After 69 years of wearing a red bustier and starry underwear, superheroine Wonder Woman is getting a new costume.
DC Comics is unveiling a new crimefighting outfit for her 600th issue next month based on a new, alternative history created by writer J. Michael Straczynski (“Babylon 5,” Changeling).
The costume introduces pants (!) to the character that are, of course, skin tight and a jacket with pockets to carry around all that magical weaponry. The traditional tiara and bracelets will remain. (See the new costume below, courtesy of Deadline and drawn by comic artist Don Kramer.) How long until this revamp is retired?
This isn’t movie news, per se, but it seems obvious DC Comics (owned by Warner Bros) is looking to spark new interest in the character that has been continuously published since the company’s creation in 1944, along with DC staples Batman and Superman. A more modest suit should make it easier to bring the character to the big screen, rather than a busty woman wearing essentially a bathing suit to fly around and uphold justice.
In May, Warner Bros chairman and CEO Barry Meyer confirmed a Wonder Woman feature is still in development even after years of delays and several interested actresses (Sandra Bullock, Jessica Biel). While a connection between this fresh look and a possible movie is purely speculation, it wouldn’t surprise me if they were looking to reboot the Amazonian heroine in a more modern, realistic setting, just as the studio has done with Christopher Nolan’s Batman franchise and their upcoming take on Superman (produced by Nolan).
Plus, the New York Times notes, the design is more culturally neutral instead of the overt American patriotism of her original stars and stripes outfit. Universal appeal means international dollars, which usually accounts for 60% or higher of worldwide blockbusters. For example, Burton’s Alice in Wonderland brought in 67% of its total from overseas markets to pass The Dark Knight and claim the fifth-largest global gross of all-time.
Now, what do you think?
