Summary
- James Gunn's takeover of the DCU suggests that Batman and Wonder Woman's relationship will be explored in future projects, potentially introducing a romantic angle.
- Previous movies have failed to fully explore the dynamic between Batman and Wonder Woman, but there is potential for a romantic bond to add depth and drama to their characters.
- James Gunn has a track record of creating well-developed characters with lasting relationships, making it possible for Batman and Wonder Woman's romance to become a central focus in the new DCU universe.
James Gunn has big plans for how the DCU is going to look under his stewardship, and fans are already speculating that some of these big plans might include a change in Batman and Wonder Woman's relationship. Gunn took over the DCU on November 1, 2022, and immediately got to work on writing his first project in his new cinematic universe. It appears that this project was Superman: Legacy which will be the first movie in the new iteration of the DC Universe.
Henry Cavill has been replaced as the man of steel, to make way for newcomer, David Corenswet to play the iconic role, with James Gunn taking on directorial duties. This movie will be followed by The Brave and The Bold, which will explore the origins of Batman and Robin, with John Krasinski rumored to be in line to be the new Bruce Wayne.
Despite all of these casting changes, one person who will be reprising their role is Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman in the third outing in the series, and she is expected to carry on in James Gunn's new DCU universe. This opens up the possibility for what can finally be explored between Batman and Wonder Woman in the future.
Batman and Wonder Woman's relationship in the comics
Batman first appeared in comic books way back in 1939, and Wonder Woman made her entrance three years later in 1942. Despite these characters featuring in their own comics, there wasn't a crossover until an issue of The Brave and the Bold titled Batman and Wonder Woman in 1968. It was a strange story that featured a snake-man-lizard villain called Copperhead.
The role of Wonder Woman was to have a cat fight with Batgirl over a pretend romance with Batman, which wasn't exactly the best use of either of these superheroes powers. However, this was 1968, and thankfully things have changed drastically since then, with Wonder Woman being one of the best female superheroes around. Interestingly enough, the comic they appeared in is also the title of the new Batman movie, which suggests the DCU will be exploring the origins of Batman and Wonder Woman's relationship, which does hint at a potential romance.
Movies have not explored Batman and Wonder Woman's relationship
Batman and Wonder Woman didn't appear in any movie together until the DCEU put them alongside each other in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, and despite them relying heavily on each other to deal with Superman's death, nothing romantic ever happened. As much as this entry in the series is extremely flawed, at least it did reunite two of DC's best superheroes.
They appear together again in Justice League, and the two have clearly grown much closer but not as love interests for one another. Batman and Wonder Woman did their fair share of flirting in Justice League, but nothing ever materialized into a romantic entanglement. There is an obvious age gap between them both, with Wonder Woman being around 5000 years old, and Bruce Wayne/Batman being in his 40s, but that doesn't seem to be the stumbling block for them.
In Joss Whedon's version of Justice League, the sexual tension between the two Superheroes is more evident, and definitely dialed back a notch when the Snyder cut was released. The last thing audiences want is for Wonder Woman to become Batman's romantic sidekick, as the character deserves much more than this, and has proven that she can exist on her own without a rich man in a suit. However, the romance could add so much more drama to James Gunn's DCU projects.
The DCU can make Batman and Wonder Woman's romance central
James Gunn is known for developing strong three-dimensional characters who have lasting relationships with each other in his previous entries in big cinematic universes, notably in Marvel Studio's Guardians and the Galaxy trilogy. He creates characters the audience truly cares about, so here's hoping he can make Batman and Wonder Woman's romance a central part of the DCU universe, now he's in charge.
The big romance that has always taken center stage in DC Comic book movies is the one between Superman and Lois Lane, but the audience are growing tired of their dynamic as it's been done so many times before. It's bound to be touched upon in the new Superman: Legacy movie, but there needs to be more of a focus on Batman and Wonder Woman's potential romance. The dynamic between the pair of them could be very interesting as they are both superheroes, with Wonder Woman being the more powerful one.
Batman has never fully been put in his place by a female character who possesses more strength than him, so this could bring out a more vulnerable side to the caped crusader, especially in the context of a romantic relationship. Batman and Catwoman always had their romantic moments, but Batman was always portrayed as the stronger of the two, mainly down to his financial means, compared to Catwoman's humble background.