Wonder Woman sequel using 1980s to showcase 'mankind at their most extreme'

Director Patty Jenkins’ follow-up to her wildly successful Wonder Woman takes place in 1984, with mall fashions and synth music aplenty in its nostalgic era. But, as most genre settings go — especially when superheroes are involved — Wonder Woman 1984’s setting and time period are a much more complicated piece of the puzzle than simply enjoying Duran Duran and leg warmers.

It must be if the previously-exploded Steve Trevor is back in action. Speaking on both topics, Jenkins explained her approach to them in the sequel in an interview with AM to DM.

Check it out:

Jenkins, when asked about the ‘80s, said that a someone that was a child of the decade, she realized that there are plenty of funny trends and questionable fashion choices, but there’s a deeper social reason for picking the era. "I really felt like the 1980s is mankind at their most extreme and at their best,” Jenkins said.

“It was when we could do anything we wanted and we had no idea of the price yet. So we have really committed to that version of the '80s, where it’s not needledrops and it's not a bunch of jokes,” Jenkins said, assuaging fears that the film may get swallowed up in its own throwback silliness. “It's actually the most kind of aspirational and elegant version of the ‘80s in many places. And then you kind of throw it away. You get used to it. I enjoyed rolling around in remembering what it was like when we had no idea it was going to stop."

The notes of extremity and ambition reflect at least one of the film’s characters, Kristen Wiig’s Cheetah. If Pedro Pascal ends up playing businessman supervillain Maxwell Lord, these botched aspirations may feel even more perfectly placed. Regardless of the decade’s thematic resonance with the plot, Jenkins also assures fans that the film will make sense ... at least as far as superhero films go. As Chris Pine returns to play Trevor, Jenkins will only say that, "It makes perfect sense" and is “incredibly important to the story.” She also teased it was a decision that was mapped out back when she was making the first Wonder Woman.

Fans will have to wait and see when Wonder Woman 1984 hits theaters on June 5, 2020.