Early 'Wonder Woman' Footage Proves It Will Be Epically Feminist

Socially-conscious comic book fans have a reason to smile today: the first look at Wonder Woman focuses on feminism. According to USA Today, the footage premiered on The CW Network. The video sparked major anticipation, but fans have to wait awhile to step into Wonder Woman's world: the movie's premiere date is June 23, 2017.

The first look shows snippets of interviews with the cast and creative team layered with clips of the film. According to actress Gal Gadot, who plays the title character, "We're gonna see her coming of age: the entire history, what's her mission," according to the video. Diana, an Amazon Princess, comes from a lineage commissioned to protect the Earth. But when her relatives abandon their calling, she sets out to prove that humanity is worth protecting. Eventually, she transforms into the iconic character even casual fans are familiar with, but audiences can expect a thorough backstory.

Whenever a female superhero hits the big screen, the response can be controversial. The lack of women's representation in blockbuster movies is often a topic of criticism and comedy: who can forget Saturday Night Live's rom-com-inspired Black Widow trailer? Luckily, it seems that the Wonder Woman creative team is committed to injecting feminism into its retelling of her powerful story. Director Patty Jenkins shared her take on the character, according to USA Today:

The greatest thing about Wonder Woman is how good and kind and loving she is, yet none of that negates any of her power.

Wonder Woman's creator, Dr. William M. Marston, should receive much of the credit: he advocated for a female superhero before it was popular. Now, such a superhero at the helm of her own movie is eagerly anticipated. Fans (and filmmaker Ava DuVernay) shared their excitement on Twitter:

One first look host in the video described Wonder Woman as a "feminist cultural icon," and with good reason: the superhero has a 75-year history as an inspirational figure in the United States. The DC Comics website reported that Wonder Woman's first appearance was in a 1941 issue of All-Star Comics. She's invulnerable and her powers including super strength, flight, and superhuman agility. According to the first look, she's trained her whole life for war but is committed to justice. As one host of the segment described her, "She stands for equality, and that's really important. I think that's why people love the character."

Fans still have to wait for over a year to find out whether Wonder Woman lives up to their feminist dreams. But first look words from Chris Pine, who plays Steve Trevor, show that the heart of the movie may be in the right place:

Telling a story like this now is pivotal and important: the story of a very powerful woman.

See Wonder Woman come to life in the first look:

Go, Diana!

Image: The TSG Network/YouTube