Gal Gadot has revealed that she was not entirely surprised when it became clear that she would no longer continue as Wonder Woman in the DC Universe.

The 41-year-old actress first appeared as Diana Prince, better known as Wonder Woman, in the 2016 superhero film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Her introduction marked the beginning of a character journey that would make her one of the most recognizable stars of the modern DC franchise.

Gadot went on to reprise the role in 2017’s Justice League, before leading her own standalone film, Wonder Woman, which was released in 2017. She returned once again as the Amazonian superhero in Wonder Woman 1984 in 2020.

For several years, fans expected Gadot to return for a third installment of the franchise. A third Wonder Woman movie had been discussed and was reportedly in development. However, plans for the character changed after James Gunn and Peter Safran took charge of DC Studios and began restructuring the wider DC Universe.

Under the new leadership, several major creative and casting decisions were reconsidered as the studio prepared to launch a new direction for its superhero franchise. Among the biggest changes were the departures of Henry Cavill as Superman and filmmaker Patty Jenkins, who had directed the Wonder Woman films.

Gadot recently explained that these developments gave her an indication of what could happen to her own role. Speaking about her departure during an appearance on Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast, the actress said she had already watched how other prominent figures connected to the franchise had been treated.

“I saw the way everybody else was handled. The Henry situation was not handled elegantly to say the least. Patty was not handled elegantly,” Gadot said.

Her comments suggest that she had begun to anticipate that her own journey as Wonder Woman could also come to an end. Rather than being shocked by the decision, Gadot said the circumstances surrounding Cavill and Jenkins had given her enough insight to understand that the new DC leadership was taking the franchise in a different direction.

Despite no longer being part of the DC Universe’s future plans, Gadot expressed appreciation for having had the opportunity to portray such an important character.

The actress emphasized that she never viewed Wonder Woman as something she personally owned. Instead, she described herself as someone who had the privilege of bringing the beloved superhero to life for audiences around the world.

“I can only wish whoever is next comes pure to this journey,” Gadot said, reflecting on the character’s significance. She added that Wonder Woman means a great deal to many people and that she had always considered herself a vessel for the character.

Gadot’s remarks also highlighted the unpredictable nature of the entertainment industry. After portraying Wonder Woman for years and becoming closely associated with the role, her departure marks the end of an important chapter in the DC franchise.

While the actress has moved on from the superhero series, she continues to work on new projects. She is currently promoting The Runner, a film directed by Kevin Macdonald. The movie features Gadot alongside Damian Lewis, Alfred Enoch and Aaron Gill.

For fans, Gadot’s comments offer further insight into the circumstances surrounding the end of her tenure as Wonder Woman. Although she will not be returning for the planned third movie under the previous DC direction, her portrayal of Diana Prince remains an important part of the character’s cinematic history.

As DC Studios continues building its new universe under Gunn and Safran, the future of Wonder Woman remains a subject of considerable interest. Gadot, meanwhile, appears ready to leave the character behind while remaining grateful for the years she spent bringing the iconic superhero to audiences.

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