Wonder Woman

Theatrical release poster

Gina Prince-Bythewood

***Wonder Woman*** is a fantasy action-adventure superhero film based on the DC Comics character of the same name. Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, the film is the second installment in the DC Cinematic Universe. It stars Kaya Scoledario as Princess Diana/Wonder Woman, alongside Garrett Hedlund, Geena Davis, Liev Schreiber, and Emma Duncan. The film shows Princess Diana, an Amazon from the mystical island Themyscira, encountering the outside world for the first time and crossing paths with Ares, the mortal enemy of the Amazons.

Talks of a *Wonder Woman film* began at Warner Bros. in the early 90s with Sandra Bullock being eyed for the title role, although, this never materialized. The project began development in 2011, with Bythewood coming on board to direct the film, drawing inspiration from George Pérez's writing for the character and the New 52 incarnation. Filming took place August to November 2012, in Italy and Washington D.C. with additional shooting at Pinewood Studios in London. The film makes extensive use of fight choreography and contains visual effects by The Moving Picture Company.

Wonder Woman was released theatrically on July 26, 2013 to critical acclaim from critics who praised the performances, cinematography, visual style, action scenes, and themes. The film was a success, grossing over $522 million against a production budget of $125 million, making it the tenth highest-grossing film of 2013 and the highest-grossing film by female director until being overtaken by *Hi, Mom* (2021). Two sequels have been released: *Wonder Woman: War of the Gods* (2015) and *Wonder Woman: Godwatch* (2022).

## Plot

The film begins with the creation of the Amazons by the goddesses Athena, Hestia, Demeter, and Aphrodite, detailing how the kings of Man become jealous of their immortality. The God of War Ares uses this to manipulate man into waging war against the Amazons. The war plunges the world into chaos as Queen Hippolyta leads the Amazon Warriors against Ares in retaliation. Many Amazons are killed but Hippolyta manages to gain the upperhand in battle against Ares, however, Zeus forbids her from killing him. As a result of Zeus' interference, Hera gifts the Amazons with the island of Themyscira, a paradise isolated from the world of Man. After Hippolyta leads her Amazons to the island, she shapes a child from Themysciran sand and successfully animates her with a drop of blood, christening her "Diana". A millennia later, Diana, now a young adult, trains with her close friend Artemis whom she confides in about her dreams of the outside world. She believes that the world of Man has changed but Artemis tells her it hasn't. Meanwhile, Queen Hippolyta knows that her daughter desires to see the world and deliberately tampers with the special mirror constructed by Hephaestus which shrouds the island. After a brief moment, she is reminded of Ares' evils and ceases. Diana witnesses a plane fall from the sky and races to investigate but is beat to the crash site by Artemis and a band of warriors. She discovers that they have taken a prisoner from the crash: a man.

The man is brought before Hippolyta by Artemis who interrogates him with the Lasso of Truth, learning his name is Steve Trevor and he is a pilot in the United States Air Force. Upon further prodding, the Amazons believe he poses no threat and must be escorted back to the world of Man by an emissary. Diana volunteers but Hippolyta forbids before announcing that a contest will be held to decide who will be the emissary. Steve is taken aback by the concept of an island of women and nervously flirts with Diana, to Artemis' annoyance. That night, Diana visits Steve to learn more about the world of Man and he tells her of growing conflict between Biyala and the US which she believes is the work of Ares. The next day, Diana enters the contest in a disguise and overcomes her fellow Amazons, winning. All but Hippolyta are surprised by Diana's involvement in the contest and she is gifted Amazonian armor that bears the colors of Steve's nation, the Lasso of Truth, the Sword of Athena, magical silver bracelets made from the indestructible hide of the great she-goat Amalthea, and Hippolyta's tiara. Hyppolyta, Artemis, and the other Amazons see Diana and Steve off, using Hephaestus' hammer to repair Steve's jet which the two use to depart the island. In Washington D.C., United States senator Mars Buchanan supports a motion to commence a drone strike on the location of a known Biyalan terrorist, fully knowing it could trigger a war. Buchanan leaves the senate meeting and meets with his lover Penelope Schmidt who assists in him in selling arms to the Byalans. Meanwhile, Diana and Steve arrive in D.C. with Diana intent on finding Ares alone. Steve is able to persuade to help him find the arms dealer supplying both sides in exchange for him showing her the world. The two meet with Steve's CIA contact Etta Candy who informs them of a possible lead. Diana sees how the world of Man treats women, becoming disgusted with the misogyny and sexism she experiences. However after Steve brushes against her lasso, he begins a lengthy tirade revealing his insecurities and true fear of commitment which comforts both Etta and Diana with laughter.

