Despite Attempts to Redevelop the Script it is Now Considered Abandoned
Hourman? Sure, no problem. iZombie? Sure, whatever that is. Amazon? Gee...you see...what happened was...the script...LAMP! Such is life for the future of a live-action television show about the origin of the iconic Wonder Woman. The series pilot titled 'Amazon' would have followed the young Diana of Themyscira as she grows into a great warrior princess. However, according to CW president, Mark Pedowitz, the pilot will no longer go forward but he didn't close the door entirely on the possibility of a show in the future.
"It all depends on the script. We were very careful with Arrow, and we're being very careful with Flash...These are iconic characters, so we're going to be very careful with Wonder Woman. You only get one shot before you get bit."
The latest setback for the DC Comics franchise character comes after attempts by Allan Heinberg (Gray's Anatomy) and Alon Eli Coleite (Heroes) to whip the script into shape since 2012. Apparently, the network felt it was unsuitable to even film a pilot. In 2011 a failed pilot was produced by NBC and David E. Kelley (Ally McBeal) starring Adrianne Palicki that never aired but leaked footage explained why. It was pretty atrocious. So in CW's defense if the script wasn't up to snuff then why produce an expensive pilot. The question of course is why wasn't it good enough?
The excuse has been, even from DC Entertainment themselves, that the character is "tricky" to adapt despite decades of comic book material and successful animated interpretations. Yet other characters - Batman, Superman, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Flash - are not only getting an adaptation but some have gotten multiple adaptations regardless of quality. The old myth that female leads can't open or carry a blockbuster has been debunked over and over. The latest examples have been Jennifer Lawrence in The Hunger Games movies and Sandra Bullock in Gravity and The Heat. Those movies have been some of the biggest moneymakers of the year. Audiences will go if you don't insult their intelligence and put something compelling on the screen regardless of gender. So again why hasn't Wonder Woman had her share of the spotlight?
Her origin is referenced as a point of "trickiness" but any competent screenwriter can make it work. If a Thor franchise can be made with its pseudo-Shakespearean overtones then certainly an island of Amazons powered by goddesses shouldn't be so difficult. Depending on which origin story is adapted Wonder Woman will either be formed from clay and empowered by Greek deities or she'll be the daughter of Queen Hippolyta and the mighty Zeus. How can you bungle that? As iconic as she's been since she was created by William Moulton Marston in 1941 it has been extremely disappointing she has not garnered the same respect and utilized in more productions like her male counterparts at DC Comics.
Despite the apparent inability to bring her back to television since the 1970's there is at least a glimmer of hope in Gal Gadot (Fast and Furious) who signed on to play Wonder Woman in the Man of Steel sequel. She is currently training for the role but it is unclear just how much screen time she'll actually get. The hope is that whatever contribution will lead to her own solo movie but it could just introduce her for a Justice League movie follow up. So there is a chance we'll get a live-action Amazon after all. And perhaps the larger than life heroine on the big screen is more appropriate anyway.
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| Wonder Woman continues to wait for her big break |
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