If you rolled your eyes at the title of this article, good. This one is for you.
On June 9 of next year, we'll get the first female-led superhero movie that a big-time comic company, such as DC Comics or Marvel, ever produced. It's been more than a decade since the last female superhero movie dropped, My Super Ex-Girlfriend, which revolved around a "crazy" woman getting back at her ex-boyfriend. They managed to make a woman superhero movie still about men. Shocker, right?
People have this stigma in their minds that women can't properly lead movies. They think they won't bring in enough money, or can't execute the same things, say, Chris Evans or Robert Downey Jr., can. These are some of the many reasons why Marvel has yet to even think about a Black Widow movie, even though they set a Captain Marvel movie in motion for 2018.
Earlier this year, Suicide Squad came to theaters, and even though Harley Quinn is a far cry from a superhero, she was a major step in female representation on the big screen. It was the first time Harley Quinn ever made it into a live-action movie, and although many people complained about her short shorts, or her choice to stay with a questionable boyfriend, Suicide Squad managed to shatter box office records. Harley Quinn was one of the lead characters, and coincidentally, a woman.
Credit: Suicide Squad, Warner Bros.
The whole "women-led movies wouldn't make enough money" excuse is a flimsy one. Multiple studios are already paying cast members such as Margot Robbie and Scarlett Johansson a lot more than what the rest of the cast is receiving. Robbie was third on the top-billed cast lineup for Suicide Squad, only behind Jared Leto and Will Smith who, to be fair, are a bit more seasoned in the business. Amy Adams and Gal Gadot, who play Lois Lane and Diana Prince (Wonder Woman) respectively, were third and ninth in billing for Batman vs. Superman. Johansson was also third in her latest Marvel movie, Captain America: Civil War, in front of Sebastian Stan, who played Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier. Johansson is in such high demand that she is the only Marvel's Avengers cast member without a set contract. Why pay women so much money to be in the movie, more than the majority of the cast, if you think they aren't worth the lead role?
Credit: Iron Man 2, Marvel Studios
On Thursday, the second Wonder Woman trailer was released, and it's probably one of the most anticipated film for 2017's summer. Not only will it fuel hype to DC's Justice League releasing in November, it will also be a huge step towards equal representation in an industry that is usually male-dominated.
Growing up, Wonder Woman was one of my favorite superheroes. I never really read comics, but I watched the Justice League cartoons in the early 2000s, and whenever I was stuck with a choice between Batman or Wonder Woman, I chose the latter every time. She was calm, honest, and generally nicer than the rest of the superheroes. She never had a chip on her shoulder like Bruce Wayne did, and it was refreshing.
Credit: Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Warner Bros.
However, there weren't a lot of heroes for me a lot of other little girls out there as well as myself to look up to back then. Sure, there was the Flash, or Spider Man, or Superman, but it wasn't the same. They were the ones saving the day or assisting their helpless love interests constantly, and at a young age, it's easy to think that's all you're good for - just being a damsel in distress, waiting for Iron Man to swoop in and save you.
I'm excited to see what this Wonder Woman movie will do. I can't wait to see girls dressed up as Wonder Woman for themed parties, or halloweens to come. Little girls are finally going to have a strong hero they can watch and relate to. They get to see that a girl can be more than just a love interest or a sidekick in a superhero movie. They will finally understand that not only can boys be successful superheroes, but girls can, too.
So step aside, Captain America, and make some room. Times are changing whether you're ready or not.
