Curiously, I find a question so burning that it consumed the cover of "Wizard" holds no curiosity for me at all. I absolutely don't care who plays Wonder Woman in the scheduled Joss Whedon film...
...as long as Lynda Carter plays Hippolyta.
Seriously. If they cast her as Diana's mom, then I'll take whoever handles the title role in stride.
PAD
Posted by Peter David at May 10, 2005 07:42 PM | TrackBack | Other blogs commentingI'm right there with you. I can't think of anyone who's a better choice.
100% agreed. I haven't seen a photo of her in years, but her features strike me as those that would age very well. Talk about a potentially attractive mom. Steve Rogers wouldn't look twice at Diana if Lynda was her mother. Hubba, hubba. :)
Fred
I've long thought the same thing. For a while, I was dreaming of a Terry Farrell/Lynda Carter team as Diana/Hippolyte.
I'll go with Linda for the pure rightness of it. But Monica Belluci would be better.
I hope they go with an unknown. My fear is that we will see some horrible studio imposed idea-- "Sandra Bullock IS Wonder Woman!" and it will be terrible.
I like the character, I've enjoyed the comic, the TV show got me through puberty...but I am SO not looking forward to this movie.
I say the new WW should be the main women on Lost.
Or Lynda Carter has RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL. If she turns down the role then someone else can play the role of Hippolyta.
Fred, Lynda is in the upcoming DUKES OF HAZARD movie and is a scene in the trailer talking to Burt Reynolds who's playing "Boss Hogg".
-- Ken from Chicago
Bill:
>I like the character, I've enjoyed the comic, the TV show got me through puberty...
Puberty..? Heck, I was prepubescent and loved her. That's a true love, my friend. ;)
Ken:
>Fred, Lynda is in the upcoming DUKES OF HAZARD movie and is a scene in the trailer talking to Burt Reynolds who's playing "Boss Hogg".
Hmmm, nostalgia alone had me considering a visit to the theatre for the flick, but Lynda may just tip the scales..
I know Whedon made the comment that he didn't want this to be a Buffyverse reunion, but honestly wouldn't Eliza Dushku be an ideal Diana?
My vote goes for getting an unknown or little known actress. Most of the big names I've heard being thrown about in the press just leave me scratching my head. Most are either(to me) too bland for the part or so young looking that you would think that they're planning Wonder Woman: The Saved by the Bell Years.
Whoever it is, they may need to revise the costume somewhat. If not, the crooks she stops may throw singles at her.
Catherine-Zeta Jones or Karen McDougal, are my picks at the extremes.
Lynda Carter also has a role in the Kurt Russell/Kelly Preston superhero family flick Disney is pushing this summer, "Sky High."
Are you saying there are too many hookers who dress like Wonder Woman?
In all seriousness, this is always a struggle with creating a strong woman character -- for a mass audience. There will always be a sector of the audience who won't care if she's strong as long as she's extra "hot," and would complain about the exact same character if she had more clothes on.
This IS a Joss Whedon production we're talking about. Meaning you can count on a Wonder Woman that is too young, too thin, too short, and too annoying. Of course, this is why the man is the most overrated sci-fi dude ever. He realized that bad actors, derivative scripts, formulaic plots, horrible fight choreography, and too many guys with the same haircut mean nothing so long as you capitalize on the borderline pedophiliac fantasies of the post-teen geek population who can't get over the girl in 7th grade that they never talked to.
Take Buffy for example: the original actress was voluptuous, strong, tall, and mature. The movie tanks. Replace her with someone that looks like a 12 year old, BAM! Geekdom rejoices!
It's the same mental illness that allows anime to thrive with it's teenage school girls running around in skimpy outfits and giggling incessantly with voices that are one pitch below a dog whistle.
The movie tanked for more reasons than the lead actress. Like, it sucking.
I don't particularly care who plays wonder woman, as long as she is a good actress (which tosses out Eliza Dushku, a shame cause she'd look so good in the er, "uniform"). Depending for what age Mr. Wheadon is looking: on the younger end of the spectrum I'd say Shelly Cole (she was a regular guest in the gilmore girls when Rory was in High school, also in the drummer in the film "Prey for Rock and Roll". On the more mature end of the specture I'd say Jill Hennessey (From Crossing Jordan). With Evangeline Lilly (from Lost) being in the middle.
But it is of course, completely arbitrary at this point.
@JC:
There's no way the movie sucked any more than the TV series.
There's too many girls in movies these days. Very rarely do you se an actress looks and acts like a woman. So, Catherine Zeta-Jones by default.
Mark
Wouldn't Lynda Carter be too old (she's in her mid-50s)? I didn't think the Amazons aged like mortals, so she shouldn't look much older than Diana.
I like the Terry Farrell/Lynda Carter idea. But Terry might be considered 'too old' by the Hollywood elite.
