Warners Buys Wonder Woman Script

[Richard Sullivan]

Warners Buys Wonder Woman Script To Not Make It
February 02, 2007

Warner Bros. and producer Joel Silver are acquiring the rights to a Wonder Woman spec script by Matthew Jennison and Brent Strickland, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Joss (Buffy, Serenity) Whedon had been tapped to write and direct.



The studio is reportedly acquiring the script solely to take it off the market to prevent legal action if there are any similarities between it and Whedon's script. To add even more mystery to the acquisition, the spec script is set during World War II and Whedon's is set in the present day, making any similarities unlikely.

[Titan76]

I don't understand. Why does Warner Bros. have to buy a script from someone else when Whedon was the one they pick to write and direct it?

Couldn't Warner Bros. just tell the other guys "Hey you can't write about this character because we own her and we already have someone else writing this movie."

[Lord of Denial]

I don't understand. Why does Warner Bros. have to buy a script from someone else when Whedon was the one they pick to write and direct it?

Couldn't Warner Bros. just tell the other guys "Hey you can't write about this character because we own her and we already have someone else writing this movie."

I am with Titan76 on this one. That makes zero sense.

Wait

So now you can claim intellectual property on ideas in a script about a copyrighted character owned by someone else?

What's next somebody sueing DC Comics because a story in a comic sounds like a story on a fan fiction site?

[regnak]

I don't understand. Why does Warner Bros. have to buy a script from someone else when Whedon was the one they pick to write and direct it?

Couldn't Warner Bros. just tell the other guys "Hey you can't write about this character because we own her and we already have someone else writing this movie."

It sounds like the WB paid the other guys to write the first script and then rejected it.

[Ontir]

That news was here (http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showthread.php?t=101099) 6 hours ago.

The script was making the rounds, and apparently, even though theirs was set in World War II, there were enough similarities that Warners' wanted to fend off any potential legal issues.

It's also possible, that there was an area in Whedon's script, that they needed a fix for, and this script provided it. By buying the script, they can import that, and the writers will probably get a development deal, which can be quite lucrative.

[Phil Clark]

...To add even more mystery to the acquisition, the spec script is set during World War II and Whedon's is set in the present day, making any similarities unlikely...

Just historic timeframes being different doesn't preclude similarities in the story, particularly since both scripts are based on the same source material. And considering how many writers have sued a production with probably less similarities to it, this is proably a legit, and smart move on Joel Silver's part. Spend a little right now versus potential a lot more later if the film is a big hit.

[kalorama]

Makes perfect sense. it's a shrewd business move by Silver and a nice payday for the writers of the spec script.

[Ontir]

If Warners' is really impressed with them, the two could get a development deal, and re-write work, as well as options for original work(s).

[davids]

Alex Ford and his Man of Steel script! In it Wonder Woman had a cameo, which would be a perfect way to start a wonder woman movie! sorry dont have an address....look it up.

[davids]

INT. DAILY PLANET LOBBY

A statuesque WOMAN (#2) dressed in a long skirt and conservative
blouse enters. Her body is that of an athlete. Her legs are to
die for. Her skin's like porcelain and her thick jet black wavy
hair cascades down her shoulders to the middle of her back.

She approaches the RECEPTIONIST (#3) who looks up, startled.

RECEPTIONIST #3
(startled)
Can I help you?

WOMAN #2
I'm here to see Clark Kent.

A man walks by in the background staring at her.

QUICK CUT TO:

INT. CITY ROOM

CAT
Hmmmm. More Kansas farm boys?

LOIS
Cat likes 'em big. It must be all the corn.

QUICK CUT TO:

INT. OPENING HALLWAY - OPENING ELEVATOR

The doors open. Everyone in the elevator is at shoulder height to
mystery woman. She exits and they stare. As she walks down the
hall and a man carrying a computer monitor sees her, drops it,
and it shatters on the floor.

QUICK CUT TO:

INT. CITY ROOM

PERRY WHITE sticks his face out of his office.

PERRY
(loud)
KENT!

CLARK gets up and heads for PERRY's office.

CAT
Why are you so hard on Clark, Lois?

RON
She's jealous because she's LOIS LANE: ACE
REPORTER and the story of the century, the
coming of SUPERMAN, was swooped right out
from underneath her while she was there; by
the new guy, the country guy. The nobody who
went to college at Hicksville University in
Kansas. The nobody who never had a
professional gig in his life and not only
does he manage to sneak a story pass the
great and powerful Lois Lane, he manages to
win a Carlin Award in the process...
(slowly)
On his first... time... out.
(Beat, to LOIS)
Green doesn't become you, Lois.

