Amidst the slew of the first DCU projects revealed by James Gunn, one of the best signs for the rebooted franchise is the upcoming HBO Max series Paradise Lost, promised by Gunn to be like HBO's hallmark fantasy epic Game of Thrones, where we will see the origins and history of Wonder Woman's homeland, Themyscira, without Wonder Woman herself.
The prequel series will not feature actress Gal Gadot as the legendary Amazonian wonder, or the character Diana Prince at all. It will instead follow the generations of women in the mythical archipelago of Themyscira and the origins, drama, and politics of a women-only society. Paradise Lost is simply perfect for the new DCU, as we see that Gunn will be leading us into a new type of superhero universe, exploring the unknown, breaking the mold, and, most importantly, having a plan with this perfect addition to the DCU.
Starting the Exploration of the DC Universe
One of the greatest faults of the old DCU was moving too fast, trying to set up its most famous heroes before properly setting up the universe. By doing away with Diana Prince, Paradise Lost can really delve deep into the story of Themyscira and take its time setting up Wonder Woman for the DCU, instead of repeating the mistake of trying to push out all major characters as fast as possible.
We haven't seen much of Themyscira and the ancient civilization composed entirely of women in the secret Paradise Islands from Patty Jenkins' Wonder Woman films, which means that we have much to explore even without Diana Prince. Being titled Paradise Lost, we can assume that we will delve deep into DC lore, and we'll become enthralled by this mythical land, and when we do care about Themyscira, we'll lose it. This kind of focus and commitment to what is really just the background of Wonder Woman sets a good precedent. The new DCU will take its time and develop a great superhero universe that feels real.
Confidently Breaks the Mold
Of all the DCU projects that Gunn has lined up, Paradise Lost is the most unexpected and the most unconventional. To have a superhero series without the hero is the biggest risk that a superhero show has taken since Marvel's genre-bending WandaVision. This allows the series to go wherever it wants as it does not have to center solely on a titular character, breaking free of all restrictions and expectations, and if good writers and actors are included, sets up the perfect ground for a wonderful show, that will create itself for itself, and not just as a cog in Gunn's new machine.
The show's basic storyline itself is breaking as well; tasked with developing a realistic mythical society composed exclusively of women is more than the Wonder Woman films or comics ever did. Paradise Lost breaks the mold of standard television and has the opportunity to become something extraordinary.
Proves that Gunn Has a Plan for DC
Gunn revealed the full slate of the DCU Chapter 1 — Gods and Monsters, and Paradise Lost fits very neatly into this title. The Amazon women were granted immortality by the ancient Greek gods, so this is a world full of mythological wonders; Wonder Woman is called the Godkiller after killing Ares, the God of War. So this series likely will set up much of the DCU's opening chapter.
Another flaw of the old DC U was not having a clear plan, never having an overarching arc or connective tissue and never thinking ahead to the next movie release. Paradise Lost is the third attempt to get a Wonder Woman prequel off the ground, and Gunn must understand after the critical and commercial disappointment of Wonder Woman 1984 and Jenkins' walkout from Wonder Woman 3, careful planning must be taken even for the smaller projects in the DCU. Gunn can easily gear this show to the overarching apparent theme of Chapter 1, and use it to set up a firm foundation for the new universe going forward.
It's not clear whether Jenkins or Gadot will be returning to help out with Paradise Lost, or any details about the upcoming series, but it's clear that Gunn is utilizing this one perfect series addition to set up his new DCU.