Angelina Jolie would have to be my first choice-
She's beautiful, a little exotic, athletic and a talented actress, too. Charlize Theron would be my second choice.
Of course, genre fans will say Jolene Blalock.
Famke Janssen and Jennifer Garner are connected to other superheroes so we'll rule them out for now.
Charlize Theron is out too on the "other hero" thing. She'll be Aon Flux (I believe it's her)before this thing shoots the first scene.
Terry Farrell, I hadn't thought about her. And for the movie's climactic scene, Wonder Woman can cheer on her geeky boyfriend as he proves his manhood at the college diving championships.
Seriously, 'though: Terry Farrell is good casting.
Mark
As PAD said, I don't care who plays Wonder Woman. However, she does need to be at least 5'10" (she is an Amazon after all), well built (please not Charisma Carpenter or of a similar skinny shape) and young (early 20's).
And I wholeheartedly agree Lynda Carter needs to be involved in this movie in some way!
Take Buffy for example: the original actress was voluptuous, strong, tall, and mature.
Which, of course, is entirely wrong for the character.
The whole point of Buffy was to cast against type...it's Casting 101.
I've been saying for years (literally) that the perfect Wonder Woman would be Catherine Zeta-Jones. She has the regal bearing for a princess, the build (dare I say it? I dare: the Amazonian physique) for a warrior, and the voice that sounds royal. She would be abso-frickin'-lutely perfect for the role.
Conversely, I am scared by rumors that Sandra Bullock would be up for the lead roll. Bullock is pretty, but she is one of our most bland actors today. Let her stick with MISS CONGENIALITY 3: FLOGGING A DEAD HORSE.
You need a Jew.
Whoops - wrong thread.
I dig the suggestions of Terry Farrell and Monica Bellucci. A few years ago I might have suggested Catherine Zeta Jones, but I would prefer someone slightly less-known in the role. I'd also like to see the costume from Kingdom Come - it's a little more regal and modest.
And OF COURSE Lynda Carter as Hippolyta. I for one think Tim Burton missed the boat in not casting Adam West as Bruce's father in the flashback...
Halle Berry,
and there won't be amazons, rather she gets her power from an ancient Inca temple buried under Detroit.
oh, sorry catwoman flashback.
JAC
I'm hoping for a young unknown, myself. ("Unknown" in the sense that they don't have a strong pre-existing image they have to overcome; Christopher Reeve brought this quality to Superman, for example.)
I say "young" because of the central themes of Wonder Woman's origin. Hippolyta asks the gods for a child and is miraculously granted one; she cherishes the child but overprotects her. Diana longs to break free from this and goes against her wishes to win a chance to leave home and see the wider world. Her mother reluctantly agrees to let her go with her blessing.
That's a coming-of age story. It's about parenting and adolescent rebellion; it's about growing up, leaving the nest and finding your way as a young adult. Any casting of the movie that doesn't take these themes into account is going to have a tremendously hard time selling the origin.
Therefore, the actress playing Hippolyta has to be someone we can accept as a mother, immortality or no immortality; and the actress playing Diana needs to be believable as someone who can commit an act of adolescent rebellion (and mature during the rest of the movie). I don't necessarily think that the actress has to be young so long as she can play youthful convincingly; but the key word is "convincingly," because if it looks like Hippolyta is telling her middle-aged daughter to move out of the basement and get a job already the whole thing will fall apart.
(The above comments presume that the movie will follow the "character-origin-and-first-adventure" model of superhero movies. If it turns out that the bulk of the story is set late in her career--more like "The Incredibles" than "Spider-Man"--then a different set of concerns apply, of course.)
I think the most obvious choice, assuming Joss has control over the choice, is Morena Baccarin. She plays Inara on Firefly. With its less than stellar ratings, she is basically an unknown to the general public. Even if Serenity does incredibly well, she will be a background character.
She is beautiful, she has the right look, she is beautiful, she can act, oh, and did I mention how beautiful she is?
Already thought of the Lynda Carter as Hippolyta bit. And for what it's worth, the pictures/video I've seen of Carter the last few years indicate that she's still quite good looking.
I think the most obvious choice, assuming Joss has control over the choice, is Morena Baccarin
Well, Joss did (half-?) jokingly made the same suggestion at a Serenity panel recently, when the audience Q&A brought up Wonder Woman casting. He responded with, "Now, where on Earth would I be able to find a strong, stunning, olive-skinned beauty?" followed by a turn to look at Morena. :-)
If Wonder Woman's mom doesn't age either, then Carter would be wrong for the part.
Lynda Carter as Hippolyta would be nice.
Maybe the mother of Wonder Woman spent some time away from Paradise Island in her younger days?
If not, give her a cameo in the movie as "Diana Prince".
ELISHA CUTHBERT
Yeah, probably too short and too small for the role.
But I love her. I really, really do.
Pat Tallman? (And can do most of her own stunts).
Too bad Mary Woronov is too old...
