Wonder Woman Has 'God-Like Power' in the DCEU

The new trailer for Wonder Woman showed off a lot more the DC Comics superheroine’s revised origin story for the DC Extended Universe – including a standout moment where we see young Diana (Gal Gadot) first discover the explosive energy powers she displayed in Batman v Superman.

Videos by ComicBook.com

However, longtime DC Comics fans haven’t gotten the impression from both Batman v Superman and the new Wonder Woman trailer that it’s Diana’s iconic bracelets that are the source of her energy blast (or deflection) abilities; however, while we were behind-the-scenes of Wonder Woman‘s London production, we learned that in the DCEU, it is Diana herself who is the power source.

WARNING! MILD SPOILERS FOLLOW!

Stronger Than You Know…

Wonder Woman production liaison Anna Obropta recounted the Wonder Woman movie origin story for us during our London edit bay visit, and she made it clear that Wonder Woman is not just a superhero because she’s an Amazon – she’s clearly a superhero even among the Amazons.

As we saw in the second trailer: “When Diana is training with Antiope (Robin Wright) at fifteen years old, Hippolyta (Connie Nielsen) catches them, not very happy, but in the end she argues with Antiope that if [Diana] is to train, ‘Let her be unconquerable. Let her be the strongest Amazon warrior to ever live.’ And so she does become the strongest Amazon warrior, and her aunt screams at her ‘Diana, you’re stronger than you know!’ and they’re in a battle… and she crosses her arms almost to defend herself, in this position that is so iconic to Wonder Woman, and generates an enormous energetic blast that throws back her aunt and all the other Amazons. And this is is the first time she’s tapped into this god-like power.

In that moment Diana knows, Hippolyta knows, and all the other Amazons know that her powers transcended that of an Amazon, and that she’s ready to answer the call; she’s ready to fulfill her destiny. And the call comes quickly, in the form of Steve Trevor (Chris Pine)...”

So where does Diana’s “god-like power” come from and what does it mean? Read on for more info but be warned that MAJOR WONDER WOMAN SPOILERS FOLLOW!

Secret Origin

We’ve already explained that Wonder Woman’s movie origin is a mix of DC Comics canon and new material. When it comes to the source of her powers, however, the explanation can be found right in DC Comics’ 2011 “New 52” Reboot.

In that revised continuity, Wonder Woman is a demi-goddess, the natural born daughter of Hippolyta and Zeus, endowed with some of Zeus’ godly powers. This was a big change from her Golden and Silver Age DC Comics origins, which involved her being sculpted from clay by Hippolyta, given life by Athena, and endowed with superpower gifts by various Greek gods.

The Wonder Woman movie will use the New 52 version of the origin story by making Diana the demi-goddess daughter of Zeus and Hippolyta. Because Zeus is her father, she has energy powers like the ones we see in the trailer; whether her bracelets help her keep those energies in check (like in the comics) remains to be seen.

The film still finds a way to pay clever homage to the classic origin story, though: Hippolyta lies to Diana about her origins, telling her that she was brought to life from clay. This is done so that the queen of the Amazons can protect her daughter from the harsh reality of what her true origin means…

NEXT PAGE: Deadly Destiny (SPOILER ALERT!)

Deadly Destiny

Part of Wonder Woman’s storyline hinges on the MacGuffin of “The God Killer,” a sword that Zeus supposedly left for the Amazons when he created Themyscira as their sanctuary with his dying breath, while being murdered by his son, Ares.

The sword is supposedly the tool that can finally help the Amazons fulfill their destiny (killing Ares) – and when Steve Trevor crashes on Themyscira bringing word of the biggest war the world has ever seen (WWI), Diana and the Amazons know that Ares must be behind it.

Diana disobeys Hippolyta’s decree that Amazons not get involved, striking a deal with Steve Trevor (passage off Themyscira in exchange for guidance to the frontlines of the war). She then takes the sword (and her iconic Armor and lasso) and goes with Steve to find and kill Ares. The only problem is: the legend is a lie.

As Diana herself must learn during the course of Wonder Woman, she is the real weapon that Zeus left behind to defend the world. And if the climatic moments of these Wonder Woman trailers (or, you know, the events of BvS) have proven anything, it’s that Diana indeed comes to realize her true power, in full.

More Wonder Woman News

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 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.

In case you missed it, here is Everything we learned Behind-the-Scenes of Wonder Woman: