CHRIS PINE IS ‘STUNNED' BY ‘WONDER WOMAN 3' GETTING AXED, NOT THAT HE WOULD'VE RETURNED: ‘IT WOULD BE RIDICULOUS TO TRY TO BRING ME BACK'

Chris Pine is shocked Patty Jenkins' "Wonder Woman" franchise is dead. The actor recently spoke to Business Insider while promoting his feature directorial debut "Poolman" and said he's struggling to understand how Warner Bros. could pull the plug on a franchise that grossed the studio nearly $1 billion at the worldwide box office.

"I'm stunned that they said no to a billion-dollar franchise and decided to pivot elsewhere," Pine said. "I don't know what the reasoning was behind that; it's above my pay grade, but Wonder Woman is an incredible character; Patty is such a thoughtful director."

Pine starred as Steve Trevor opposite Gal Gadot's "Wonder Woman" in two Warner Bros. comic book tentpoles directed by Jenkins: 2017's "Wonder Woman" and 2022's "Wonder Woman 1984." The director was developing a third movie for Gadot's superhero when DC Studios brought in James Gunn and Peter Safran as its new leaders. The duo are creating a new DC Universe and Gadot's Wonder Woman is not a part of it.

In his interview with Business Insider, Pine said that he doubted he would've returning for "Wonder Woman 3" had it been made as his character is "dead" and "gonzo," adding, "It would be ridiculous to try to bring me back." He also remembered originally being skeptical of the role of Steve Trevor.

"I had no interest in playing the boyfriend, and it sounded like second fiddle," Pine said. "Then, in talking to Patty, the way she described it was, ‘Forget the superhero of it all, this is a romance, this is ‘Casablanca,' that's the movie I want to make.' I was like, oh, now that is very cool because when have you seen a superhero film that was a love story, ultimately? That had nothing to do with blowing shit up."

Jenkins confirmed on the "Talking Pictures" podcast in March that her experience with "Wonder Woman" is over "for the time being, easily forever."

"They aren't interested in doing any ‘Wonder Woman' for the time being," Jenkins said. "It's not an easy task, with what's going on with DC. James Gunn and Peter Safran have to follow their own heart into their own plans. I don't know what they are planning on doing or why, so I have sympathy for what a big job it is and they have to follow their heart and do what they've got planned."

Jenkins had been developing a third "Wonder Woman" to star Gadot when news broke in December 2022 that their "Wonder Woman 3" had fallen apart after Warner Bros. leadership passed on Jenkins' treatment for the sequel. Jenkins publicly exited the project. The news hit shortly after James Gunn and Peter Safran took the reins of DC Studios, which led to speculation that Jenkins had rebuffed efforts to reshape "Wonder Woman 3" to fit into their DC Universe.

"I never walked away," Jenkins shared in a post on Twitter at the time. "I was open to considering anything asked of me. It was my understanding there was nothing I could do to move anything forward at this time. DC is obviously buried in changes they are having to make, so I understand these decisions are difficult right now."

Gunn and Safran's new DC universe will launch with superheroes such as Superman, Batman and Supergirl, but Wonder Woman is not yet announced for the new franchise.