I'm sorry, but Lynda Carter is just too old to play an immortal amazon queen.
She deserves to be on the screen somewhere, it wouldn't be right to do to her what was done to Adam West.
Perhaps as Diana's publicist Myndi Mayer or Diana's friend archaeologist Julia Kapatelis, the mother of the Silver Swan.
But not as Hippolyta. Amazons don't get that old. It's a nice nostalgic thought, it just doesn't fit into the story. MrE
http://cache.eonline.com/On/Holly/Shows/Carter/Images/altman.carter.jpg
http://www.photofeatures.com/tvland2004/images/prevs/DSCF1335a.jpg
Lynda Carter, aged 54.
Give her 3-6 months and a decent makeup artist and she'd bitch-slap women 20-25 years her age. The woman's aging damn gracefully - she can easily play Hippolyta.
Now, if she refuses, give the role to Lucy Lawless :)
As PAD said, I don't care who plays Wonder Woman. However, she does need to be at least 5'10" (she is an Amazon after all), well built (please not Charisma Carpenter or of a similar skinny shape) and young (early 20's).
And olive-skinned. Amazons from a tropical island who live primarily outdoors aren't going to have lily-white skin.
Sorry, but I think they *really* need to cut all ties with the TV series. This needs to be to the WW TV series what the 1989 Batman movie was to the 60s series.
"Steve Rogers wouldn't look twice at Diana if Lynda was her mother."
Wait, Captain America's gonna be in the movie, too? Cool!
Who should play Wonder Woman? Submitted for your approval: TANYA MEMME! Who? She's the host of A&E's "Sell This House". She is beautiful, talented, not anorexic, mediterrainian looking, and has a loving upbeat demeanor and voice. (Voice is very important; remember Ms. Carter's soothing sound, or for you oldies like me, Noel Neil's Lois Lane?)
Anybody but Sandra Bullock (can't act) or Chyna (can't act and too ugly)!
Good luck with this movie. I can't imagine how it can be any good no matter who they cast. To make it work, I'd think they'd have to go so far from the source material that it wouldn't be Wonder Woman.
And for what it's worth, I think gimmicky casting like the wonderful Lynda Carter or the *ahem* memorable Adam West draws people out of the movie (with the exception of Frank Gorshin playing Gordon when the first Burton fiasco came out. He LOOKED like Gordon).
On that note, perhaps - just perhaps - we'll finally have a good Batman movie with this summer's movie.
Superman may possibly be interesting, but the guy cast as Superman is too skinny.
The heck with who plays Wondy! The HECK with who plays Hippy! What we all really wanna know is...who's gonna play Etta Candy???
Etta Candy is that girl who played the lead in the Broadway version of Hairspray.
I say, piss off *everybody* and cast Jaye Davidson.
Bwahaha, I'd watch that!
I always thought Catharine Zeta-Jones would be a good choice--exotic-looking, athletic and, most importantly, a good actress. Morena Baccarin fits the bill physically, but I never watched "Firefly," so I know nothing about her acting ability. I'm intrigued with the Pat Tallman suggestion, though. I've had a crush on her since the remake of "Night of the Living Dead" (craptacular movie, but Pat was great in it).
This is OT, but since this is a comic-themed thread: There is an article about PAD and his run on Hulk at Newsarama. With some exciting news I hadn't heard before.
http://www.newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=33477
It keeps getting better and better. Great news, Peter!
Are you saying there are too many hookers who dress like Wonder Woman?
Actually the inference was to strippers.
Seriously how can a hero be taken seriously with stilleto heels? I liked the costume from the a Superboy Annual (obscure reference) which was a body suit overlayed with the old costume design.
An aside is a funny line from the JLU cartoon. Someone asks how WW can be a role model dressed like that.
"What wrong with the way I dress? ", an indignant WW asks Flash and GL. They make no comment.
Robbnn:
Maybe I'm misreading your post, but if you're saying that Gorshin did play Commissioner Gordon in the Burton "Batman" films, that's wrong. It was Pat Hingle.
Michael D:
Adam West has gone on record saying he would not have accepted the role of Thomas Wayne if he'd been asked.
As to who should play Wonder Woman, I don't care, as long as she's a good actress who's believeable in the role.
Rick
I definatly agree. I am worried though, since Whedon's stated he wasn't a fan of the old show. Does anyone else really want to see a Lucy Lawless cameo?
If Whedon and Ron Silver are brave enough, I've become convinced that Gina Torres is the perfect Wonder Woman.
Caught a glimpse of Lynda Carter in the Dukes' trailer (by the way, why does everyone BUT Bo and Luke look great for that movie? And while I'm sidetracked...WOW, does somone have an anti-Joss Jones), and she still looks pretty amazonian and regal to me.
