DC Universe’s Wonder Woman Prequel Can Avoid A Frustrating DC TV Problem

The DCU can help the upcoming Wonder Woman prequel series, Paradise Lost, avoid a problem that similar DC shows like Smallville and Gotham have had with their stories. “Gods and Monsters,” the DCU’s first chapter, displays a unique approach to the cinematic universe with movies like Superman: Legacy and The Brave and The Bold rebooting DC’s most famous characters and releases like Creature Commandos and The Authority introducing lesser-known DC characters to mass audiences for the first time. Right in the middle is Paradise Lost, which will revisit Wonder Woman’s home island of Themyscira but will center on her fellow Amazons as they stay away from mankind.

There are many ways Paradise Lost can delve into Themyscira’s comic book lore with or without Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman, whose return after Wonder Woman 3‘s cancelation is up in the air. What James Gunn has confirmed is that Paradise Lost will draw inspiration from Game of Thrones, possibly in that the DC prequel show will focus on Themyscira’s political intrigue and the Amazons’ inner conflicts. Such exploration of a DC hero’s setting and backstory is something that previous DC prequel shows had attempted but hadn’t quite mastered.

Paradise Lost Can Be A True Prequel Series

Smallville followed a young Clark Kent as he developed superpowers years before he officially became Superman. But despite Smallville‘s “no tights, no flights” rule, Clark faced increasingly bigger threats, not only fighting famous villains like Brainiac but also meeting Justice League members like The Flash. Clark’s story moved so fast that he even fought Doomsday, the villain who kills Superman in DC comics, before he took up the red cape. Likewise, Gotham promised to explore Gotham City before Bruce Wayne became Batman, yet it focused so much on Batman’s rogue gallery that it only brought attention to Batman’s absence.

The DCU’s Paradise Lost has a similar premise to Smallville and Gotham, but it doesn’t have to rush its timeline as they did. Themyscira provides more than enough material to inspire plenty of storylines without the need to jump ahead into Wonder Woman’s arc or introduce several famous DC villains before she’s even born. Unlike Smallville and Gotham, the DCU’s Wonder Woman prequel show benefits from taking place in a shared universe, which means that Paradise Lost can set up Wonder Woman’s future with a proper origin story years ahead of her DCU introduction, as it’s certain that future installments will take their time to develop her.

How Paradise Lost Can Still Set Up Wonder Woman’s DCU Entrance

Paradise Lost doesn’t have to feature Wonder Woman in any capacity, not even as a young warrior or a child. Themyscira’s mythological background and the Amazons’ hierarchy can establish the setting where Wonder Woman will thrive, serving as both a standalone story and a prelude to Wonder Woman’s future appearances. By the time the DCU’s Wonder Woman arrives, the audience will be familiar with her backstory and emotionally attached to her fellow Amazons and her home. Whether Gal Gadot returns as Wonder Woman or the DCU recasts Diana Prince, Paradise Lost can create excitement for her appearance, but without rushing through her story before she gets a chance to shine.