Speaking as a fanboy and superhero fanatic, I’m all about seeing the Amazon Princess make her way back to live action media, and believe she’s overdue for an update akin to her superhero brethren Batman, Superman and Green Lantern. The biggest problem with bringing her to the big screen has been in large part due to the consistent failure of movie studios to launch a similar franchise featuring a female lead, despite previous attempts to do so — Supergirl, Catwoman, Elektra, Aeon Flux, to name a few. I contend that Wonder Woman would fare much better on the big screen than these failed predecessors because of how iconic a figure she is. She’s got the biggest superhero name recognition apart from Superman, Batman and Spider-Man. Everyone knows her, and women largely adore her. But it would seem Hollywood producers disagree, which is why it’s languished for years in the purgatory of pre pre-production.
Female-driven programming has generally been better received via the medium of television, however mostly in a cult capacity. Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Alias, Fringe, La Femme Nikita, and Xena, to name a few, have all generated very loyal cult followings but never really broke from the pack where ratings are concerned. Can a revisit to Paradise Island really do well in the ratings today? I’d posit a response in the resoundingly negative. Despite how well known Wonder Woman is, I just don’t see it becoming a huge hit after the first couple of episodes — once all curiosity has been satisfied — and I’m not at all ready to embrace a series featuring my favorite female hero just to see it dissipate into television oblivion after a handful of episodes. I’m still miffed to this day over the debacle that became Birds of Prey.
Potential ratings fails aside, I was dismayed to see that of all the brilliant minds who could have been chosen to bring Wonder Woman into our living rooms, somehow David E. Kelley seemed the right fit? Seriously? The man who invented Ally McBeal is the best they can come up with? If you thought the Lynda Carter vehicle was campy, just imagine for a moment what Kelley would do to it. No, No, No. And NO! For a live-action Wonder Woman show to work, it would have to be hard core, stripped of any camp and cheese, something akin to the superb animated feature DC Comics released to video last year. She has to be presented as the warrior she is, not as some quirky, insecure woman who just happens to have some mega-powers at her disposal. Sure, she looks ridiculous prancing around in an outfit that seems better geared to a streetwalker than a superhero, but that doesn’t mean her story has to be ridiculous. And that is Kelley’s claim to fame.
From what I’ve seen of his work – McBeal, Boston Legal, Picket Fences and even the more serious The Practice and Chicago Hope — there’s not a single shred of evidence to convince me that I’d be interested in seeing his take on the braceleted beauty. I’d much prefer someone with proven experience writing strong, multi-faceted female characters such as Joss Whedon or J.J. Abrams tackling the glamazon.
If a theatrical adaptation is completely off the table and a television rendition does see the light of day — though given the number of times we’ve had our chains yanked where Wonder Woman is concerned, I’m not yet convinced that it will — I do hope to see Lynda Carter in the role of Wonder Woman’s mother Hippolyta. Lynda Carter is and always will be THE Wonder Woman I remember, and I hope to see just homage paid to her original manifestation.
Do you think a modern take on Wonder Woman would work on television better than on film? What do you think of David E. Kelley potentially at the helm? Clack away below!
Clacked by Jeff Kirkpatrick 
on Oct 04, 2010 @ 14:00 EST5EDT
If they did it right. It could either succeed like Smallville, or fail like Birds of Prey.
it would be more challenging in the fact that she spends her time before being Wonder Woman as being an Amazonian champion, unlike Clark Kent growing up in the good ol’ USA.
Personally, I think I’d like to see it, but maybe if it was the “new costume” just in order to kind of give it that modern feel like Smallville did for Superman. The only thing is that we’ve seen woman-centered shows remade and they’ve turned out horrible. Case in point was Melrose Place and Bionic Woman.
Maybe if they kept it in the family though. If it was on the CW, taking Smallville’s spot, and just maybe we see a post series crossover involving Tom Welling. That might attract plenty of viewers.
I wrote a response to your post on the Comicbook Resources site.
Here’s teh link: https://forums.comicbookresources.com/showpost.php?p=11983832&postcount=3
*POST AUTHOR*
I stand by my comments as written.
I didn’t say female targeted programming. I said female driven programming as in featuring a female protagonist.
Is this the best Warner Bros and DC could come up with? I forget some readers need everything spelled out for them. I’ll be more mindful of that next time.
Yep, I watched Ally McBeal. And The Practice. And Boston Legal. I don’t dispute David E. Kelley makes good TV, but most of it was rather ridiculous and tongue in cheek – but it fit the worlds he created. I do not want a campy Wonder Woman. Based on what I’ve seen of his body of work, I see no indication he can do justice to the most iconic female superhero of all time.
I didn’t say the only two options were hit or miss, pass or fail. But do I see it being a big hit? No, considering that no DC Comics property to date has been considered a “hit” except for Smallville, and that is relative to The CW’s already small audience. I also don’t want to get hooked on it and see the ratings drop so heavily that it gets cancelled, which is likely what would happen on a larger network. Granted, this is all conjecture, and you’re right we won’t know what will happen until it happens, but this is my forum to voice my opinions and expectations and that’s what I’ve done.
You sure have a way with twisting words. I didn’t say the only formula for success was casting Lynda Carter, I was just expressing my wish to see her featured in the role. Say what you will, but when people think Wonder Woman they think Lynda Carter. It would be nice to see them pay respect to that legacy, no matter how corny it may have been.
I’m entitled to my opinions, and you are certainly entitled to yours, however antagonistically you choose to wield them. There’s a couple of folks you should meet here at CC. I think you’d get along well.
I’m excited about the possibilities, but I’m a little nervous about the execution. I’d be fine with the new costume for a modern look, but I hope they don’t use the developing powers through maturity thing that Smallville has done. It worked for them, but I don’t need to see it again. Plus, it doesn’t really fit the character. I’d prefer to have it start with her coming over into the outside world from Themiscyra. She could have her powers, but would need to adapt to society.
If they do it on the CW, I hope they incorporate some of the established DC characters on Smallville. And of course, a Tom Welling appearance would be great
As for actresses, Serinda Swan comes to mind, even though she’s dead-on as Zatanna. Also, Sarah Lancaster from Chuck has the look, but I don’t know if she’d have presence.
*POST AUTHOR*
I’m not sure who I envision in the role. Megan Gale, who was originally tapped to carry the lasso in the Justice League adaptation that faltered certainly had the the right, um, characteristics to play the part.
The one thing I would like to see it take from Smallville is how in its later seasons it introduced more of the DC superheroes. Would love to see her cross paths with Vixen or Huntress. And even though I did say I wanted no cheese or corn with my WW, I would love to see them find a believable way to bring in Cheetah as a nemesis.
I could see it filling the “Smallville” void on The CW (I don’t see any other network taking it on), but it has to be cast well and Lynda Carter must be a part of the show, like you said.
(capacity. Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Alias, Fringe, La Femme Nikita, and Xena,)
Xean started a couple yrs before Buffy. So thank Xena(or not) for the resurgance of female action heros.
I’m at the point where I just want to see something; Anything about Wonder Woman. It’s been over 30 years since a live action Wonder Woman. It’s high time she comes back. I also want to see Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman’s mother.
I want to take up a call for Cobie Smulders from How I Met Your Mother. I would find her punches and kicks the most believable out of all the names bandied about. She seems real, plus she has natural blue eyes. Megan Fox is too frail and annoying.
Oh I just checked out Megan Gale and I’d find her believable.