I'll Say It: James Gunn's DCU Wonder Woman Casting Is More Exciting Than The Next Batman
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Published Aug 12, 2026, 7:30 PM EDT
Lewis is a Lead Writer for Screen Rant and has written for the site since 2022. This has allowed Lewis to explore a vast array of films, TV shows, books, comic books, and games from across the mainstream world of pop culture, reflecting his lifelong love of all media and typifying his experience in the world of fiction storytelling. To top this off, Lewis graduated from Northumbria University with First Class Honours in Film & TV Studies, truly exemplifying his experience in the medium.
The DC Universe's Batman will undoubtedly be exciting, but the casting for the franchise's Wonder Woman is even more so. With DC characters aplenty appearing in Man of Tomorrow, James Gunn's fledgling franchise looks set to become much larger. That said, one character who is all but guaranteed not to appear in the Superman sequel is Batman, given that the upcoming DC movie slate is yet to feature a fully formed Dark Knight project in active development, discounting Matt Reeves' The Batman - Part II.
Since the somewhat flimsy confirmation that Andy Muschietti will be directing a DCU Batman movie, little has been revealed about the project, leading many to wonder where the other two-thirds of DC Comics' trinity are. Although rumors are circulating that Adria Arjona will be bringing Wonder Woman to life in the DCU via Man of Tomorrow, Diana Prince's own solo project is in a similarly uncertain position as Batman's is. Regardless of the ambiguity surrounding both characters, one thing is clear to me: I'm more excited for the DCU's Wonder Woman than Batman.
More than any other superhero in the entire genre, Batman is the most oversaturated. Several high-profile actors have taken a crack at the Dark Knight across many different franchises, with the latest being Robert Pattinson, and two set to coexist once the DCU's Batman is cast alongside him. Wonder Woman, though, has only had two major on-screen iterations, with Gal Gadot being the most recent. Gadot only had two films, with the second being poorly received and the first only working for the first two-thirds of the story.
What this solidifies is that if any DC character deserves the kind of resurgence that Superman is currently getting, it is Wonder Woman, not Batman. Wonder Woman movies are nowhere near as common, thus giving them a lot more potential. This is not to say that future Batman movies cannot be good, but simply that there is more fresh ground to cover with Wonder Woman; The DCU's Batman would struggle to match Reeves' upcoming movies, and with Greek mythology being more popular than ever thanks to projects like The Odyssey and Percy Jackson, a full-blown Wonder Woman saga is overly enticing.
The DCU Should Have A Batman, But Wonder Woman & Superman Should Take Center Stage
Again, the DC Universe should have a Batman, and I hope the movies centered around him are excellent. Still, I cannot escape the opinion that Wonder Woman and Superman should be the central pillars of the franchise. Batman's previous success across several different universes makes him a character who has had an adequate amount of time in the spotlight. Someone like Superman has not had that, which is a big factor in why James Gunn's 2025 film was so refreshing and exciting.
Aside from the wider ideas of moving away from gritty, grounded takes on superheroes toward hope-filled spectacle, Superman worked because it gave a character who had only had one truly great live-action appearance a spotlight as a key DCU hero. The film evidently did its job, with audiences responding well and wishing for David Corenswet's Superman to be the face of DC for years to come. Yes, a Batman at his side would be welcome, but Wonder Woman deserves to be the secondary main character of the DC Universe.
More than Batman, Wonder Woman fits the DCU's themes of hope and justice in a cynical world. Tying this into a Greek-inspired trilogy that also sees her lead the Justice League alongside Superman would not only continue what the DCU has set up with its Man of Tomorrow, but also give both of the lesser-served characters, at least where live-action movies are concerned, a starring role.
James Gunn's DCU Is Already Taking A Refreshing Angle With DC's Heroes
Image via Warner Bros.
Thus far, I have hope that James Gunn will give me what I want in the sense of lesser-served heroes receiving a spotlight. Superman, Supergirl, Clayface, and Man of Tomorrow are the franchise's first four movies, allowing plenty of DC characters without previously successful iterations to take the spotlight. Superman and Man of Tomorrow also did this with supporting characters, with the likes of Hawkgirl, Mr. Terrific, and Guy Gardner having big roles as opposed to typical Justice League heroes like Cyborg, Aquaman, Flash, or Batman.
Man of Tomorrow will only further this, with small DC characters like Blue Beetle having a role. This is without mentioning Creature Commandos or Peacemaker, two smaller DC properties, or Lanterns. While the latter focuses on two of DC's bigger characters, John Stewart and Hal Jordan, neither has been given truly great live-action projects. My hope is that the DC Universe continues exactly as it began: giving characters that have not been at the center of live-action greatness more time to shine, starting with Wonder Woman.
Character(s)
Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flash, Cyborg, Harley Quinn, The Joker, Shazam, Darkseid, Amanda Waller, Lex Luthor, Doomsday, Deadshot, Deathstroke, Black Canary, Black Adam
Movie(s)
Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad, Wonder Woman, Justice League, Aquaman, Shazam!, Birds of Prey, Wonder Woman 1984, Zack Snyder's Justice League, The Suicide Squad, Black Adam, Shazam! The Fury of the Gods, The Flash, Blue Beetle, Superman, The Brave and the Bold
Image via Warner Bros.
English (US) ·