CW's Wonder Woman in Development

[doctorD]

Boom! Wonder Woman may be coming back to TV after all, but not in the way we've been used to seeing her on film. Barely a year after NBC opted against moving forward with David E. Kelley's reworking of the comic book icon, and just as the character is hooking up with the Man of Steel in the comics, Vulture hears that the CW, Warner Bros. TV, and DC Comics have found a new way to revive the legend of Diana of Themyscira. The plan this time: origin story, all the way.


Our sources say the new take on the comic book crime fighter is being written by Allan Heinberg (Grey's Anatomy, The O.C.) under the working title Amazon. Unlike past TV incarnations, it will focus on Wonder Woman as a young, budding superhero, rather than a fully formed defender of liberty. (Think Smallville, but instead of a "no tights, no flights" rule, this show might have a "no bracelets, no crown" mandate.) Heinberg seems a logical candidate for the job: His resume includes work on the kinds of soapy dramas the CW favors as well as comic-geek street cred (he wrote the Young Avengers comic book series back in 2005).


It should be noted that CW is only developing a script at this point; no pilot production has been greenlit or even contractually guaranteed. (The network, along with WBTV and D.C., declined comment) But if a pilot is filmed, and a show gets ordered, it will be a major accomplishment for WBTV and D.C., since rebooting WW (outside of animation) has proven challenging in the three decades since the campy Wonder Woman TV series wrapped its three-year run on ABC and CBS in 1979. Most recently, there was the aforementioned Kelley take. It was pitched to various networks in the fall of 2010, apparently rejected by broadcasters, but then picked up by NBC in early 2011. After Kelley turned in his pilot, however, the Peacock made the decision to not move forward with a series. Likewise, Joss Whedon had long been attached to a film take on Wonder Woman. That never came to fruition, either, and Whedon is now busy with another comic franchise these days.


But Warners (which owns D.C.) seems determined. This past June, Variety reported, almost as an afterthought, that writer Michael Goldenberg was developing a new feature film centered around the Wonder Woman character. No details of that project have emerged and it's unclear if D.C. would proceed with a film revival if Amazon moved forward. (It's worth noting that Warners launched Superman Returns in theaters even as the origins-centric WB series Smallville continued on TV). If Amazon ultimately takes off, however, CW does seem the right environment for bringing back Wonder Woman: The network has a long history of successful sci-fi/superhero shows (it aired the last few seasons of WB import Smallville; Arrow launches this season) and its female-centric lineup seems a natural home for one of pop culture's leading feminist icons. As long as there's not a campy World War II subplot or any mention of Wonder Woman dolls, we're interested to see what develops.

Vulture
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[Elandyll]

The Beverly Hills 90210 version of Wonder Woman, set on the Amazon Island?



"- And like, she said my bracelets looked like white trash, so I totally smashed her face in the central Column, right next to the statue of Athena. And then, like, while spitting her teeth, Steve walked by, like -TOTALLY- god mode, and he SMILED to meeeeeeee!
- No way!
- Way! And like, he winked at me, so I kinda licked my lips to him and he TOTALLY blushed.
- Ur serious?
- Totally. It's SO happening, but I know he also kinda lik3 that other stupid Amazon, Artemis.
- She is kinda hot though.
- Mmmh. Yeah, but she is, like, a total slut.
Oh, gotta go Mala, the monster of the week is here!!!"

[KilloWertz]

Just because it'll be on The CW doesn't mean it will be like that. They have Nikita and that is far from that.

[HDMe]

Even if it was like that... that still sounds better than what I heard about the NBC failed pilot!

[kernel_thai]

They be better off using Arrow as a model than Smallville. I dont mind them going young if it means we'll be seeing her on Themyscira. If they plan to have her young and in the real world, Im less interested. Didnt JMS try that with the previous iteration of the comic?

[lazystoner]

If Warner Bros has any lick of intelligence, they'll cast Bridget Regan.

[willbfree]

Sounds like potential for a Buffy II here (but with Amazon elements). I approve.

[HDMe]

George Perez added back the Greek mythos in the 1980s... I would love to see a TV Wonder Woman that wasn't just standard hero-fare... but had elements of the Greek gods and myths similar to Xena... and we know that thing was done on a shoestring budget 20+ years ago!

[Mouse]

I'm interested to see where this goes. Then again I was also interested in the last Wonder Woman that never even aired the pilot... but I suppose my interests don't matter much since I'm one of the few that actually enjoyed Bionic Woman. Hopefully this show will get picked up and stay on the air. haha I'd say it has a chance on the CW.

[kernel_thai]

I think I would try something along the lines of Kung Fu. U set the story with a 20 something WW in the real world but u include heavy flash back scenes of her growing up on Themyscira in a more mythological world. Then as her back sotry develops, u let those worlds collide.