I love Morena. I don't see her as fitting the stature of an amazon, though. Hard to tell from TV, of course (Mel Gibson looks huge in Braveheart...I stood next to him while he was filming What Women Want, and he's almost tiny...he has 3" lift shoes for some scenes), but Morena seems rather petite. She looks amazing, and can portray a very regal/royal personality, but I have a hard time seeing her in the action scenes.
Now, Gina Torres...that's a whole 'nother story.
Even though I'm girl and love the WW series, mostly for nostalgia, but also because of what she represents. I'm excited that Mr. Whedon is taking this project on because of his past portrayal of strong women.
There's been talk for years in WW fandom about some already mentioned: Jill Hennessey, Jolene Blalock, Jennifer Garner (before she did Electra), and yes even Sandra Bullock.
I think it should be an unknown too. But definitely someone with Zena-esqe proportions. (Although not TOO overblown.)
It'll piss me off if she's a tiny blond.
Linda Carter would be excellent as her mother...
What about Donna Troy her sister (aka Wondergirl)?
Steve Trever?
"I absolutely don't care who plays Wonder Woman in the scheduled Joss Whedon film..."
Not even Queen Latifah?
To hear (read) one of your favorite writers say something that you've been saying for years, well, that just rocks. Right-on, Mr. David, right-on.
Forgot about Lucy, but would she want to play an amazon warrior again? Perhaps as Hypolytta. I crush over Terry Farrel. I even watched Becker for her! Looks like Garner's out for some time (stupid sexy Affleck). Jolie, can we get over Alexander (only seen the oft-satired bits)?
I just want to say:
Whedon is wasting is talent on Wonder Woman. I don't care who's in it, or who's doing it, I won't see it.
Since Singer had to jump ship on X-Men 3 (bloody wanker), I really hoped Whedon would do it (he's a bloody wanker too).
If not Lynda Carter, then clearly it should be Debra Winger...
On a barely related note, the documentary "Double Dare" that PAD wrote about a few weeks back is due on DVD in June.
It's about Jeannie Epper (Lynda's stunt double on Wonder Woman) and Zoe Bell and their careers as stunt professionals.
I'll be picking it up, that's for sure.
Meanwhile, I got scared when one of the first quotes from Joss about the WW movie made it sound like he was ditching the tradtional outfit.
Nothing annoys me more than someone doing a superhero movie and first thing off they want to dump the most identifiable thing about the hero.
Then again, Joss could always change his mind (or just been lying - neither is unusual for him).
Chris
How about this lass from the UK, she's called Jamie Murray.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/hustle/stacie_monroe.shtml
She has the look, the acting ability and the right 'style' for WW.
She is also the only women that could turn me straight lol
I think Lynda Carter would be a great Hippolyta. My choice would be for Cathrine Zeta-Jones to do a Linda Hamilton style bulk-up and play WW.
Rick, you misread my post. Gorshin SHOULD have been Gordon. If you've seen a picture of him back then, he had the right coloring and even the mustache. Dude wouldn't need anything to look the part. Pat's a nice guy, but Gordon he's not.
Frank was, by far, my favorite Batman villian in the television show. Carey couldn't do him justice. But then, I've been a fan of FG for years. Best impressionist out there besides Rich Little...
I hope they get a real actor. Jim Carey's got some talent, but he's a schtick actor...when you see a Jim Carey film, you go to see his schtick. He showed in that movie about Andy Kaufman that he can repress it, but "repress yourself" was not an instruction handed to him by the "director" of Batman: Forever.
One of the good/bad things about Diana is that her current mythology is really only going to be known by avid...not quite die hard...comic fans. The Lynda Carter series started heavy on the mythology theme, but didn't really play that up as much, from what I recall. The current DC version relies heavily on the myth aspect, and the producers may be sorely tempted to shy away from that, for fear of losing a mainstream audience with a Clash of the Titans rip-off. I've faith in Joss, though. Whether you like Buffy (TV) or not, he's demonstrated that he can craft a franchise around a strong female lead, not the easiest thing to do.
For Wonder Woman? How about Paris Hil -- Paris -- Par--
I'm sorry. I can't even *type* that with a straight face.
Adam West has gone on record saying he would not have accepted the role of Thomas Wayne if he'd been asked.
I think that has a lot to do with Burton's comment that Thomas Wayne would have been the only role he would have offered West, because that way, he could look forward to Thomas Wayne getting shot.
I said: "Adam West has gone on record saying he would not have accepted the role of Thomas Wayne if he'd been asked."
Den said: "I think that has a lot to do with Burton's comment that Thomas Wayne would have been the only role he would have offered West, because that way, he could look forward to Thomas Wayne getting shot."
I can't speak to what Burton may or may not have said, but I can provide West's exact words from his autobiography, "Back to the Batcave" concerning the role of Thomas Wayne, and his decision not to accept it if asked. I'll try to do so tonight.
I do not recall, however, West saying anything one way or another about Thomas Wayne being shot.
