In the vast tapestry of the DC Universe, Wonder Woman has journeyed through time and space, from her idyllic home on Themiscyra to the battlefields of World War I and beyond. However, tucked away in the annals of DC Universe history lies a tantalizing concept that never came to fruition – Wonder Woman 1854, an alternate early adventure for the Amazonian warrior set during the Crimean War. Zack Snyder recently shed light on this abandoned project in an exclusive interview with Empire.
“The idea of that was an early riff we were doing: once Wonder Woman left the island in search of Ares, what happened to her in her different incarnations?” Snyder explains. “My idea for it was that she would travel around the world looking for Ares and she would go to every place where there was conflict.”
Wonder Woman 1854 – This amazing image shot by Stephen Berkman of an else-world, war weary Diana, who had chased Aries across the battlefields of the world and had yet to meet Steve, who would help her restore her faith in mankind and love itself. pic.twitter.com/eofkAMg9as
— Zack Snyder (@ZackSnyder) January 5, 2021
This led to a narrative vision where Diana traverses the globe, drawn to conflicts and battlefields in her relentless pursuit of Ares. “On those battlefields she found these lovers, warriors, and they would age out because she is immortal,” Snyder elaborates. The transient nature of these relationships, marked by loyalty and inevitable partings, would have provided a deeply human dimension to Diana’s immortal existence.
Among the myriad individuals who would have crossed paths with Diana, one figure loomed large – Steve Trevor, portrayed by Chris Pine. Snyder confirms discussions about Trevor’s potential involvement in the Crimean War setting, hinting at a different trajectory for the character. “We talked about if Steve Trevor was there in Crimea,” Snyder confirms. However, fate had other plans for Wonder Woman’s journey, and the narrative threads of Wonder Woman 1854 were never fully woven into the fabric of the cinematic universe.
Despite its eventual shelving, Wonder Woman 1854 lingered as a tantalizing concept, fueled by discussions and creative exploration. Snyder reflects on the enduring impact of the project, noting, “It was never a screenplay, but we talked about it so much that it kind of had its own life.” Indeed, the image shared by Snyder on social media, depicting Diana amidst soldiers and holding severed heads, remains a haunting reminder of the untold story that might have been.
As fans ponder the alternate paths not taken by their favorite characters, Snyder’s revelations offer a glimpse into the creative process behind the DC Universe.
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Ambily Sajan