“Wonder Woman” Could Become the First Superhero Film Ever Oscar-Nominated for Best Picture

Warner Bros, still reeling from their Dark Knight snub, wants it bad.

When The Dark Knight was snubbed by the Oscars in 2009, the Academy literally opened up the field of potential Best Picture nominees (from five to up to ten) to make room for a critically-adored blockbuster in the future.

It took almost ten years for any other superhero film to get close… and it was Deadpool, which managed to snag some plum Golden Globe nods, but failed to enter the Best Picture race at the Academy Awards.

This year, however, two movies based on comic book characters—one from Marvel and one from DC—have a legitimate shot at cracking through: Logan and Wonder Woman. And if you were going to put money on it, the latter seems to be the smart bet.

According to Variety, Warner Bros is considering a strong awards push for Wonder Woman, in an effort to crack through the glass ceiling and not only snag a Best Picture nod, but also a Best Director nod for Patty Jenkins. (What, no campaign for Gal Gadot?)

Oscar nominations would be satisfying for WB, who no doubt still feel the sting of their Dark Knight snub. It will also be an acknowledgement that every other DC flick they’ve released since has been far from Oscar-worthy.

Wonder Woman would then be the first superhero movie to be nominated for Best Picture (Birdman doesn’t count). And Jenkins would be only the fifth woman ever nominated for Best Director.

The only trouble is that WB may be cannabilising their efforts to get Dunkirk Best Picture and Best Director nods as well. After all, how many big budget films can they sneak past the gatekeepers (who, ironically, since the widening of the Best Picture category, have favoured smaller, independent movies)?

Oscar winner or no, Wonder Woman has grossed more than $781 million, worldwide. WB has even set the date for a sequel—December 2019—though Patty Jenkins isn’t yet attached to return, perhaps due to salary negotiations.

If Jenkins gets the Oscar nomination, she can probably ask for whatever she wants. Even an invisible jet.

Photo: Warner Bros