How [SPOILER'S] Death In Wonder Woman Was Shot

06/03/2017 06:45 pm EDT

"I'll save today. You save the world."

More than a few characters are killed off in Wonder Woman; however, one death was more shocking than the rest. And if you haven't seen the film yet, you should really avoid reading any further.

During the film's climax, while Wonder Woman and Ares battle it out on the runway, Steve Trevor and his reinforcements -- Sameer, Charlie and The Chief -- try to prevent a bomber loaded to the hilt with bombs containing Doctor Poison's poisonous gas from killing millions of Londoners.

It's quite the pickle. Stopping the plane from taking off won't be enough because the bombs themselves are set on a timer, so they will explode no matter what. They can't diffuse the bombs as there are too many bombs and not enough time. They can't destroy the plane because the gas would still be released and kill anyone within 50 yards of the blast.

The solution? Fly the plane to a safe distance and incinerate it. Knowing that he is the only one among them that can fly the plane, and because Wonder Woman's heroics and desire to protect humanity at all costs have inspired and rubbed off on him, Steve hijacks the plane -- right after sharing a tender and emotional moment with the woman he loves -- and destroys it.

In his final moment, Steve is content with making the ultimate sacrifice. Now, cinematographer Matthew Jensen explains how director Patty Jenkins instructed him to capture his powerful sendoff.

"That is just a great example of Chris' tremendous ability," Jensen told THR, "Essentially our challenge from a shooting perspective is Patty was really insistent on having this cockpit on a gimbal, mainly for performance. From a camera perspective we weren't gaining anything by having the plane able to move on a gimbal, because you wouldn't really see that, especially with the background that's composited. But Patty wanted him to feel the tilt of the plane and she felt that was instrumental to getting a performance out of him. Honestly, I had all this elaborate lighting that was moving camera to show the moonlight drift across his face, but when it came down to it, the thing that works the most is just the look on Chris' face. He's so good at that and Patty, we were watching it on the monitor and she goes, "I don't need to do anything. I just need to get out of the way and let Chris perform." A camera on an actor's face is sometimes the greatest thing you achieve."

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Before she was Wonder Woman, she was Diana, princess of the Amazons, trained to be an unconquerable warrior. Raised on a sheltered island paradise, when an American pilot crashes on their shores and tells of a massive conflict raging in the outside world, Diana leaves her home, convinced she can stop the threat. Fighting alongside man in a war to end all wars, Diana will discover her full powers…and her true destiny.

Joining Gal Gadot in the international cast are Chris Pine, Connie Nielsen, Robin Wright, David Thewlis, Danny Huston, Elena Anaya, Ewen Bremner and Saïd Taghmaoui. Patty Jenkins directs the film from a screenplay by Allan Heinberg and Geoff Johns, story by Zack Snyder and Allan Heinberg, based on characters from DC Entertainment. Wonder Woman was created by William Moulton Marston.

The film is produced by Charles Roven, Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder and Richard Suckle, with Rebecca Roven, Stephen Jones, Wesley Coller and Geoff Johns serving as executive producers. Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with RatPac-Dune Entertainment, an Atlas Entertainment/Cruel and Unusual production, Wonder Woman.

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