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Katy O’Brian’s Performance in ‘Love Lies Bleeding’ Proves Why She Should Be the DC’s Next Wonder Woman

June 13, 2025

Although the critical and commercial performance of James Gunn’s upcoming Superman film has yet to be determined, the DCU is still moving forward with a reimagining of Wonder Woman. No one has been announced for the project yet, but given the new continuity, it will not feature Gal Gadot reprising her role from the DCEU. The next actress to step into the role of Diana Prince will need to possess the same athletic ability, charisma, and inherent heroism that are essential for the character, but will also need to develop an original take that will fit alongside the next chapter of the DC franchise. But after proving her merits as an action star, romantic lead, and larger-than-life screen presence in the brilliant A24 thriller Love Lies Bleeding, Katy O’Brian is the ideal choice to be the DCU’s new Wonder Woman.

Katy O’Brian Is the Best Choice To Play Wonder Woman

O’Brian is no stranger to franchise filmmaking, as she has already incorporated herself into established sagas with her roles in The Mandalorian, Twisters, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. However, O’Brian’s talents as a leading performer were proven in Love Lies Bleeding, in which she played the professional bodybuilder Jackie. The film follows Jackie as she attempts to enter a competition in Las Vegas, all while falling in love with the shy gym manager, Lou (Kristen Stewart). After learning that Lou’s father (Ed Harris) is involved in a criminal conspiracy, Jackie is forced to defend her honor as she tries to achieve her dream of becoming a star. Love Lies Bleeding may be an unusual, darkly comic film with an unexpected twist ending, but O’Brian’s emotional authenticity allowed the story’s sincerity to become resonant.

Before ‘Love Lies Bleeding,’ Katy O’Brian Gave a Standout Performance in ‘The Mandalorian’

Her performance is easily one of the most terrifying in Star Wars history.

Love Lies Bleeding was a showcase of O’Brian’s athletic ability, as Jackie has sculpted her body to be the best at her craft. Although she would likely be trained for the specific fighting style of the Amazonian warriors if she were cast in the DCU, O’Brian’s established credentials as a stunt performer give her an advantage over the competition. Diana is a character who has tirelessly trained in order to serve innocent people, as her physique is not embellished to make her an object of desire. Although Jackie’s self-confidence and independent streak are quite similar, O’Brian was still able to make the romantic scenes with Stewart effective. Most superhero films do not have strong romances, but the chemistry between Gadot and Chris Pine’s Steve Trevor in the first Wonder Woman film was a rare exception. However, O’Brian has already shown that she can incorporate a romantic storyline into a film without ever detracting from the tension.

‘Love Lies Bleeding’ Was a Star-Making Performance

O’Brian brings the sensitivity and earnestness necessary to play Wonder Woman within her performance in Love Lies Bleeding, as one of the charms of both characters is that they aren’t entirely aware of their own strength. One of the most memorable moments in Love Lies Bleeding involves Jackie accidentally killing JJ (Dave Franco), who has been abusing Lou’s sister, Beth (Jena Malone). Jackie’s instinct to protect someone in danger reflects Diana’s idealistic desire for justice, regardless of the unintended consequences that it may bring. Although there are moments in Love Lies Bleeding that incorporate body horror, O’Brian crafts a character that still feels inspirational. When performing on stage and protecting the people that she cares about, Jackie demonstrates pride in her self-sufficiency. The stakes feel more pressing because of her commitment to the role, but O’Brian also developed a snarky sense of humor that gave the film a dark sense of humor. Given the type of banter that generally appears in Gunn’s superhero films, it’s assumed that the DCU’s Wonder Woman would need to nail these types of self-referential jokes.

The DCU has an attempt to improve on what came before, as while the first Wonder Woman has its moments, it opted to play things safe with a derivative origin story. The attempts to be more ambitious with Wonder Woman 1984 were not only an indication of the weakly established worldbuilding, but further evidence that Gadot lacked the acting range to portray such an iconic character. Superhero movies that connect with audiences tend to be the ones that present their protagonists as both inspirational and vulnerable, as they provide an example of what traits everyone should aspire to possess. The task of reinventing Wonder Woman will not be easy, but O’Brian’s impressive work in Love Lies Bleeding speaks for itself.

Love Lies Bleeding is now available to watch on Max.