'Wonder Woman' is finally here and Hollywood's most powerful women are stoked
Seventy-six years, hundreds of male-dominated superhero films, and not a moment too soon.
It's taken nigh on a century to bring Wonder Woman, first published as a comic book in 1941, to the big screen. There are men mad about a few sold-out women-only screenings, positively glowing critics' reviews, and fans excited for the film's opening weekend -- even A-list celebrities who have nothing to do with the movie.
In male-dominated Hollywood, women don't helm superhero movies -- Iron Man, Superman, and Batman helm superhero movies. Hell, even Ant Man got a movie. With a few exceptions, women don't lead or direct summer blockbusters or straight-up save the day so much as get saved. (Tip of the hat to Lieutenant Ellen Ripley, Moana, and Imperator Furiosa of Mad Max: Fury Road, of course.)
Plus, Wonder Woman has a fascinating history -- the comic's creator William Moulton Marston was famously inspired by suffragists in the early 20th century (as well as erotic art). Diana Prince loses her strength if she's bound up in chains so, in the early comics, "she's chained up or she's roped up ... and she has to break free of these chains," Harvard professor Jill Lepore told Terry Gross in 2014. "That's [what Marston] would always say — 'in order to signify her emancipation from men.'"
So it's a big weekend. And celebrities are enjoying it just like you -- at the cinema.
"I just left the theater and KNOW for CERTAIN that the GODS have seen fit to BLESS us with #WONDERWOMAN. W.O.W.," Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o gushed in a short novel posted to Instagram. Octavia Spencer, also an Oscar winner, tweeted a picture of her movie ticket in Sherman Oaks, California. (She even shouted out its diverse cast.) Not to be outdone, Oscar nominee Jessica Chastain tweeted a picture of herself getting pumped up for the movie's opening weekend.
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Barb, the fan favorite of Netflix's breakout hit Stranger Things, also tweeted about how the film impacted her.
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Oh, and re: those men worried about women-only screenings? Avengers director Joss Whedon had some words for them.
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So yes, by all means, ladies. Get in formation. Gents too. And everyone in between.