Posted by Dan Cox at May 11, 2005 12:24 PM
"How about this lass from the UK, she's called Jamie Murray.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/hustle/stacie_monroe.shtml
She has the look, the acting ability and the right 'style' for WW.
She is also the only women that could turn me straight lol"
Funny you should mention Jaime Murray. Funny story:
When the news of the WW movie broke a while ago my brain went into a funny 'WW casting loop' and every film or TV show I saw I kept thinking "That actress looks like a decent Wonder Woman but her voice is too girly" or "That actress would be okay but she's too short" and so on.
Then I watched a couple of episodes of HUSTLE and my brain went "Bingo! Wonder Woman!" So I tell a bunch of my mates and move on with my life. Flash forward a few weeks and I catch the last few seconds of an interview with her on a chat-show (they're literally doing the 'Thanks for coming on' bit) and then Richard Madely (the host) hands her a present - a pair of red boots with a white stripe down the front - Wonder Woman boots!
"Oh my gawd!" I think, "I'm psychic! She's been cast as WW! I'm a frickin' genius!" Alas no. To cut a long story short ("Too late!") she's not been cast as WW but she DID appear dressed as WW in an episode of HUSTLE - during a seduction/hallucination scene. (And looked pretty damn good, too)
You know... this story seemed a lot more interesting before I wrote it down...
Peace!
LEE
"I for one think Tim Burton missed the boat in not casting Adam West as Bruce's father in the flashback..."
That would have been disastrous for the scene. Instead of, "Oh, how terrible, Bruce's parents are going to get killed!", it would be like, "Ha ha, it's Adam West! How freakin' hilarious is that?!"
OK. Have to take back my above statement. I still think an unkown or lesser known actress would be cool but I have to go with the post that threw out Monica Bellucci's name. Brotherhood og the Wolf showed that she can do the soft & quiet type as well as the kick butt and take names type with equeal ease. She doesn't look like the scarecrow most American actresses want to be, she can do all the stuff with the role that Jones could do and then some and she's just a fine actress in general. She gets my #1 vote.
Torres would be kinda cool as well but I really think the casting choice dust up would overshadow her acting. She could pull of the charecter with ease but I can see way too many complaints about screwing around with the history, myth, etc of WW if she were to get the nod for the role.
Brotherhood of the Wolf
Gotta start reading these things BEFORE I hit post......
How about Jaye Davidson? Had a great turn in "The Crying Game," AND would give all sorts of double meaning to the title.
For all those suggesting Jaye Davidson, I've actually seen a photo of Rupaul in the Wonder Woman outfit!
Maybe then Eartha Kitt could be Hippolyta!
Forget who plays Diana or Hippolyta or even Donna. The question is, if she were in the movie, who would play Cassie Sandsmark?
That's the only one of DC's Wonder-heroines that I really care about in the long run, thanks in no small part to Mr. David's stellar work with the character in Young Justice.
> It'll piss me off if she's a tiny blond.
Like Cathy Lee Crosby?
Zeta-Jones is wrong for the role cause she is too old. Too old, because they will have to hire an actress who would be avle to do possible sequels over the next 3-6-9 years.
Pat Tallman, who was also in Babylon 5, would have been a good selection several years ago for the same reasons as Zeta-Jones.
I love Charisma Carpenter and have since the first time I saw her on tv in Buffy. But, alas, she has not the proper body for Wonder Woman.
Which leaves us with Sandra Bullock. If so, it would only be right to cast Keanu Reeves as Steve Trevor. This would give be 2 reasons not to see the movie. And, if not Keanu, then Tom Cruise.
I was thinking that an unknown would be the way to go until I actually looked up Monica Bellucci on IMDB. She gets my vote now.
As for Lynda Carter, well, it depends on whether Whedon wants to treat the movie seriously, or have a movie full of gimmicks and in-jokes.
Can't say that I'm a hardcore fan of the character. My familiarity extends to the cartoons and the occasional JLA TPB, but I'll probably go se the movie anyway, regardless.
-Rex Hondo-
Hey, I think Monica Lewinski has some time.
Big black hair. Ample tracts of land. Big name but without a lot of films to her credit.
And a lot (I mean A LOT) of free publicity.
Heh.
BID!! I'm sorry that this is so off topic. A friend of mine just gave me the four issue limited series "The Haunted" by PAD (2002) for Chaos comics. (Great Story!!!I can't believe I missed this). Did "Gray Matters" (due 06/05/02) ever come out? Or any kind of sequel?
*Posted by Michael Pullmann at May 11, 2005 08:23 AM
"Steve Rogers wouldn't look twice at Diana if Lynda was her mother."
Wait, Captain America's gonna be in the movie, too? Cool!*
Now, Michael, don't be rude! You knew what he meant. He was trying to say, if Lynda was Diana's mother, *Fred* Rogers wouldn't look at her twice...
Tim Robertson said: "I say the new WW should be the main women on Lost."
