IsWonder Womana mess? That’s what one open letter to Warner Bros. executives and director Zack Snyder declared, calling the studio out for its lofty practices and its failing slate of superhero movies. This angry essay came from a supposed former Warner Bros. employee who lost their job, and wasn’t exactly happy about it. Some have called the letter fake. And nowWonder Womandirector Patty Jenkins has jumped forward to defend her movie, the next planned release in theDCEUline-up of films.
Jenkins clarified the matter onTwitter, refuting the claims made by the letter, which was shared onPajibaby a woman going under the nameGracie Law, in reference toKim Cattrall’s character inBig Trouble in Little China. The letter had this to say aboutWonder Woman, which recently showed off a trailer at Comic-Con and will be in theaters a little less than a year from now, arriving next summer.
“What are you even doing? I wish to God you were forced to live out of a car until you made a #1 movie of the year. Maybe Wonder Woman wouldn’t be such a mess. Don’t try to hide behind the great trailer. People inside are already confirming it’s another mess. It is almost impressive how you keep rewarding the same producers and executives for making the same mistakes, over and over.”
So far, there have been three movies released in the current DCEU slate of films. And whileMan of Steelhas its fans in the critical world, reviews have not been kind toBatman V SupermanandSuicide Squad.Patty Jenkinswants to assure everyone that theWonder Woman movieis not heading for the same fate. She declared the following.
“Woah, just saw this press about WW having problems. Are they serious? This is some made up bs right here. Made up! Produce a source, anyone. You can’t because it’s entirely false. Don’t believe the hype people. Someone’s trying to spread some serious misinfo. Isn’t until you are intimately involved in these things that you realize how totally false these rumors can. Let me reassure you…Zero about the movie we are making has been called a mess by anyone in the know. Fact. Reallasso of truth, time, will reveal that letter to be false soon enough. But lame something so transparent in its agenda gets traction.”
The open letter was mainly addressed to Warner Bros Chairman and CEO Kevin Tsujihara, who has not spoken out publicly about it. There is no proof that this open letter is, in fact, from an actual Warner Bros. employee but it quickly caught the attention of the press and spread like wild fire. The main focus of the angry essay is placed on Warner Bros. entire slate of failing films, and some controversial layoffs that happened within the studio itself. The letter claims that those who were really at fault for the studio’s problems and biggest mistakes got to keep their job, while receiving millions in funding for Warner Bros., while those in other departments were fired.
The so-called former employee viciously goes afterBatman V SupermandirectorZack Synder, while also bashingSuicide Squad. And she points outPanand thePoint Breakremake as two reasons why the studio is in such trouble.
Given thatBatman v SupermanandSuicide Squadhave been so bashed by critics, it would be easy to believe thatWonder Womanis heading for the same fate. And there is no doubt that Warner Bros. is concerned about its box office reception. Back in May, the studio decided to give its DC Films division a massive over haul, following the poor receptionBatman V Supermanreceived at the box office. Though it was originally just a production banner, DC Films was established as an official division of Warner Bros., with DC chief content officer Geoff Johns and WB EVP Jon Berg set in charge of the operation.
Wonder Womanonly wrapped a few months ago on May 9. And star Gal Gadot quickly jumped over to London, where the fifth DCEU movie is currently being shot, withJustice Leagueset to hit theaters in November 2017. AnotherWonder Womantrailer will arrive towards the end of the year. Perhaps that will give us a clearer view of what’s really going on.
