WW Casting Call

[TripleX]

I like Myndi being Jewish. The Black best friend has been done to death. It happened on Ally McBeal too, so D.E.K. probably won't fall for that cliche.

[AaronJ]

The pilot could very easily choose the wrong lead actress, have the wrong tone, anger fans because the suit has been changed etc. and just become this single shot TV movie. It has happened in the past...

Although I do still hope it turns out well.

I don't think fans' reaction, assuming you mean WW fans, matters much. So many Superman fans were irritated beyond belief with Smallville, and this is its tenth season. Granted that is on the CW, and not NBC. But still.

[Rommel]

I don't think fans' reaction, assuming you mean WW fans, matters much. So many Superman fans were irritated beyond belief with Smallville, and this is its tenth season. Granted that is on the CW, and not NBC. But still.

I was thinking more fans of the old TV show, or fans that know what WW is about from other media, even casual fans of something like Superfriends. People know and recognize WW, whether they read the comic books or not. Viewers can very easily watch it and say, "That's not Wonder Woman."

A lot of people reacted that way to the Bionic Woman reboot, and that came from just having the old Lindsay Wagner TV show. This new WW has the old Lynda Carter show to be compared with, as well as everything else WW-related. And that's a lot. A lot of people watching the show will be WW fans.

[Rommel]

Also, Smallville being about Clark gave some leeway because it was about "pre" Superman. So it trod on less toes. If it was a Superman TV show, it would have a lot more to live up to and a lot more that would anger viewers if his actions in the suit were not done right.

[AaronJ]

I was thinking more fans of the old TV show, or fans that know what WW is about from other media, even casual fans of something like Superfriends. People know and recognize WW, whether they read the comic books or not. Viewers can very easily watch it and say, "That's not Wonder Woman."

A lot of people reacted that way to the Bionic Woman reboot, and that came from just having the old Lindsay Wagner TV show. This new WW has the old Lynda Carter show to be compared with, as well as everything else WW-related. And that's a lot. A lot of people watching the show will be WW fans.

And Smallville was, especially in the early seasons, a teen soap opera. That didn't stop it from succeeding.

Bionic Woman failed not because it wasn't a rehash of the Lindsay Wagner show (I mean, seriously, have you seen that show lately? It's terrible), but because it was a bit too dark and low key for a large enough audience to get behind.

If anyone is expecting anything even close to the Lynda Carter show or to Superfriends, they are going to be sorely disappointed. Again, have you seen the Lynda Carter show recently? It's essentially unwatchable. It is SO silly and campy. Making the new show like the Lynda Carter show would be like making a new Batman show like the Adam West show -- a disaster.

That's not to say that the Kelley show will be a success. But if it isn't, it won't be because people were hoping for a ridiculous rehash of the Lynda Carter show.

[pitbull in a skirt]

Surprised they're going with late 20s-30s actors!! VERY surprised.

[STEVE TREVOR] Male, open ethnicity, 30s. A leading man Diana can't look past. Good looking but a real man. An Army vet, he now works in the Justice dept...SERIES REGULAR, ASP.

Real men aren't good looking? Or am I to assume they meant not a 'pretty boy'.

[AaronJ]

Real men aren't good looking? Or am I to assume they meant not a 'pretty boy'.

They mean a "tough-looking guy" who looks like vet. They don't want someone like Taylor Lautner, for example. From the sounds of it, anyways.

[Rommel]

That's not to say that the Kelley show will be a success. But if it isn't, it won't be because people were hoping for a ridiculous rehash of the Lynda Carter show.

It's more about being recognizable as Wonder Woman. If it's this totally removed character with only the name "Wonder Woman" and a suit that is wrong, that is nothing like the old WW costume, it will be one of the reasons the show tanks.

The show doesn't have to be a rehash of the old Lynda Carter Wonder Woman, and that show was bad in a lot of ways, but it also got a lot right about WW, esp. at the start, in the first season. It got the actress right, the costume, the tone, the ties to the comics. What didn't work was the Cathy Lee Crosby TV movie. The new show has to get some essentials right before it decides to go off and do other new things.

Look, I don't mind changes, but I would at least expect to see a suit that would still be "WW", not something so far removed and doesn't honor (or contain elements) of the original suit. I expect to see the magic lasso, the bullet-deflecting bracers, Paradise Island/Themyscira to be how we know it. Some of the core things have to be the same or it's not WW.

