James Gunn offers an update about what's going on with the DC Universe TV show Paradise Lost, which will be the first major chapter in Wonder Woman's mythology. With several Chapter 1, "Gods and Monsters" movies and TV shows in the works, heroes like Superman and Batman are getting reimagined for the big screen. However, one of the DC trinity icons whose place in the franchise is still a bit up in the air is Wonder Woman, as she doesn't have a solo project in the works, but rather a prequel series in the form of Paradise Lost.
Gunn is known for interacting with the fans on his social media platforms, and the DC Studios co-CEO and Superman director was recently asked on Threads if the Paradise Lost series is still in production. While little news has emerged on Paradise Lost since the initial announcement, Gunn made it clear that it is still in development but has not been greenlit yet, sharing the following:
Nothing is “in production” unless it’s been greenlit. Right now that’s Superman, Supergirl, Penguin, Peacemaker, Lanterns, and a handful of animated projects. But Paradise Lost like many other titles known and unknown is still in very active development – it will be in production once we have a script or scripts we think are great and ready to shoot, never before. As an aside, we aren’t officially cast on anything that isn’t greenlit.
What Does James Gunn's New Update Mean For Wonder Woman In The DCU?
While Paradise Lost has been in development for over a year for Gunn's DC Universe, his latest update isn't a negative sign for the Wonder Woman prequel. There is a major difference between having something be in development and having a property get an official green light. In traditional TV development phases, a show usually has to go from development to pilot order before getting a potential series order, which is a bit different in the world of streaming.
With no showrunner and writers announced yet for Paradise Lost, Warner Bros. TV can't give the show a pick-up yet until DC Studios has solidified the creative direction for the series. It's also crucial to remember that despite being announced for Max, Paradise Lost could potentially be in the mix of becoming an HBO Original. That is what has happened to the Lanterns TV show and even The Batman spinoff series, The Penguin, both originally labeled Max Originals at first.
If Paradise Lost has a chance to become part of the HBO slate, it makes even more sense for DC Studios to take their time to develop it before having a finalized pitch. With the massive mythology of Wonder Woman, DC Studios has the potential to tap into a lot of unexplored territory for Themyscira and explore its early days. Hopefully, before 2024 is over, more updates on Paradise Lost will have emerged as the DC Universe begins to plant the seed for its new take on Wonder Woman.
