“Wonder Woman” helmer and record-smasher extraordinaire Patty Jenkins made headlines last month when, after a long negotiation process, she officially signed on to helm the superheroine sequel and became history’s highest-paid female filmmaker. Now, in the cover story for Variety’s “Power of Women LA” issue, Jenkins has revealed that she felt a sense of feminist responsibility as she negotiated her “Wonder Woman 2” deal.
“You’re of course aware of the money,” Jenkins said of her salary talks. “But I’ve never been more aware of a duty than I was in this deal. I was extremely aware that I had to make sure I was being paid what the male equivalent would be.”
Not only is pay parity something Diana Prince would expect and demand, it’s a perennial issue for women in Hollywood. Megastars like Emma Stone, Jessica Chastain, and Jennifer Lawrence have spoken publicly about the pay gap, while TV actresses like Emmy Rossum and the women of “Big Bang Theory” and “Criminal Minds” have had to fight to be paid the same as their male co-stars.
Jenkins was aware of those women’s stories — and the countless other stories like them — and knew she was in an advantageous position after the success of “Wonder Woman.” “Women who have not been in a system that allows them to build up the same level of pay as men are not able to be paid the same as men forever if that’s the way it continues,” she observed. “You have to ask for it to happen, and you have to ask when you’re the appropriate person. I knew when Charlize [Theron] had to do it on ‘Snow White and the Huntsman,’ and I felt that it was my job to do it here.” She directed Theron in her Oscar-winning role as serial killer Aileen Wuornos in “Monster.”
According to Variety, “Wonder Woman” star Gal Gadot supported Jenkins all the way. “She is definitely paving the way for so many other female directors,” the actress commented. “I think it was very important that she fought to get the best deal. You got to walk the walk and talk the talk.”
“The Killing,” “Arrested Development,” and “Five” are among Jenkins’ other credits. Next, she’s directing the pilot episode of TNT’s “One Day She’ll Darken.” The series follows a young woman who, while trying to learn about her past, crosses paths with Dr. George Hodel, a suspect of the Black Dahlia murder. Jenkins is also exec producing. She was recently announced as a keynote speaker at the third annual Women in Entertainment Summit and as one of Women and Hollywood’s 10th Anniversary Trailblazer Award winners.
“Wonder Woman 2” is scheduled to hit theaters December 13, 2019.
