Goddess willing, this Oscar season could be a game-changer. “Wonder Woman” is the highest-grossing film of the summer, the second highest-grossing film of the year behind “Beauty and the Beast,” and the top-earning live-action film ever directed by a woman. The blockbuster about an Amazon warrior princess has taken home more than $781 worldwide, winning the hearts of audiences and critics. And now Patty Jenkins’ Gal Gadot-starrer seems to be an Oscar hopeful.
“Warner Bros., the studio behind the film, wants the action movie to break another glass ceiling,” Variety reports. “Although executives haven’t commented publicly on their plans, they have internally discussed launching a formidable awards-season campaign for the movie, in the hopes of making it the first comic-book film nominated for best picture.”
Not a single director of a comic book movie has ever received a nod, but the studio is also pushing for a nomination for Jenkins. A woman hasn’t been nominated for Best Director at the Oscars since Kathryn Bigelow won for “The Hurt Locker” in 2010. She’s the first and only woman to ever take home the prize.
THR points out that “The Dark Knight,” widely considered one of the most influential and best comic book adaptations ever, wasn’t able to land a Best Picture nomination in 2009. (Though Heath Ledger received a nod and won Best Supporting Actor posthumously for his depiction of The Joker.) But things have changed. Back then, only five movies were included in the Best Picture category. Since 2010, 10 movies are eligible to receive nods in the category. And it’s true that a comic book movie has never snagged a nomination — as THR observes, “the Academy is still too stodgy to recognize ‘Batman’ or ‘Deadpool’ as art” — but the Academy’s been making an effort to lose their reputation of being overwhelming white, male, and old. Membership is being extended to more women, people of color, and younger voters. This shake-up could very well work in “Wonder Woman’s” favor.
As for the path Warner Bros. is taking towards the awards circuit, “the studio’s efforts will include reintroducing the film this fall, to scarce few who may not have seen it,” the source explains. “Insiders report strong reactions to the screening of ‘Wonder Woman’ at the Academy, as it’s been championed by a liberal Hollywood and a reinvigorated wave of feminism in response to Donald Trump.”
“Wonder Woman” is playing in theaters now. Warner Bros. has already confirmed a sequel is in the works which is scheduled for release Dec. 13 2019 — although Jenkins still isn’t attached to direct.
