The first full-length trailer for Wonder Woman 1984 has been released, giving fans their closest look yet at what the Warner Bros. sequel will entail. Hints are given about the roles of both of the villains, and we witness the peculiar return of Diana's lost love, Steve Trevor, who appeared to have died in the 2017 original.
Just as many new questions are raised, however, giving viewer a lot to unpack as they await the June 2020 release. Thus, here's a breakdown of the trailer's biggest moments, and how they might play out in the film.
The film's title is more than just window dressing, at the trailer wears its 1980s setting on its sleeve. The color scheme is highly indicative of the era, as are the clothes. Even Chris Pine's Steve Trevor is shown rocking one of the decade's trademark fanny packs.
Other examples of this time period include the technology on display (multitudes of TVs in storefronts), the rampant consumerism, and the ever-so-'80s setting of a sprawling shopping mall. There also seems to be some sort of protest going on in Washington, D.C., which might suggest the decade's tumultuous political climate will play a role.
Kristen Wiig's Barbara Minerva is seen at the beginning of the trailer, and seems to be meeting with Diana Prince. Given that Diana is a museum curator by the time of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League, it makes sense that an archaeologist like Minerva would take interest in her. One notable change is that the character is clearly American, as opposed her usual portrayal as British.
Not much is shown of the character beyond this brief interaction, and she's shown only in her human form. During the Maxwell Lord's voiceover promising people whatever they wish, however, Minerva is shown to possibly pine for Diana herself in one way or another. If it is the power of Wonder Woman, then this lust for power, which mirrors Minerva's origin in the George Perez Wonder Woman run, may be how she finally becomes the villain known as the Cheetah.
Pedro Pascal's Maxwell Lord is a heavy focus in the trailer's first half, furthering the consumer mindset of the '80s. Shown mainly through infomercials, the portrayal perfectly embodies the character's origins as a sleazy, over-the-top business tycoon.
His promissory dialogue evokes not only the idea of products completing their buyers' lives, but also hints at a more sinister ulterior motive behind the offer. It also suggests his psychic/mental powers from the comics may be used here in some way. He is shown ominously inspecting a mysterious object in his office, which again indicate that he is far less altruistic than his public persona suggests.
The most notable (and mysterious) addition to the movie is the return of Steve Trevor. Some previously believed actor Chris Pine's role could be a brief hallucination or dream, possibly derived from Maxwell Lord. However, his presence in the trailer suggests the role is rather substantial. First appearing in what seems to be a party, Pine's character is also seen overseas with Diana. Another scene shows Diana and Steve flying in awe inside what may be Wonder Woman's iconic invisible jet.
The characters' roles are somewhat reversed this time around, with Diana catching the fish-out-of-water Steve up to speed on all of the changes in the '80s. Diana's voiceover toward the end of the trailer has the Amazon stating that nothing good is born from lies, and given the timing, it may mean that this Steve is not what he seems.
Flashbacks to Diana's youth on Themyscira are also shown with the Amazons engaging in a rigorous training exercise involving footraces and jumping along columns. This evokes the Amazon contest, a staple of many versions of Wonder Woman's origin, which was held in most continuities to decide which Amazon would leave Themyscira, take Steve Trevor back home, and operate in Man's World.
This element was missing in DC's New 52 origin and in 2017's Wonder Woman, so would be strange to see it implemented now. These scenes also show off the classic archaeological wonder of Themyscira, with the arena that the contest is held in bearing a futuristic Greco-Roman design. These scenes will likely be flashed back to to coincide with specific scenes in the present, as shown with the footrace being shown right before a scene of the Wonder Woman in the streets of D.C.
Wonder Woman is shown as trying to operate under the radar, in matching with the future shown in the other DCEU movies. She throws her boomerang tiara at the security cameras in the mall, and makes a quick getaway in the day light by way of launching herself with her Golden Lasso. The lasso also allows her to ride a bolt of lightning in one scene.
Most interesting is the trailer's finale, in which the character is finally shown wearing the complete version of her new armor, inspired by Mark Waid and Alex Ross's Kingdom Come, and later wore in the main comic book continuity during Our Worlds at War. It's use in the latter story is subtly referenced in the film's Cold War setting. The armor's wings are also removed at one point, perhaps during a clash with the Cheetah.
The trailer still leaves a lot unanswered, and future trailers would be wise to do the same until the film's release. Unfortunately for fans, they won't be able to go back in time with Wonder Woman until next summer.
Directed by Patty Jenkins, Wonder Woman 1984 stars Gal Gadot as Diana, Chris Pine as Steve Trevor, Kristen Wiig as Barbara Minerva/Cheetah, Pedro Pascal and Natasha Rothwell. The film opens on June 5, 2020.