Summary
Paradise Losthas a big promise to fulfill, but doing so could make it one of theDCU’s best upcoming releases. WhenJames Gunn announced the first chapter of the DCU’s reboot, it included a Wonder Woman spinoff series titledParadise Lost. The television series will be a prequel story that focuses on Themyscira, also known as Paradise Island. Most notably the birthplace of Wonder Woman, the island serves as a sanctuary for the Amazons.
Though not much is currently known aboutParadise Lost, Gunn has marketed the series as having a similar tone toGame of Thrones. In the firstDCU announcement video, Gunn stated thatParadise Lostwould be “almost like Game of Thrones with Westeros, but with all of the inhabitants of Paradise Island.” It is definitely a big promise to fulfill, especially since the revamped DCU’s reputation depends on the first chapter performing well. However, if the show does follow through with Gunn’s promise, it will easily make it one of the highlights of theupcoming DCU slate.
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Paradise Lost’s Game Of Thrones Promise Makes The Wonder Woman Prequel Something Truly Special
Game of Throneshas been one of the most popular TV series in recent years, and its popularity has only picked up sinceHouse Of The Dragon’s release. TheGame of Thronesprequel has expanded on the franchise’s universe without having to take away from the original show. If Gunn’s comparison ofGame of ThronesandParadise Lostends up being accurate, then that means that the series will truly be something special.
Wonder Woman herself is a beloved DC character, but her participation inthe DCEU timelinewas hit-or-miss.Wonder Womanwas generally positively-received, but its sequelWonder Woman 1984received plenty of criticism.House Of The Dragon’s success bodes well for prequel projects likeParadise Lost, as fans of big franchises always love to see the universe being developed. Wonder Woman may have hit a lull in the DCEU, but a prequel show expanding on the lore of Themysciramay just be what the franchise needs to revive interest.
Paradise Lost Can Prove The DCU Is Fully Pulling Off A Truly Challenging Superhero Franchise Task
IfParadise Lost’s tone really is similar toGame of Thrones, then the prequel series can pull off a challenging superhero franchise task that the biggest studios still struggle with to this day. The common criticism about the superhero genre amongst general audiences is that the superhero storytelling formula is too predictable. However, being a show akin toGame of Thronesmeans thatParadise Lostwill blend a series of genres and tones together that can give some depth to the superhero genre.
Gunn’s promise gives hope thatthe Wonder Woman prequel will go beyond the conventional superhero fare.Game of Thronesdeveloped an incredibly rich world with Westeros, and any series that compares itself to them must provide a lore-rich world alongside intriguing characters and their complex relationships. There is plenty of storytelling potential with the Amazons and Themyscira as a whole, so it will just be up to whetherParadise Lostcan nail its tone and truly prove what the revamped DCU is capable of.
Exploring the internal dynamics between DCU’s prior factions in Themyscira can also work effectively to set up what Wonder Woman herself will be like in the franchise, by suggesting some figures or groups may have played a role in her upbringing.
Game of Thrones' Resurgence In Popularity Makes The DCU Promise An Even Bigger Task
Game of Throneshas received a resurgence in popularity thanks toHouse Of The Dragon, and the DCU hopes to follow its footsteps with their own prequel series. However,such popularity makes this promise an even bigger task to fulfill. Realistically, no one is expectingParadise Lostto be exactly likeGame of Thrones, but the storytelling has to be on par for the comparison to hold up. IfParadise Lostisn’t a richly-developed prequel likeHouse Of The Dragon, then it will fall especially flat after Gunn’s own early comparisons toGame of Thrones.
DC Universe’s Wonder Woman Prequel Can Avoid A Frustrating DC TV Problem
The DCU’s upcoming Wonder Woman prequel show, Paradise Lost, can avoid the flaws that kept Smallville and Gotham from fulfilling their premise.
While little is known about the series, the parallels between it and the fantasy epic are already apparent, as the premise of the show being a look into Themyscira’s inhabitants is similar enough to the exploration of Westeros, and the mythos of Wonder Woman similarly leans into tales of gods and myths while also not always directly featuring these fantastical figures. As such,Paradise Lostcould set the stage for Wonder Woman’s return perfectly if done right, but this approach will require a deeply nuanced approach to the hero’s world and lore that has hitherto seldom been seen in adaptations.
