Wonder Woman 1984: First Reactions Praise Kristen Wiig & Pedro Pascal Performances

The hype surrounding Wonder Woman 1984 is clearly at an all-time high, especially after the dominant performance of its predecessor. Unfortunately, the year 2020 derailed the sequel's momentum, ultimately delaying the film's release date numerous times. 

Despite that, details about Wonder Woman 1984 have consistently surfaced online, teasing fans of what to expect about the highly-talked-about sequel. On top of that, it was previously announced that the Gal Gadot-led sequel will be released on HBO Max and in theaters on Christmas Day in the United States, putting an end to the almost-year long wait for the DCEU film. 

In the weeks leading up to the film's release, the marketing for Wonder Woman 1984 has ramped up. Several posters have already emerged online, providing fans with a fascinating look at Diana Prince and her new Golden Eagle Armor. 

NEWS

Ahead of the film's Christmas day release, the first reactions to Wonder Woman 1984 have arrived. 

Terri Schwartz of IGN shared that Wonder Woman 1984 “makes all the smart next steps” by telling a “very human and beautiful story” for Diana Prince. 

Germain Lussier of Gizmodo revealed that Wonder Woman 1984 is “hugely ambitious, incredibly exciting, and full of much-needed hope.”

 Erik Davis of Fandango pointed out that the sequel is “an absolute blast from start to finish” while also admitting that it is “one of DC's best sequels.”

Davis also took note of Pascal and Wiig's performances as Maxwell Lord and Cheetah respectively, describing the duo as “complex and unexpected foes.”

Brandon Davis of Comicbook.com praised the fact that Patty Jenkins “literally made an 80s movie in every way,” while also sharing that there is “lots of Diana Prince and [there are] some epic Wonder Woman moments."

Luke Bugg revealed that Wonder Woman 1984 is “the film the world needs right now.”

Eric Eisenberg of CinemaBlend praised the movie's villains, Maxwell Lord and Cheetah, by sharing that “amazing work is done” for both characters. 

Meagan Damore of Comic Book Resources mentioned the perfect timing of the release of Wonder Woman 1984, citing the film's message of hope and optimism that will surely uplift fans. 

In a separate tweet, Damore also broke down the “wonderfully layered” villains of the sequel, pointing out Kristin Wiig's excellent performance as Cheetah as well as Pascal's amusing portrayal of Maxwell Lord. 

Dorian Parks of Geeks of Color praised the performances of Kristen Wiig and Pedro Pascal as the film's chief villains. 

JoBlo.com applauded the “breathtaking opening sequence” of the DCEU sequel while also hinting that the final act is “refreshingly original.”

WHAT THIS MEANS

As it is, it appears that Wonder Woman 1984 knocked it out of the park, and this bodes well for those fans who patiently waited for the sequel's inevitable release. In addition, the positive reactions from various critics should add more hype for the upcoming Christmas release of the sequel. 

From the sound of things, Wonder Woman 1984 is following the success of the first Wonder Woman film from 2017. In a way, the consistent vision and passion of Patty Jenkins for the Wonder Woman character combined with Gal Gadot's impressive portrayal clearly helped steer the franchise in the right direction, and the praise that the sequel is getting right now is a testament to that. 

There were concerns in the past that the growing number of TV spots, trailers, and promotional materials combined with the numerous release date delays may end up having a negative effect on Wonder Woman 1984, since plenty of information has already been revealed. However, it's clear that this was not the case, since Jenkins and the rest of the cast and crew still managed to deliver a sequel that will definitely surprise everyone. 

All in all, the overwhelmingly positive reactions for Wonder Woman 1984 should excite fans.