[TripleX]

And Smallville was, especially in the early seasons, a teen soap opera. That didn't stop it from succeeding.

Bionic Woman failed not because it wasn't a rehash of the Lindsay Wagner show (I mean, seriously, have you seen that show lately? It's terrible), but because it was a bit too dark and low key for a large enough audience to get behind.

If anyone is expecting anything even close to the Lynda Carter show or to Superfriends, they are going to be sorely disappointed. Again, have you seen the Lynda Carter show recently? It's essentially unwatchable. It is SO silly and campy. Making the new show like the Lynda Carter show would be like making a new Batman show like the Adam West show -- a disaster.

That's not to say that the Kelley show will be a success. But if it isn't, it won't be because people were hoping for a ridiculous rehash of the Lynda Carter show.

I'd appreciate it if some Wonder Woman fans didn't run down the Lynda Carter series at every available opportunity. We've had the "camp" discussion before, I hate when people use words out of context. It makes my teeth itch.

There are many elements to enjoy about the old show. There's no need to look at it with a jaundiced eye simply because it 40 years ago and times have changed. It was no worse than Charlie's Angels and it's getting revamped too. Producers wouldn't go back to the source material if the originals were so horrible and unpopular.

[swatkat]

I like the casting calls. Not only have they specified that she's in her late 20s-30s, but also that she's an Amazon and should have the build of one. And 'open ethnicity', always a lot of love for that.

[AaronJ]

Look, I don't mind changes, but I would at least expect to see a suit that would still be "WW", not something so far removed and doesn't honor (or contain elements) of the original suit. I expect to see the magic lasso, the bullet-deflecting bracers, Paradise Island/Themyscira to be how we know it. Some of the core things have to be the same or it's not WW.

I seriously doubt anyone will care whether she wears her outfit from the comics, or not. Some things that work in between the gutters, on paper, are not necessarily going to work on the screen. I don't understand why that's difficult for people to understand.

I'd appreciate it if some Wonder Woman fans didn't run down the Lynda Carter series at every available opportunity. We've had the "camp" discussion before, I hate when people use words out of context. It makes my teeth itch.

There are many elements to enjoy about the old show. There's no need to look at it with a jaundiced eye simply because it 40 years ago and times have changed. It was no worse than Charlie's Angels and it's getting revamped too. Producers wouldn't go back to the source material if the originals were so horrible and unpopular.

I've said many times before: as a kid, I really enjoyed the show. But it wasn't a good show. And, by the way, neither was Charlie's Angels.

I never said these shows (Wonder Woman, Bionic Woman, Charlie's Angels) weren't popular. They were, to varying degrees (though you'll notice that Wonder Woman lasted all of three seasons, Bionic Woman lasted three seasons, though Charlie's Angels did manage to last five -- so it's not as if these were epic hits). Also remember that these were the days before cable. You basically only had three choices on any given night. These were also the days before the Internet, so entertainment choices were much fewer.

Anyhow, here's the thing: many people have said in the past, and I generally agree, that you shouldn't remake good stuff; you should remake stuff that didn't work. And, in my opinion, from a modern view, the Wonder Woman show didn't work. As I said above, I enjoyed it at the time, as a kid. But expectations were much lower, both because of my age and because of the limited resources shows had at the time. There was no Lost pilot to compare these shows to. There weren't the droves of quality shows on cable to compare these shows to.

[Lafanboy]

lots of good comments here. for me, the only iconic elements that MUST be in place are her bracelets, magic lasso, tiara, and how she comes from a mystical island inhabited by Amazons. that's it. give me those things, and throw in some great writing, killer special f/x, and memorable performances, and i'm a happy fanboy.

also, i def want to see Diana emotionally vulnerable, and even crying from time to time. three weepy scenes in one episode is a bit much, and i doubt that'll make the final cut. but some of the most moving scenes from ALIAS was when Sydney became emotional. (they even had a brilliant scene where she and her bff were eating ice cream, it all depends on execution, folks).

oh, and i'm more than ok with re-inventing the costume. imho, the star-spangled panties are just silly, an unnecessary relic from her past. people evolve, seasons change, fashions come and go. so i don't see any reason why Diana should be stuck in the same uniform for decades on end.