[Bageara]

Originally Posted by lazystoner

If Warner Bros has any lick of intelligence, they'll cast Bridget Regan.

oh yes please she was the reason i watched Legend of the Seeker, is she in anything else?

[Elandyll]

Love Bridget.

My biggest beef with a WW remake would be the classic costume.
Honestly, if it was taken literally like that failed NBC attempt did, I seriously do not think it would work. Just way too goofy and objectifying.

Now, in a modernized version, definitely yes.

[kernel_thai]

The problem with the costume is what works in comics doesnt work for live action. She needs a costume that she can run and fight in without the rating changing. One of the things I did like about the failed pilot was that they played a bit with the costume so that there were three versions. People obsess way too much about the costume. If the WW comic had originated in 2012 they never would have dressed her like that.

ww-247x300.jpg

[willbfree]

If they're going back to the origins, and then presumably shifting to the United States to her attending high school or college and trying to blend in with mortals, chances are there won't be a costume.

[HDMe]

Forever Knight was a good show in terms of running a modern story interwoven with flashbacks to the past... since it was dealing with vampires, characters lived that long.

A modern WW that mixed "flashbacks" to Greek god stories.. and then eventually mashed those up when the stories catch up to the present could work.

As to the notion that a 2012 invented WW wouldn't have that kind of costume... think again, and look at all the newly created female heroes... you'll find several examples at most comic companies that go for the T&A more than the practicality of a useful costume. By comparison, the traditional WW costume is quite modest!

[kernel_thai]

I think u see a lot more ultra tight spandex now, which prolly more revealing. The real problem with WW is it doesnt even work as classical. They should either go completely modern with it or build the costume based more on something a Greek Warrior might have worn.

Saw this pic of Tricia Helfer. Cant believe u couldnt find a role for that 5'11 goddess in a show about Amazons. If not WW then Artemis maybe?

GeorgiaStraight_TriciaHelfer.jpg

[Forever Knight]

Please let the broad who is Jared Padalicki's (from Supernatural)'s wife be WW. I'd lick it.

[THE USER]

I hope this series rocks

[Groge511]

Sounds good! About time we had another kick-ass female lead on TV. I think going down the Smallville route of her origin is a much better idea. I really hope it gets greenlit

[doctorD]

It looks like they may be calling the show "Amazon". The lead character's name is "Iris" Here is some new info on the show:

New details have emerged for the joint production of Amazon, a Wonder Woman origin series from The CW, Warner Bros. TV and DC Comics. When we first reported on the pilot, it was in the early development stage, with a previous live-action Wonder Woman TV series failing just the year before. Now, with the success of The CW’s Green Arrow series, Arrow, it’s looking more likely that a young Amazonian princess will find her way to television. Warner Bros. TV has reportedly hired a casting director in search of someone to play the lead role, as they are anticipating a pilot pickup. Written by Allan Heinberg, Amazon is a fish-out-of-water series that has has shades of Tarzan as it centers on a young Amazonian named Iris who learns to develop her superpowers. Hit the jump for much more.

The following breakdown of the role of Iris comes via Deadline:

“She comes from a remote, secluded country and until now has spent most of her life as a soldier and a leader on the battlefield. Because of relentless brutality of her life at home, Iris looks at our world with absolute awe and astonishment. She’s delighted *and just as often horrified * by the aspects of everyday life that we take for granted: skyscrapers, traffic, ice cream.

It’s all new and fascinating and sometimes slightly troubling * to her. Iris is completely unschooled in our world, our culture, our customs. And she’s completely inexperienced at interpersonal relationships. She has no social filter, does not suffer fools, and tends to do and say exactly what’s on her mind at all times. She’s bluntly, refreshingly honest. She can tell when you’re lying to her. And she doesn’t have time or patience for politics or tact because she’s too busy trying to experience everything our world has to offer. There are too many sights to see * and things to learn * and people to care for. Hers is a true, noble, and generous heart. And she will fight and die for the people she loves. Iris is a fierce warrior with the innocent heart of a romantic * and she will fight to the death to make the world safe for innocents and true romantics everywhere.”

This is potentially a huge role for a young actress out there, as the Smallville stars can attest to, as can breakout Arrow star, Stephen Amell. While the script is still being honed for the pilot, the casting search will commence concurrently. Shine up those bracelets and refresh those lasso skills!

Apparently, fans were up in arms about the character lead "Iris" and the writer provided an update indicating it is really "Diana"...they just didn't want to draw attention Um...well that didn't work.

UPDATE: No reason for panic, Wonder Woman fans. While the warrior princess character is listed on the breakdown as Iris, not Diana, I’ve confirmed that, as writer Allan Heinberg hinted on Twitter after I posted the story, that is just a code name the producers used to avoid attention. So much for that…

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