With the shift in power at DC Studios, the DCEU was expected to give way to the new DCU. However, that hasn't been the reality, considering the surprising cameos of supposedly axed characters like Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman in The Flash. Not only that, but even though Wonder Woman 3 was reported to have been canceled, Gal Gadot has subtly suggested that her tenure in the DC universe may not be coming to a close anytime soon.
In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, the 38-year-old actress hinted at the possibility of reprising her role as Wonder Woman, saying:
Things are being worked behind the scenes, and once the right moment arrives, you'll know about it.
So, what does this actually mean? Will Gal Gadot be making a comeback for Wonder Woman 3? Well, the truth is, nobody really knows for sure, and here's why: One month after James Gunn and Peter Safran took the reins at DC Studios, Henry Cavill bid farewell to his 10-year role as the Man of Steel. This departure came just a couple of months after he confirmed his return as Superman, following a mid-credits scene in Black Adam.
Meanwhile, the rumor mill was churning with whispers of Patty Jenkins' Wonder Woman 3 being canceled, which Gunn addressed with his trademark vague responses: "… some of it is true, some of it half-true, some of it is not true, and some of it we haven’t decided yet whether it’s true or not."
And just like that, Gal Gadot became the second DCEU actor to get the boot, or so it seemed.
Jumping ahead to earlier this year, rumors swirled in Hollywood claiming that Cavill and Gadot's cameos in The Flash had been axed from the final cut. While Cavill's absence turned out to be true, the same couldn't be said for Gadot, who marked her second appearance in a DC film this year following her cameo in Shazam! Fury of the Gods.
Simply put, despite Gunn's valiant attempts to breathe new life into the DC universe, the lingering grip of the past refuses to let go. And the main culprit behind this is the troublesome concept of the multiverse. Marvel has already embraced it, resurrecting actors like Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man.
Now, with The Flash exploring the flashpoint storyline, this particular Pandora's box has been opened wide, allowing any character to make a comeback in the DC universe whenever the filmmakers see fit.
Gunn's vision for the DC universe, despite facing considerable criticism, has the potential to succeed if he dares to break away from the soft reboot approach and recast all the actors from the Snyderverse. Just to clarify, this is not a critique of the DCEU actors themselves; in fact, it's quite the opposite.
The Snyderverse actors have delivered impressive performances, considering the lackluster scripts they've sometimes had to work with. However, it's time to give new talents a chance. Having some actors transition into Gunn's DCU while others exit only adds confusion for audiences, which is definitely not ideal for a universe that's already grappling with complex concepts like the multiverse.
When it comes to potential replacements for Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, names like Adria Arjona, Alexandra Daddario, and even Jaimie Alexander (known for her portrayal of Lady Sif in Thor) have been thrown into the mix. Interestingly, Jaimie Alexander had previously auditioned for the role in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
Throughout the ever-evolving Batman franchise, we've witnessed time and again how recasting can lead to very surprising results. Let's face it, very few people had faith in Robert Pattinson's ability to portray Batman until he proved us all wrong. Why can't the same chance be given to another actress for the Wonder Woman role?
