Batman Vs. Superman Producer Talks Wonder Woman And Fan Perception

While cinema is filled with movies that polarize audience fervor, Zack Snyder’s upcoming Man of Steel sequel, with legions of fanboys and detractors waving their fists in the air as if they just don’t care. But like it or not, Snyder’s vision is how we’re next going to see such iconic characters as Superman, Batman, and even Wonder Woman, the role that actress Gal Gadot was recently hired for. One of the film’s producers, Michigan native Wesley Coller, recently opened up about his excitement to see the Amazon princess finally hit the big screen, and also offered his insight on Internet backlashes. I know what you were thinking: "Somebody else besides Christopher Nolan is producing this, and they’re actually letting him talk?"

Speaking with regional website MLive.com, Coller admits that he "wasn’t a comic book junkie" as a youth, but he’s already got his one-year-old daughter on her way into the medium. He says her "favorite book is this little Wonder Woman flip book." While she’ll just be grasping onto what fanhood means once Batman vs. Superman hits theaters in 2015, her mere presence has altered Coller’s intentions for the character. "And something that’s become a reality, being a dad with a daughter, is that I have a special place in my heart for the idea of a strong, empowered female superhero being out there," he told MLive.

But just because he’s invested in the heroine’s presence in the film doesn’t mean he’s allowed to start talking about any future solo projects that Wonder Woman might earn. "We’re super excited to have her in the film, it will be a ton of fun," he said, "but at the same time, we’ve got to stay focused on the film we’re working on now."

I have no problem with them putting all their focus on this movie and I’m hoping there is at least one other reasonable person working on it. I don’t think much faith can be put in Coller’s fellow Michigan native David S. Goyer, the screenwriter that DC keeps inviting back to their films as if he’s reliably capable of crafting fully-functional stories. Wonder Woman will never become a worthy franchise if he is ported onto it, but that’s just this lowly man’s opinion. How does Coller feel about the millions upon millions of opinions that have flooded the Internet since Ben Affleck was named as the latest to don the Batman cowl?

"Anything you do that’s culturally significant, or any time you deal with an iconic character or story, you’re going to hear responses from every possible perspective," said the producer, who has worked with Snyder on such fan bait as Dawn of the Dead to Watchmen to 300. "If anything, that gauges the relevance of a property or character, and it’s invigorating to know people care that much. It inspires you to make the coolest version of the movie you can." And presumably the slo-mo-est version as well.

Will you guys be waiting in line to see Gadot and Affleck when Batman vs. Superman hits theaters on July 17, 2015? Let us know by shining a big light in the sky with your answer.

Nick Venable
Assistant Managing Editor

Nick is a Cajun Country native and an Assistant Managing Editor with a focus on TV and features. His humble origin story with CinemaBlend began all the way back in the pre-streaming era, circa 2009, as a freelancing DVD reviewer and TV recapper.  Nick leapfrogged over to the small screen to cover more and more television news and interviews, eventually taking over the section for the current era and covering topics like Yellowstone, The Walking Dead and horror. Born in Louisiana and currently living in Texas — Who Dat Nation over America’s Team all day, all night — Nick spent several years in the hospitality industry, and also worked as a 911 operator. If you ever happened to hear his music or read his comics/short stories, you have his sympathy.