Gadot's Future as Wonder Woman

Gal Gadot, who played Wonder Woman in Zack Snyder's DC Universe, has said she would not do another Wonder Woman movie, citing her responsibilities as a mother of four. Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast while promoting her latest film, The Runner, Gadot explained: "For me to go to do another Wonder Woman, I am not sure I would at this point in my life with four children and different schools and all of that. To check out from all of them for such a long period of time, it doesn't work for my life anymore at this point."

Gadot made her debut as Diana Prince in 2016's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, then starred in the standalone Wonder Woman in 2017, and reprised the role in Justice League (2017) and Wonder Woman 1984 (2020). She also appeared in cameos for the DCEU, including Shazam! Fury of the Gods.

A third Wonder Woman film, which was in development with director Patty Jenkins, was ultimately cut when James Gunn and Peter Safran took over DC Studios and implemented their own plans for the DCU. Gadot said she was not surprised by the cancellation, despite being told the opposite by the studio heads.

Criticism of DC's Handling of Talent

During the podcast interview, Gadot addressed how the exits of Henry Cavill and Patty Jenkins were handled. "I saw the way everybody else was handled, right? The Henry situation was not handled elegantly, to say the least. Same with Patty. It was not handled elegantly," she said. "We're all adults and we're all good. It's not even about them. They are there, and they're there to do what they believe in, and it's all good."

Gadot expressed gratitude for her time in the role: "I am so grateful that I got the opportunity to wear these boots and to have the character be so celebrated. I can only wish whoever is next comes pure to this journey. This character means so much to so many of us. It was never mine. I was always just a vessel. This is Hollywood."

The Cavill Context

Henry Cavill's return as Superman was announced in October 2022—he appeared in a Black Adam post-credits scene and declared on social media that he was "back as Superman"—just before Gunn and Safran took control of DC Studios. Two months later, Gunn announced his new Superman movie would focus on an earlier period in the character's life and not star Cavill. Cavill later replied that he had been told by the studio to announce his return prior to their hire. David Corenswet was subsequently cast as the new Superman in the reboot, which was released last year.

Gunn has acknowledged the situation was "really unfortunate," saying: "The day our deal closed, all of a sudden, they were announcing that Henry was back. And I'm like, 'What is going on?'" He also described Cavill as "an absolute gentleman, a great guy" in how he handled the news, adding that Cavill asked to reveal his exit himself.

Jenkins' Exit

Patty Jenkins, who directed both Wonder Woman films, had been developing Wonder Woman 3 with Gadot before Gunn and Safran were named the new heads of DC Studios. In December 2022, Warner Bros. leadership passed on Jenkins' treatment for the film, and she publicly exited the project. Jenkins later said she never walked away, but "I was open to considering anything asked of me," adding that DC was "buried in changes" and that she understood decisions are difficult. On the Talking Pictures podcast, she said her experience with Wonder Woman was over "for the time being, easily forever."

Competing Accounts of Wonder Woman 3

Gadot said on the Happy Sad Confused podcast that Gunn and Safran told her, "We're going to develop it with you," referring to Wonder Woman 3. She had previously claimed, in 2023 interviews with com and Flaunt magazine, that the new heads told her, "You're in the best hands. We're going to develop Wonder Woman 3 with you. We love you as Wonder Woman— you've got nothing to worry about." However, sources close to the situation told Variety at the time that Wonder Woman 3 was not in development at DC Studios and that nothing was ever promised to Gadot regarding another sequel.