Marvel star Simu Liu has publicly thrown his support behind actress Melissa Barrera, suggesting she would be the perfect choice to portray Wonder Woman in the upcoming film from James Gunn's DC Universe.
From Co-Star to Champion
Liu, who worked alongside Barrera on the new Peacock spy series The Copenhagen Test, was full of praise for her dedication and physical prowess. In a recent interview, he described moments during their stunt training where her performance felt 'Wonder Woman-esque'.
"She really pushes herself," Liu stated, directly addressing DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn. "After the whole season and after all the training that she had been through, Melissa was looking really sharp as a fighter... she did a lot, most, if not all of her own stunts, and she's just the best."
Gunn's Methodical Approach to Casting
While the endorsement is a significant public push, James Gunn has been clear about his timeline for the project. The filmmaker, who successfully launched his new DC Universe with July 2024's Superman starring David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan, stated that casting for Wonder Woman is not yet underway.
In a July 2024 post on Threads, Gunn wrote, "I'm not casting WW, nor even discussing it, until a script is finished." He emphasised that while the film is a priority, it is not being fast-tracked, adding, "Nothing is going to be shot unless we're as sure as we can be that the script is good."
Gunn also previously quashed speculation that actor Adria Arjona had been cast after he followed her on Instagram, though he did compliment her potential for the role.
The Future of the Amazonian Hero
The search for a new Wonder Woman follows DC Studios' decision to cancel Wonder Woman 3 with Gal Gadot, who played the character from 2016 to 2023. This move came after Gunn and Peter Safran took leadership of the studio.
The new DC Universe slate is steadily expanding, with a Supergirl film starring Milly Alcock and a new Batman movie, The Brave and the Bold, currently in development. Fans will now eagerly await both the completion of a Wonder Woman script and any potential casting announcements, with Barrera's name firmly in the conversation thanks to her influential co-star.
