According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jenkins — whose 2003 film Monster earned Charlize Theron her first Academy Award — will fill the position vacated by MacLaren after she exited the film due to “creative differences” with the studio. Gal Gadot is still attached to play the titular heroine of the film, which is scheduled to hit theaters in 2017.
This isn’t Jenkins’ first foray into the world of big-screen superheroes, as she was previously slated to direct Marvel Studios’ 2013 sequel, Thor: The Dark World, before leaving the project due to “creative differences” and being replaced by Alan Taylor. Jenkins was reportedly one of the early contenders for the director’s chair on Wonder Woman along with The Babadook director Jennifer Kent and Homeland director Lesli Linka Glatter, but they were all passed over for MacLaren.
Jenkins rose to prominence with her work on Monster, a tense drama that chronicled the life of serial killer Aileen Wuornos, a former prostitute who became a murderer. Theron took home an Oscar for her portrayal of Wuornos. Jenkins later earned a Primetime Emmy nomination for directing the pilot episode of the AMC television series, The Killing. She has also directed episodes of Entourage and Arrested Development.
Wonder Woman star Gadot is expected to make her debut as the character in the upcoming Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice next year, with the solo film hitting theaters a year later, and then another appearance in Justice League: Part One shortly thereafter in 2017.
Wonder Woman is currently scheduled to hit theaters June 23, 2017.
