'Wonder Woman' director responds to James Cameron calling her film 'a step backwards'

Gal Gadot Patty Jenkins

"Wonder Woman" has been riding a wave of positivity since its release in June that has led to the movie becoming the top box office earner of the summer and Oscar buzz.

But it turns out not everyone is on the "Wonder Woman" bandwagon. James Cameron gave some candid thoughts to The Guardian about all the excitement around the superhero blockbuster.

“All of the self-congratulatory back-patting Hollywood’s been doing over 'Wonder Woman' has been so misguided," Cameron said, in a story that focused on the rerelease of "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" in theaters this weekend.

"She’s an objectified icon, and it’s just male Hollywood doing the same old thing! I’m not saying I didn’t like the movie but, to me, it’s a step backwards. Sarah Connor was not a beauty icon. She was strong, she was troubled, she was a terrible mother, and she earned the respect of the audience through pure grit. And to me, [the benefit of characters like Sarah] is so obvious. I mean, half the audience is female!”

Sarah Connor is one of the main characters in the "Terminator" franchise, which is one of numerous strong-female roles Cameron has created over his filmography.

Cameron's comments instantly spread across social media on Thursday after The Guardian story went live, with many feeling they were sexist. By late Thursday night, "Wonder Woman" director responded to Cameron via Twitter:

http://pic.twitter.com/8zkJXHLCJW
— Patty Jenkins (@PattyJenks) August 25, 2017

Cameron is never one to step down from a fight, so while he continues to work on the long-awaited sequels to "Avatar," don't be surprised if his thoughts on "Wonder Woman" (and Jenkins' response) come up in future interviews.

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