Everything We Know About Wonder Woman 3 So Far

Patty Jenkins' "Wonder Woman" was a bolt of lightning upon its release in 2017, giving the DCEU its first critically acclaimed film and beating "Captain Marvel" to the punch of being the first major female superhero movie in the post-"Iron Man" world. Its sequel, however, was a different story. Titled "Wonder Woman 1984," the '80s-tastic adventure bowed in theaters and on HBO Max on the same day after suffering multiple delays due to Covid. And when it did arrive, it left critics split, with some perceiving it as a gentle, cheesy balm for the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad year that was 2020 — while others found it oddly backwards in its messaging and recycling of '80s cliches.

Despite the film's divisive reception and diminished box office returns, Warner Bros. didn't waste any time before declaring "Wonder Woman 1984" a hit and giving an official green light to "Wonder Woman 3." Here's everything we know about Gal Gadot's potential (emphasis on "potential") last outing as Diana of Themyscira.

Warner Bros. has confirmed that "Wonder Woman 3" will receive an exclusive theatrical release before it becomes available for viewing on the home market. This was a major sticking point for Jenkins, who has made it clear on multiple occasions that she's against the idea of day-and-date premieres becoming the norm for Hollywood tentpoles post-Covid (whenever that might be) and only gave her blessing to "Wonder Woman 1984" using this strategy because it was the best worst option available at the time.

As for the threequel's release date, 2023 is looking increasingly likely. Until recently, Jenkins was gearing up to begin pre-production on the "Star Wars" spin-off "Rogue Squadron" this year ahead of its scheduled arrival in December 2023. However, that was before Disney and Lucasfilm removed the project from their official calendar, leaving its fate up in the air. It's speculated that Jenkins' commitment to "Wonder Woman 3" pulled her away from a galaxy far, far away due to the films' overlapping production timelines. If so, that could mean Jenkins is now planning to shoot the DCEU flick in 2022, keeping it on-course to launch the year after.

Around the time "Wonder Woman 1984" dropped, Jenkins revealed she and DC's former Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns (who co-wrote "WW84") had already come up with a story for "Wonder Woman 3." But like pretty much everyone else on the planet, Covid has led Jenkins to hit the pause button and rethink her plans for the future:

"What I wanted to talk about in ['WW84'] was very prescient to what I was feeling and what you were sort of feeling was coming. So now I'm not sure [about the story for 'Wonder Woman 3']. So much has changed in the world."

Keeping that in mind, Jenkins remains seemingly committed to crafting a contemporary story for "Wonder Woman 3," as opposed to yet another one set in the DCEU's past. She also hasn't back-pedaled on having Barbara Minerva/Cheetah return after "Wonder Woman 1984" left the character's fate somewhat open-ended. And with both Jenkins and Gadot already looking ahead to other non-DC projects (including their planned "Cleopatra" biopic), that only reinforces the idea the duo will call it a day on the DCEU after completing their "Wonder Woman" trilogy.

Jenkins will once again direct "Wonder Woman 3" after calling the shots on "Wonder Woman" and "Wonder Woman 1984." She also co-wrote the story and script for "WW84," suggesting Jenkins will once again have a hand in crafting the screenplay for Diana's next outing.

Speaking of which, Gadot will return as Diana in "Wonder Woman 3" after bringing the lasso-wielding Amazonian to life in "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice," "Justice League" (both cuts), and the first two "Wonder Woman" movies. (Rumor has it she might even pop up as Diana in "The Flash" between now and "WW3" hitting theaters.) Joining her is 1970s "Wonder Woman" TV show star Lynda Carter, who debuted as the legendary Amazonian Asteria in the end-credits scene for "WW84," and possibly Kristen Wiig as Barbara, assuming the film does, in fact, pick her plot thread back up.

The only "Wonder Woman" staple who probably won't return is Chris Pine as Steve Trevor. "WW84" did its part to bring closure to Diana and Steve's short-lived romance after the latter sacrificed his life to help save the day in "Wonder Woman," so there's not really a logical spot for the daring pilot in the last (?) chapter of Diana's story. Besides, after "WW84" made the (ahem) questionable choice to magically resurrect Steve in another man's body, "Wonder Woman 3" might want to pass on coming up with another dubious, contrived excuse to keep Pine in the picture.