Ever since Chris Pine was first spotted on the set of Wonder Woman 1984, the internet has been abuzz with theories regarding how Diana’s old love interest Steve Trevor could be making a return despite his supposed death at the end of the previous film.
Fortunately, director Patty Jenkins may have already helped us narrow down the possibilities by at least one, based on an excerpt from an old Elle video featuring Jenkins and actress Lucy Davis that resurfaced on Reddit yesterday. In the 12-second clip, the filmmaker addresses the theory that during Steve’s visit to Themyscira, the pilot “accidentally bathed in magic Amazonian waters that will help resurrect him.” Jenkins’ response is short and to-the-point: “I’ve got bad news for everybody.”
While the director’s answer doesn’t entirely rule out Steve rising from the dead through means beyond magic water, there’s also the possibility that Chris Pine’s character exists solely in the mind of Wonder Woman in the new movie as a memory or manifestation. Then again, perhaps this tracksuited man we’ve seen on the set of the film isn’t Steve Trevor at all, with Kevin Smith recently touting the theory that he’s actually the shape-shifting Martian Manhunter.
Moreover, the new film could be taking inspiration from one of several plot turns in the comic books. For example, in Wonder Woman #322 – an issue published in 1984, no less – Aphrodite implants the character’s memories into a new Steve Trevor from another Earth-like world, essentially bringing the old Steve back to life. In another issue, a seemingly resurrected Steve is eventually revealed to be the god Eros in disguise. But for what it’s worth, Twitter user Daniel R recently claimed he had inside knowledge that Pine will indeed be playing ‘the real Steve Trevor.’
In short, there’s a lot we don’t know yet, but there’ll be plenty of time to speculate before Wonder Woman 1984 hits theaters on November 1st, 2019.