I've seen a review of a film where a collection of stories about a teenage girl are told with the main character's role filled by a variety of actresses ranging in age from 8 to 30. It would be a daring choice to have the iconic Wonder woman played by an assortment of women of various sizes, ages and races as a way of representing her status as a representative of 'every woman'. "The main women of 'Lost'" certain provide that sort of variety.
So Wonder Woman should be played by Emilie de Ravin (Claire), Maggie Grace (Shannon), Yoon-jin Kim (Sun), Evangeline Lilly (Kate), Mira Furlan (Danielle), L. Scott Caldwell (Rose) and ??? (Joanna) but not key guest actresses Veronica Hamel, Andrea Gabriel, Swoosie Kurtz, Julie Bowen, Beth Broderick, Michelle Rodriguez?
Or are you specifically refering to Barbara Vidinha-Tyler (Woman) and Brittany Perrineau (Woman), who both were cast to fill the role of "Woman"?
However, if I am misunderstanding your suggestion and you are proposing that the role be filled by Evangeline "Kate" Lilly, I must scoff impolitely in your general direction. She should stick to doing what she does best; those 1-800 dating service commercials on late night TV.
I do, however, second the nomination of Marissa Jaret Winokur of "Hairspray" (Katrina on "Stacked") as Etta Candy.
We did this "Who should Be Wonder Woman" thread a week or two ago at Jump The Shark, with no brilliant definitive solutions, though Catherine Zeta-Jones-Douglas was a popular choice (with a few vocal detractors). I did like the proposal of Marla Sokoloff as Wonder Girl.
My nomination, not a popular one, was for Melina Kanakaredes; probably too frail for the role, but certainly of a suitable Medditerranean appearance and beauty.
I belive Sandy Bullock stated years ago tha she would accept the role but not wear the costume, which disqualifies her in my mind.
Do any other long time CBG readers remember when Playboy Playmate turned porn star (or someone posing as her) wrote a letter published in "Oh, So?" requesting that she be considered for the role? I would ove to see her in the costume, but once she appeared on a national news program being interviewed as a Nevada brothel employee I think she lost any hope of crossing over to a mainstream career.
Though she has the comics connection, since she's the cover model on the forthcoming "Vogel's Underground Comix" price guide.
I've been waiting for this opportunity.
Check out any issue of Wonder Woman from the current series, especially any rendering by George Perez. Check out the face.
Perez's faces most closely resemble Melina Kanakaredes. In fact, if you examine more recent issues, the artists all seem to draw her face. The hair is absolutely correct too.
Not only is Melina drop-dead gorgeous, but she has the physical attributes and the acting ability to pull off the part believably. She is well known for her television work, but not so well known in movies and would satisfy the "unknown" attribute desired by many of the fans above.
And Lynda Carter is just fine for Hyppolyta.
Whether or not Melina Kanakaredes is "drop dead gorgeous" is debateable. Plus, she's too much of a stick woman to pull off a paragon of physical perfection like Wonder Woman. And I know I'm probably going to piss SOMEBODY off here, but she's kinda pushing the age envelope as well.
One thing she has going for her, I suppose, is she sort of looks like she could be Lynda Carter's daughter.
-Rex Hondo-
But for HOLLYWOOD standards you would want a brunette, taller than average actress in her early to mid 20s in case to they want to do a trilogy, they would want the an actress young enough (by their standards) to minimize wrinkling--and someone who ... fits ... the Wonder Woman "uniform".
Personally, I favor Laura Prepon who plays "Donna" from THAT 70'S SHOW while others have suggested Evangeline Lily who plays "Kate" on LOST. She's not as tall as Prepon but Lily has major hype working on one of the top-hyped new tv shows of the season--and she's relatively new and thus "cost-efficient".
-- Ken from Chicago
I just have to say....
Zuleikha Robinson.
That is all.
How about Mrs William Jefferson Clinton? j/k Charisma Carpenter has my vote. As for Catherine Zeta-Beta-Alpha-Jones-Douglas, she is just not built for it, IMHO.
Going through the comments here and everyone seems to have an opinion as to who should or should not play WW. I've already given the specifics of what the woman should look like (5'10" or taller, etc.), but here are the names, in no particular order, I think are very doable based purely on looks alone:
Catherine Bell (She's 5'10", not too old at 36, but it's close since WW should be portrayed as a wide-eyed "kid".)
Zuleikha Robinson (Nearly 11 years younger than Bell, but have no idea how tall she is.)
Jamie Murray (She LOOKS the part, but no idea how old or how tall.)
Karen McDougal (Definitely drop dead gorgeous and is the right age, no idea how tall she is though. Might be tough for DC to get past her PLayboy appearances.)
Morena Baccarin (A very good choice, but again no idea how tall she is....)
