Melissa Barrera as next Wonder Woman? Shang-Chi star endorses
When Spyglass Entertainment fired Melissa Barrera from Scream 7 in late 2023 following social media posts about the Israel-Hamas conflict, the decision sparked widespread backlash. Fans rallied behind the actress, and her co-lead, Jenna Ortega, soon left the project.
Director Christopher Landon followed, and the franchise ultimately pivoted toward a nostalgia-driven sequel centered on Neve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott and her daughter.
Despite the controversy, Barrera’s career has continued to move forward. She has remained a fan-favorite choice to take on Wonder Woman in the DCU, where the character is expected to debut in Man of Tomorrow before headlining a solo film written by Ana Nogueira.
While promoting Peacock’s The Copenhagen Test, Barrera received a very public vote of confidence from her co-star Simu Liu, best known for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. “James Gunn or anybody else out there, I think she really pushes herself,” Liu said, adding, “There were a couple of moments during stunt training where I was like ‘That’s Wonder Woman-esque.’ I don’t know who’s watching or listening to this interview, but I just think she’s a total badass.”
The comments spread quickly across social media, fueling renewed speculation and enthusiasm among DC fans eager to see who will follow Gal Gadot as Diana Prince.
DC Studios co-head James Gunn is no stranger to controversy himself. After being temporarily fired by Disney over resurfaced tweets before being rehired for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Gunn has shown a willingness to weather public backlash. That history suggests he may not shy away from at least considering Barrera for the role.
Barrera has previously addressed the Wonder Woman fan-casting buzz with humility and perspective. “A friend that told me that. He’s on Twitter. I haven’t been on Twitter in a really long time, but he told me a year ago or something like that. I was like, ‘Oh interesting.’ I think it’s nice because of what the character represents.”
She added, “I think whoever gets the role, I just hope that they can embody the essence of the character because I think that those movies, whether they’re Marvel or DC, their reach is so big.”
And ultimately, “I think that it would be nice if they did something actually positive with the influence that they have to at least be a good example of the kind of human being that you wanna be in the world, instead of just using it for self-serving purposes.”
Beyond Barrera, several other names have consistently surfaced in fan discussions and industry speculation around the DCU’s next Wonder Woman. Frida Gustavsson has openly expressed interest in the role, with fans pointing to her commanding physicality and regal presence on Vikings: Valhalla. Adria Arjona, who previously worked with James Gunn on The Belko Experiment, is another frequently mentioned contender thanks to her action credentials and dramatic range.
May Calamawy has also drawn attention following her breakout in Moon Knight, with supporters highlighting her intensity and mythic screen presence. Meanwhile, more traditional fan-cast lists continue to circulate names like Jodie Comer and Ana de Armas, though neither has indicated interest. As DC Studios keeps its cards close, the growing range of candidates underscores just how wide open the race for the next Diana Prince still is.
Whether Barrera ultimately suits up as the Amazon warrior remains to be seen, but with high-profile support and sustained fan interest, her name is clearly staying in the conversation. Personally, if it’s not Barrera, which we support, consider Grace Caroline Curry.
The Geek is a working screenwriter, director and screenwriting instructor.
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