Monster director Patty Jenkins makes her superhero movie debut next week with Wonder Woman, one of the most anticipated movies of the summer. But helming Diana of Themyscira's solo adventure wasn't Jenkins' first opportunity to delve into the world of superheroics. She was originally supposed to direct Thor: The Dark World, but she exited the sequel in December 2011 because of creative differences. Half a decade later, Jenkins is thankful she didn't stay aboard the Marvel Cinematic Universe, mainly because the story she wanted to tell about the God of Thunder didn't fit with the one Marvel wanted to deliver to audiences. When asked if she could have directed Wonder Woman had she remained on Thor: The Dark World, Jenkins responded:
No. I don't think I could have made a good movie out of Thor 2 because I wasn't the right director. And I don't think I would have been in the running for Wonder Woman as a result. And that's one of the reasons why I'm glad I didn't do it. Because I could have made a great Thor if I could have done the story that I was wanting to do. But I don't think I was the right person to make a great Thor out of the story they wanted to do.
Patty Jenkins added in her interview with Uproxx that she was "heartbroken" when she wasn't able to direct Thor: The Dark World, but in retrospect, it was a wise decision. Wonder Woman is not only an important entry in the DC Extended Universe, but it's also an important movie for Hollywood in general. Jenkins is the first woman to direct a summer superhero movie and the first woman to direct a superhero movie with a female protagonist. Wonder Woman is helping break down barriers, whereas Thor: The Dark World, while still a notable blockbuster, isn't nearly as important when it comes to pop culture trailblazing.
After Patty Jenkins departed Thor: The Dark World, Game of Thrones' Alan Taylor was hired as the new director. The God of Thunder's second movie went on to collect over $644 million worldwide in late 2013, but it's one of the less critically admired MCU movies, ranking at 66% on Rotten Tomatoes. After returning in Avengers: Age of Ultron and cameoing in Doctor Strange, Thor Odinson is returning this November in Thor: Ragnarok, but this time Hunt for the Wilderpeople's Taika Waititi is the one in the director's chair. As for Wonder Woman, she made her theatrical debut last year in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and her solo movie (which comes more than 75 years after she was created) will show her traveling to man's world for the first time during World War I.
Wonder Woman finally hits theaters next Friday, June 2, and its eponymous protagonist will return when Justice League is released on November 17.
