Wonder Woman spin-off: What do we know so far?

Wonder Woman: teaser offers first glimpse of Gadot in action

20 January

DC Comics has released the first footage of next year's Wonder Woman film and it seems the blockbuster will give fans an insight into the Amazon princess's beginnings.

The 80-second video, which mixes film footage with comments from cast and crew, is the first sighting of Israeli actress Gal Gadot in action and shows the tiara-wearing superhero on horseback in woodland surroundings and fighting off a few baddies.

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"People don't know her origin like they know Superman's origin and Batman's origin," says DC Comics chief creative officer Geoff Johns. "So, what we want to do in the film is really tell people who she is, where she comes from and why she does what she does."

He adds: "She's an Amazon warrior. She's the best fighter in the DC universe. She has strength and speed and she's been training her whole life for war."

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Gadot adds: "We're going to see her coming of age - her entire history, what's her mission."

Co-star Chris Pine, who plays love interest Steve Trevor, says: "Telling a story like this now is pivotal and important. The story of a very powerful woman."

Reaction has been varied. "The footage is absolutely gorgeous," says Collider, but The Independent feels its handling of a "feminist icon" is too familiar and features "the same washed-out colours, the same start-stop speeds on the fights" from other DC films.

SlashFilm focuses on the simultaneous release of the new Wonder Woman logo, which it says hasn't changed much, "though [it's] a little more industrial with the texture of the iconic double 'W' looking a bit worn".

The film, directed by Patty Jenkins, is currently in production in the UK, France and Italy and is scheduled for release in the summer of 2017.

Five things we know about Wonder Woman

05 November

March 2016 will see the release of the much-hyped DC comic book movie Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill will be playing the titular titans, but for comic book fans, one of the most eagerly awaited aspects of the blockbuster is the portrayal of Wonder Woman. Israeli actress Gal Gadot, who you may remember from the Fast and Furious franchise, is taking on the mantle of the world's most famous female superhero. So what do we know so far about Wonder Woman's role in the movie?

Diana Prince's backstory is getting a serious revamp

At the time of the Wonder Woman comic's publication in the 1940s, Diana Prince was considered a model of progressive womanhood. Creator William Marston intended her as a positive role model for girls, showing that women could be strong and powerful without having to give up their feminine identity. However, the character's initial backstory – that she was a clay figure brought to life who fell in love with a US army officer – hasn't aged as well, so the movie will be ditching that origin in favour of the one introduced in the 2011 comic book revamp. In the new continuity, Wonder Woman is the daughter of Zeus and Queen Hyppolyta

She's no wallflower

The new Wonder Woman is easily able to keep up with the boys when it comes to action scenes. "She has unbelievable endurance," Gadot told an Israeli interviewer. "She is exceptionally strong. She can jump really high and practically fly. She knows tons of martial arts styles. She is a strong and serious woman." Interview Magazine quotes the actress on her passion for playing strong female characters: "I didn't want to do the obvious role that you see in Hollywood most of the time, which is the heartbroken girl who's waiting to be rescued by the guy."

Gal Gadot is a bit of a Wonder Woman herself

Like most other young Israelis, Gadot spent two years as a conscript in the Israeli Defence Force. She told the Daily Mail that her time in the army gave her good preparation for Hollywood, enabling her to perform her own stunts in the Fast and Furious franchise, as well as handle weapons convincingly on-screen. Gadot is also better placed than most to understand Wonder Woman's combination of 'masculine' strength and 'feminine' charm, having been chosen as Miss Israel 2004 shortly before donning her combat gear for military service. Despite her real-life military experience, she didn't take combat preparation for the role lightly. Before cameras started rolling, she undertook training in kung fu, kickboxing, sword fighting and jiujutsu.

Not everyone approved of the casting choice

Comic book movie casting is never without controversy, and the choice of Gadot led to some criticism that her slender physique wasn't right for the curvy Diana Prince. Gadot herself is aware of the chatter surrounding the decision to cast her in the role – but she's taking it on the chin. "I represent the Wonder Women of the New World," she said in a video for BatmanNews.com, adding: "Historically accurate Amazonian women actually had only one breast. So, if I'd really go 'by the book', it'd be problematic."

She's getting a spin-off

After Batman v Superman is released, Diana Prince won't be off screens for long. Wonder Woman is getting her own spin-off movie, set for release in 2017. Gadot will be reprising her role, opposite Chris Pine as love interest Steve Trevor. No other casting announcements have been made, but there are rumours that Nicole Kidman is in talks to join the cast, which would be her first comic book movie since she played Dr Chase Meridian in 1995's Batman Forever. If the Wonder Woman solo movie is successful, there are plans for it to span a trilogy.