

And while the dust is still settling around their controversial release plans, the results of their first foray are unquestionably positive. Wonder Woman 1984 scored $85 million at the worldwide box office, with a $16.7 million showing in the United States, which is the highest debut since the pandemic began, easily passing Tenet‘s $9.7 million opening back in August. This is heartening, as 60% of theaters are still closed, including major markets such as New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

On top of that, it’s being reported that over half of HBO Max’s 12.6 million purported subscribers streamed the movie on Friday. And that isn’t even taking into account the millions that watched it via cable or wireless access. And while subscription numbers aren’t out yet, it’s being assumed that the release will lead to a surge for the fledgling service.

Given the apparent success, Warner Bros. has decided to double down on the warrior princess and is fast tracking Wonder Woman 3. Gal Gadot is returning as the star, and Patty Jenkins is back in the director’s chair, with the caveat that the initial release of the threequel will be exclusively theatrical. This had been a sticking point for Jenkins, who made it known she wouldn’t return unless this was guaranteed.

However, Jenkins has also been tapped to head up Star Wars: Rogue Squadron for Christmas 2023. The director has confirmed that both films have complete script treatments, so either could move forward relatively soon. Scheduling could be tricky, though its possible she could begin work on one when the other begins post-production, so, theoretically, both movies could head into production this year.

Whatever the case, it’s an exciting time to be a fan. While Wonder Woman 1984 has been a little divisive in the critical realm, with opinions being split between total failure and terrific accomplishment, most praise the performances, especially Pedro Pascal’s villain, and audiences are clearly tuning in. The film is currently in theaters where available and can be streamed on HBO Max for the next month.