All of the yes
Words by Jadie Troy-Pryde
Patty Jenkins made history when her most recent directorial offering, Wonder Woman, broke box office records this summer. The DC (and regular) universe was changed forever when the film, starring Gal Gadot, broke the record for the biggest domestic opening for female directors ever, raking in $100.5 million in the US in its first weekend, and an overall $800 million globally. Not too shabby.
With the film receiving praise from Deadpool funny guy Ryan Reynolds, to movie-goers who were in awe of this beautifully feminist moment, it's no surprise that Wonder Woman is set for a sequel.
But considering that the film sparked yet another debate about the issue of Hollywood's huge gender wage gap, many were speculating about whether Jenkins and Gadot could expect a pay rise in the follow-up.
Thankfully, the answer is yes. After months of waiting for confirmation about the sequel, it has been revealed that Jenkins finally signed on the dotted line to direct Wonder Woman 2. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the director was holding out to negotiate her pay and ensure parity when compared to her male peers. Not only did she get it, but she has now made history as the highest-paid female director of all time.
The Hollywood Reporter writes: 'The deal is precedent-setting, making Jenkins the highest-paid female filmmaker in history, though getting to this point was "challenging," according to one source.'
The deal ensures Jenkins gets a significant pay rise; she was paid $1 million for Wonder Woman, but the sequel will see her pay rocket to between $7 million and $9 million. On top of that, she will get also get a share of the movie's profits.
So while we're often dismayed by stories about the ever-present gender pay gap, it's inspiring to see that changes are happening - slowly, but surely.