Following Etta's lead, Diana and Steve go to a nightclub where they find Schmidt, who Diana recognizes as an Amazon named Persephone, who fled Themyscira. This ignites a fight that causes chaos in the club with Diana and Steve engaging Schmidt's goons. Diana effortlessly fights through the henchmen before confronting Persephone, demanding to know why she is aiding Ares but Persephone forces Diana to kill her. She and Steve are subsequently set upon by A.R.G.U.S. forces who detain her which she agrees to, at Steve's urging. At the A.R.G.U.S. station, Steve is taken and interrogated by Amanda Waller who is interested in the location of Themyscria while Diana languishes in her cell. She receives a surprise visit from Mars Buchanan who is distraught about the death of Schmidt and reveals his true identity as Ares. As Diana lunges to attack him, he tells her that if she does then Man will turn on Amazons, asking her what she thinks will happen to an "island of what humans think are metahumans". Ares tells Diana when he is done with Man, he will turn his eye to Themyscira before departing. Waller continues to press Steve for the location of Themyscira but he refuses, telling her he is trying to prevent a war not start one. She informs that a war might be inevitable due to Buchanan's motion and urges him to disclose the location of the island as she needs an army. Steve refuses and is detained. Determined to stop Ares, Diana escapes her cell and fights through the A.R.G.U.S. guards to find Steve. She succeeds and rescues him but he tells her that they have to stop the impending war. Escaping the station, the two are met by Etta. Having appropriated Schmidt's laptop, Etta informs them that Schmidt didn't just sell weapons to the Biyalans but to the Kasnians and every other foreign enemy. Deducing that Ares will be in a place where he can feed off war, Diana asks Trevor where that would be and he responds that they'll have to come up with plan to break into the most secure place in America: the White House.

In the White House's Situations Room, Ares (as Buchanan) and several senators sit in on the impending Biyalan drone strike. Outside, Steve and Etta drive a car onto the White House lawn, prompting heavy machine fire from the Secret Service agents guarding the perimeter. As Steve and Etta are pinned down and subdued by the Secret Service, Wonder Woman fights her way into the White House, searching for the Situations Room. Ares becomes angry and reveals his true form, killing the Secret Service agents and taking the other senators captive. Wonder Woman finds the room and engages Ares, with the two initiating a battle that devastates the White House. Ares gains the upperhand and begins taunting Diana about Man's evil, allowing her to blindside and decapitate him. Surveying the destruction and meditating on Ares' words, she rushes to the Situations Room and gives a rousing speech which inspires the senators to cease the attack, revealing that the strike was deliberate bad intel to incite a World War. Realizing Diana saved them, she endorsed by the President who in turns pardons Etta and Steve. With her mission complete, Diana begrudgingly returns to Themyscira but Hippolyta notices her despondency. The Queen, emotionally, bids her daughter to return to the World of Man as the Amazons' ambassador which she Diana does. She meets with Steve in New York, taking him up on his initial offer of date during his nervous flirting spell, to his delight. He suggest she become a superhero like Superman and she agrees.

In the film's post-credits scene, the Guardians of the Universe discuss Earth's need for a new Lantern.

## Cast

* Kaya Scoledario as Princess Diana/Wonder Woman
* Garrett Hedlund as Steve Trevor
* Liev Schreiber as Mars Buchanan/Ares
* Geena Davis as Queen Hippolyta
* Michelle Rodriguez as Artemis
* Emma Duncan as Etta Candy
* Elena Anaya as Penelope Schmidt/Persephone
* Kristin Lehman as Hera
* Clancy Brown as the voice of Zeus *(uncredited)*
* Alfre Woodard as Amanda Waller
* Jordan Peele as the President of the United States