The DC Extended Universe sequel Wonder Woman 1984 had already changed its release date a couple of times before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic forced it to move back to the second half of 2020. With theaters still operating at partial capacity, Warner Bros. has decided to scrap their plans for a traditional theatrical rollout in favor of a hybrid approach that will see Wonder Woman 1984 release theatrically and stream on HBO Max simultaneously, beginning December 25.
Directed and co-written by Wonder Woman's Patty Jenkins, Wonder Woman 1984 picks up with Diana of Themyscira (Gal Gadot) in the 1980s and pits her against a new enemy in the form of the greed-driven entrepreneur Maxwell Lord (Pedro Pascal). Kristen Wiig also costars in the film as mild-mannered archaeologist Barbara Minerva, who eventually transforms into the superhuman known as Cheetah. Meanwhile, Chris Pine is also back as Diana's love interest Steve Trevor, in spite of his death in the first Wonder Woman movie.
HBO Max has confirmed that Wonder Woman 1984 will become available to stream on the service beginning at precisely 9 am PT/12 pm ET on December 25. As was previously announced, the film will be available to HBO Max subscribers at no extra cost for 31 days after its release. After that, it will continue to play in theaters until it hits the home market and once again becomes available on HBO Max at some point in the future.
Following Wonder Woman 1984, Warner Bros. has announced plans to release its entire 2021 film slate using the same hybrid model, with movies releasing theatrically and on HBO Max for a month beginning the same day. In a statement, WarnerMedia head Jason Kilar said the decision was informed by their conversations with the medical community and made in anticipation of the box office needing time to recover, while the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine is gradually rolled out to the masses in 2021. The move has been heavily criticized by the filmmakers behind Warner Bros.' 2021's movie, many of whom were not consulted ahead of time, and may cost the studio as much as $1.2 billion.
Despite the controversy around Warner Bros,' plans for 2021, anticipation is high for Wonder Woman 1984 ahead of its premiere on HBO Max. The film sits at 82 percent Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes after 121 reviews, with the critics' consensus reading "Great Hera! Wonder Woman 1984 is an epic dose of heart and vibrant escapism that proves there are still unexpected thrills to be found in superhero cinema." In fact, early development is already underway on both Wonder Woman 3 and a spinoff film about the Amazons that would connect the second and third Wonder Woman movies. However, Jenkins may not return for Wonder Woman 3, as she's currently preparing to direct the Star Wars film Rogue Squadron for a 2023 theatrical release.
Directed and co-written by Patty Jenkins, Wonder Woman 1984 stars Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Kristen Wiig, Pedro Pascal and Natasha Rothwell. The film arrives in theaters and HBO Max in the United States on Dec. 25.