As far as who should NOT play WW: Catherine Zeta-Jones (too old, too skinny), Monica Bellucci (too old by at least 15 years), Charisma Carpenter (way too skinny and barely 5'7"), Sandra Bullock (it would end up being, "Hey, look! Bullock in a WW costume!"), and any woman of color (she's Greek looking dammit, not black).
In the end, it'll probably go to someone who is relatively, though not totally, unknown, much like Brandon Routh playing Superman. Personally, I'd love to see Catherine Bell. She may be "too old", but she has that look that exudes innocence, as well just about every other attribute a Wonder Woman should have...
Breck said a lot earlier, "This IS a Joss Whedon production we're talking about. Meaning you can count on a Wonder Woman that is too young, too thin, too short, and too annoying." And proceeded to diss "Buffy" and everything else.
Okay, so you want a "plumper" in the role? There's only one person with your chosen physical attributes and the attitude necessary to play the Amazon Princess. ROSEANNE. Heck, she's already played Xena on her late sitcom. And I'm sure Mr. Beautiful Hair Breck would love Roseanne Xena's proven method of disabling an opponent; sitting on his chest until he passes out or dies.
Beyonce.
Think about it.
She is a stunner, and tall and hopefully can get a few acting lessons in there before production starts, but she has been involved in at least 3 film projects or so.
She would be great and modern as well.
Oh yeah!! I had forgotten about Catherine Bell which is strange since, only yesterday, I flipped by a rerun of JAG where she was wearing a white t-shirt.
Anyone mention Shannon Elizabeth? She's 5'10, and she looks Amazonian.
Of course, I don't know how well she can act. Whenever I see her in a movie, I tend to remember her for her curves, rather than her lines.
This comment is aimed more at Lee Grice:
That's why mate I suggested her for it!
Hustle: The Con Is On!
"She should stick to doing what she does best; those 1-800 dating service commercials on late night TV.
"
HA! I thought I was the only one who noticed that!
>>> "It'll piss me off if she's a tiny blond."
Like Cathy Lee Crosby?
Cathy Lee wasn't as tiny as Sarah Michelle Geller and that's the type I was thinking of...
And wasn't Cathy Lee a poor choice for WW? What were THEY thinking!
Posted by Dan Cox at May 12, 2005 12:02 PM
This comment is aimed more at Lee Grice:
That's why mate I suggested her for it!
Hustle: The Con Is On!
Hi, Dan. Yeah, I suspected as much, but I wanted to keep my comments as 'open' as possible for anyone else reading them (plus I was trying to type fast and talk b0ll0cks at the same time!)
Anyway, for anyone whose interested here are a couple of links to screen-caps of Jaime as WW in HUSTLE (not the greatest WW outfit ever, it has to be said)
http://www.mattsbabes.co.uk/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=26585
http://www.mattsbabes.co.uk/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=26583
and one of her showing off her physique in an earlier episode:
http://www.mattsbabes.co.uk/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=23546
As to the Lynda Carter debate, if I was Joss I'd be *very* wary about referencing the TV show in any way.
Personally, I'd prefer Monica Bellucci as Hippolyte and an unknown as Diana (I class Jaime Murray and Morena Baccarin as 'unknowns'), but I am being gradually seduced by the Catherine Bell camp. She looks perfect but can she act? I've not seen her in anything.
Off topic -
What's just struck me as interesting is this: Look at all the diverse opinions here, yet in the press (mainstream or otherwise) 'comics fandom' is always portrayed as having one mind (or less!). Y'know "Comics fans were outraged!", "Comics fans were this..." "comics fans were that..."
Peace!
LEE
Well, since I'm watching the series through now...
Claudia Christian from Babylon 5 would be as good of a pick as any, I think.
I don't know her name offhand (I could look it up) but the lady who does the cell phone commercials for T-Mobile would make a righteous Wonder Woman.
And now that I have looked it up... duh, it's C-Zeta, who's only been touted by fans as a dead-on choice for months now...
Forget acting ability. Lets go for the actress who played 7 of 9 on VOYAGER.
I think some of you are getting too caught up with the height thing. This is a movie after all and just like the actors who played Hobbits weren't really teeny tiny people I think a good direcotr could make it so that whoever is picked to be Wonder Woman doesn't look like she's a midget or anything.
Just remember that Stallone and Cruise are little men who always look tall in all of their films.
And Catherine Bell is too old for the role. If Superman is any indication the role of Wonder Woman will have a cut off age of 30.
Aw, what the heck. If nobody understands what an immortal queen means, then why not get Meryl Streep to play Hippolyta? Or Jessica Tandy or Bette Davis.
It makes as much sense as Marlon Brando as Jor-El....again.
No woman on Paradise Island should age beyond her twenties. That must be harder to understand than I thought. MrE.
O.K., following up on the issue of Adam West as Thomas Wayne, in his biography, "Back to the Batcave" (written with Jeff Rovin), West writes on page 206: "contrary to popular misconception, I wasn't asked to do a cameo as Bruce Wayne's father, Thomas. If I had been, I'd have turned it down."
