'Wonder Woman 1984' scores best pandemic movie opening, 3rd Wonder Woman film announced

"Wonder Woman 1984" topped the U.S. box office with an estimated $16.7 million -- far below the $100 million-plus its predecessor earned in 2017, but enough to make it the best debut for a movie in the COVID-19 era.

The sequel, which landed at the international box office weeks ago, has tacked on another estimated $68.3 million million overseas since it was released. This brings its to-date worldwide haul to $85 million.

As a result of the film's success, Warner Bros. announced Sunday it has fast-tracked a threequel, with Patty Jenkins returning as writer and director and Gal Gadot returning as Wonder Woman herself.

“As fans around the world continue to embrace Diana Prince, driving the strong opening weekend performance of ‘Wonder Woman 1984,’ we are excited to be able to continue her story with our real life Wonder Women -- Gal and Patty -- who will return to conclude the long-planned theatrical trilogy,” said Warner Bros. Pictures Group chairman Toby Emmerich in a press release.

'Wonder Woman 1984' -- also starring Chris Pine, Kristen Wiig, Pedro Pascal, Robin Wright and Connie Nielsen -- simultaneously debuted on HBO Max, which reports it was viewed by “nearly half of the platform’s retail subscribers viewing the film on the day of its arrival" and viewing hours the day of the movie's premiere "more than triple in comparison to a typical day in the previous month."