QUICK CUT TO:

INT. DAILY PLANET SECURITY BOOTH

The WOMAN's image is on a wall of monitors. Five GUARDS are
watching her. One signals and two more join them.

QUICK CUT TO:

INT. CITY ROOM

LOIS
(Rant)
You want to know what it is? This guy is a
Boy Scout. He doesn't smoke. He doesn't
drink. He doesn't swear. He calls his parents
everyday. If I had to talk to my father
everyday I'd kill myself. He's honest. He's
trustworthy. He's moral. Every friend he's
got he's had since high school and that just
isn't normal. The guy says grace before his
meals, eats his vegetables first and drinks
milk. And that ridiculous hat! Who wears a
fedora?
(Beat)
For Christ's sake, has anyone ever seen him
use the bathroom?

They stare at her like she's a madwoman.

JIMMY
I saw him help old lady Hayworth across the
street to Berardo's Delicatessen yesterday.

LOIS
That is exactly what I mean. Everybody knows
old lady Hayworth is a cranky bitch.
(Searching for words)
He's like some kind of by-the-book moral,
excellent worker, great writer,
seven-year-old in the body of a linebacker
virgin.

.

She turns and is eye level at the chest of the mystery WOMAN.
CAMERA cuts to a FULL SHOT of the both of them and the woman
(5'11" wearing four inch heels) towering over the 5'7" LOIS.

WOMAN #2
I was told I could find Clark Kent here.

The WOMAN speaks in a very distinct accent (similar to Greek).
Everyone is speechless.

WOMAN #2
Clark Kent. He's a reporter.

More staring.

WOMAN #2
This is the City Room, isn't it?

PERRY's door open and he and CLARK exit. CLARK sees his guest.

CLARK
(Excited)
Diana!

He hugs her. LOIS stares at them both in disbelief.

WOMAN #2 from here on will be known as DIANA.

DIANA
I thought I was in the wrong place.

CLARK
Did you have any trouble getting into town?

DIANA
I'm okay. I have a pretty good sense of
direction.

CLARK
(To everyone)
Everyone, this is an old friend, Diana.
(Introductions)
This is Ron Troupe. Cat Grant our society
columnist. Jimmy Olsen our favorite
photographer. And this is Lois Lane.

DIANA
Clark's told me a lot about you, Miss Lane.

LOIS
Oh really...

CLARK
Let me get my things and we can go. Have a
seat.

CLARK leaves and DIANA sits in his chair. Everyone hovers around
her.

LOIS
So Diana...?

DIANA
Just... Diana.

LOIS
What is it you do?

DIANA
I'm an ancient history liaison for Marston
University in Boston.

LOIS
Is that so?

DIANA
Mostly Greek history and cultures.

LOIS
Are you from Smallville?

DIANA
(Laughing, leans and whispers)
Do I look like I'm from Smallville?

CLARK returns.

CLARK
I'm ready.

DIANA gets up and joins him.

DIANA
It was a pleasure meeting you all.

RON
Likewise.

CLARK and DIANA exit. PERRY enters in time to see them leaving.

PERRY
Geez, where did Kent find the Amazon?

CUT TO:

INT. CLARK'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

The apartment decor is simple. Lots of photos and mementos from
home, high school football trophies and journalism awards.

DIANA's looking at the wall of pictures.

DIANA
This one is new.

clark (OS)
(From the kitchen he looks up at a wall and
answers)
That's my parents and Lana last Christmas.

DIANA
They're such good people.

DIANA gently runs her finger over the image of PA KENT with envy.

DIANA
You know they sent me a Christmas card.

CLARK
(Embarrassed)
I told them you didn't celebrate Christmas.
You should send them a card when Zeus'
birthday comes.

DIANA
I don't think Hallmark makes a card for that.

CLARK steps out from the kitchen with a picnic basket.

CLARK
Ready?

DIANA
Where are we going?

CLARK
A little place I know outside the city.

CUT TO:

EXT. GRASSY PLAINS - NIGHT

CLARK and DIANA are sitting on a large blanket eating by the dim
light of a lantern. Although we can't see the background, they
seem to be in the middle of nowhere with a starlit sky.

DIANA
Everyone missed you, Clark.

CLARK
(Distant)
Really? That means a lot to me.

DIANA
You seem distant. What's troubling you,
Clark?

CLARK
CLARK
This is a really nice spot. I always wondered
why it's here.

DIANA
Do you really want to know?

CLARK
Nah.

The CAMERA pans out and reveals they are sitting in the center of
STONEHENGE.

my own idea would be for dDiana to tell clark and the audeance her history and the history of her people. Then thats the last of Clark and we can start the wonder woman movie!