He does not elaborate on why; so if Burton did say that he would have offered the role of Thomas Wayne to Wes, so he could look forward to Wayne getting shot, West either never knew, or chose to pretend it never happened. Given how up front he is about a lot of things, I'd guess it was the former, if Burton did say that.
West also admitted that he was "angry and profoundly disappointed" that he wasn't asked to reprise the role of Batman, saying he would have played it differently (since he knew as far back as 1980 that a film would move away from the "camp" image), a "new Batman for a new era." He cited Buster Crabbe's guest appearance in "Buck Rogers" as an example of something similar. He said that Crabbe's role of "Gordon" was, "essentially an older Buck Rogers."
For the record, he had mixed reviews about the first "Batman" film, feeling that unlike the two Superman films, its "inherent nastiness" dates the film to "our own hostile era", and thus makes it less timeless.
But, getting back on topic, I still don't care who plays Wonder Woman, as long as she's appropriate for the role.
And Lynda Carter as Hippolyta is fine.
Rick
"Okay, so you want a 'plumper' in the role?"
Right, because anyone who isn't as thin as Sarah Michelle Gellar is a "plumper." Either you really believe that, and are therefore a moron, or you're just trying to be clever. Either way, you have no point.
Actually Sarah Michelle Gellar, while always petite, didn't become uber-thin until later in the series.
And the show was a quantum leap up in quality from the movie.
Wonder Woman Casting..
Catherine Bell, Charisma Carpenter, Rachel Weise all good choices.
Big Duh on the Lynda Carter as Hippolyta
The only other person I'd add right now is
Lisa Edelstein
Until later
John
for everyone's consideration...Emmanuelle Chriqui:
http://img138.echo.cx/my.php?image=chriqui6kj.jpg
Lee mate, too bloody true. We all have minds of our own! Also, as is pretty obvious I have a different take on bits to you (I'm guessing here!)
There's an Alex Ross portrait of Wonder Woman which reminded me of Julianna Margulies when I saw it, so I have the image set in my mind that she would, visually, fit the role.
If they wanted to go for a more Drew Johnsonesque Diana then I could see Battlestar Galactica's Tricia Helfer. I already think "Amazon goddess" everytime I see her towering over James Callis - I just can't really visualize her as a brunette.
Buffy was a great show. That person who ragged all over it obviously never saw a single episode. Like someone mentioned earlier, Sarah wasn't thin when the show started, and she did not look 12 to me. He obviously has a problem with Joss and is using this thread to vent. As for the role, I think she might have turned it down, but Charisma Carpenter got my vote.
If you are going to cast an African American as WW then would you consider the smoking hot (not to mention the athletic bod) Aisha Tyler of Friend and Talk Soup fame?
If Joss isn't going that route, then how about, "Wonder Woman: Once More With Feeling" staring Kelly Clarkson??? (Or maybe Fantasia?)
Mia Maestro. On the strength of her appearances in Alias.
Or why not give Zoe Bell a shot at acting, instead of just doing the stunts?
Just watch the Season Four episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine "Our Man Bashir". Professor Honey Bare is a dead ringer for Diana Prince!
Sign the petition for Terry Farrell to be cast as the next Wonder Woman
I can't think of anyone better for it that Angelina Jolie... not only for the looks, but the attitude too. This woman has to look like both a tender and passionate woman and a cold bloded princess-warrior. I can't see anyone else giving the needed strength to the character.
jolene blalock would make a wonderful, wonder woman.All her fans Would love to see in that role.
I have heard from a friend who is employed by warner brothers that there is a lot of buzz right now about the project! Lynda will be playing the mother....the talk right now is that the reining Miss Universe who is from canada is up for Diana Prince , one she resembles Lynda alot and two, she is a miss universe and Lynda is a former miss Usa. so they can tie that along in publicizing the film!! check out miss Universe at www.missusa.com
here is a few woman that i think would be right for playing wonder women on the big screen. 1. katherene zeta jones, 2.jessica biel, and 3.kelly monaco, and stacy keibler wwe diva put her in a dark wig woooooooooooooooooooooow !
I have to agree with Jaime Murrary as Wonder Woman. She's perfect for the role, she's sexy and a good actress. The rumours are; Whedon has asked Jaime over to LA for an audition.
I was looking forward for that movie when I heard the role would be played by Lucy Lawless. If not hers, I don't care even if they do it or not, I'll never watch it anyway. Wonder Woman IS Lucy Lawless.
Famke Janssen
Morena Baccarin
Liv Tyler
Eliza Dushku
Kate Beckinsale
Monica Bellucci
Katherine Zeta Jones
Aishwarya Rai
Wonder woman should be age-less. You shouldn't be able to guess if she's 25 or 45. She should have an honest/truthful, determined, mature look.