[AaronJ]

lots of good comments here. for me, the only iconic elements that MUST be in place are her bracelets, magic lasso, tiara, and how she comes from a mystical island inhabited by Amazons. that's it. give me those things, and throw in some great writing, killer special f/x, and memorable performances, and i'm a happy fanboy.

also, i def want to see Diana emotionally vulnerable, and even crying from time to time. three weepy scenes in one episode is a bit much, and i doubt that'll make the final cut. but some of the most moving scenes from ALIAS was when Sydney became emotional. (they even had a brilliant scene where she and her bff were eating ice cream, it all depends on execution, folks).

oh, and i'm more than ok with re-inventing the costume. imho, the star-spangled panties are just silly, an unnecessary relic from her past. people evolve, seasons change, fashions come and go. so i don't see any reason why Diana should be stuck in the same uniform for decades on end.

QFT. All of it.

And I especially agree with your comments about Alias. Of course, I think Garner really made those scenes work.

[TimothyLaskey]

I don't agree that the classic Wonder Woman costume is impossible to take seriously in live action. Lynda wore it really well, even if some of the situations and the humor was campy. There were some great action scenes in that show which could have been lifted directly from the printed page. There are tons of great-looking cosplay versions of the WW suit, and Alex Ross has done some great renditions in the realism style he's known for.

It isn't VITAL that they use exactly the same version of the costume, to me, but I'm of the opinion that change merely for change's sake always sucks in comic book adaptations.

Batman going all-black: Yes, that makes sense. He uses stealth constantly. He means to inspire fear to throw his foes off. A giant, bright blue bat with grey tights and a bright yellow utility belt would probably inspire a collective guffaw! from the criminal element of Gotham.

The X-Men in all-black leather: they're played as a covert team in the movies, so all-black works for me. In First Class, which is their first operation as a team, I'm glad they got the blue & yellow suits. It honors the source material, and visually (since comics are a visual medium) establishes that these are the X-MEN. Not the Matrix gang, not the Untouchables, etc. To a non-reader, they at least get a visual idea that is true to the source material.

Wonder Woman: She has the classic costume and used to wear it, but has switched to something "more appropriate" for vigilante crimefighting. Which is supposed to consist of brightly-colored spandex. So obviously, she isn't going for stealth. I'm thinking they're going for fuller body coverage. As I've always said about WW's costume, it is a strong statement that she wears very little in the way of protective covering -- she doesn't NEED to. Most importantly, she's a female Hercules, a warrior goddess who needs no weapons or armor except her bracelets and a peacekeeping, non-lethal lasso. She's from a liberated culture, and challenges our notions of modesty. Where she's from, women are free to express themselves, untamed by the dictates of a fashion industry or a male-scripted dress code. The world at large may think she dresses like an exotic dancer or worse, but Diana has never felt the need before to cover up. She's action-ready and unrestrained, which visually translates to minimal bulky covering.

If I want to watch a black-clad, heel wearing dominatrix, there are scores of other characters that fit that mold. Wonder Woman is unique. She pioneered the genre of fighting-girl action, and superheroics in general. We owe it to the character to keep certain visual cues in her story, and keep them looking shiny and modern.

If she doesn't get the invisible jet, then maybe a color-shifting garment which can turn all-black for spy missions would be cool. As long as it bears an adequate resemblance to her comic book costume.

I'm over the "ass-kicking yoga instructor look."

[Lafanboy]

I don't agree that the classic Wonder Woman costume is impossible to take seriously in live action. Lynda wore it really well, even if some of the situations and the humor was campy. There were some great action scenes in that show which could have been lifted directly from the printed page. There are tons of great-looking cosplay versions of the WW suit, and Alex Ross has done some great renditions in the realism style he's known for.

Wonder Woman: She has the classic costume and used to wear it, but has switched to something "more appropriate" for vigilante crimefighting. Which is supposed to consist of brightly-colored spandex. So obviously, she isn't going for stealth. I'm thinking they're going for fuller body coverage. As I've always said about WW's costume, it is a strong statement that she wears very little in the way of protective covering -- she doesn't NEED to. Most importantly, she's a female Hercules, a warrior goddess who needs no weapons or armor except her bracelets and a peacekeeping, non-lethal lasso. She's from a liberated culture, and challenges our notions of modesty. Where she's from, women are free to express themselves, untamed by the dictates of a fashion industry or a male-scripted dress code. The world at large may think she dresses like an exotic dancer or worse, but Diana has never felt the need before to cover up. She's action-ready and unrestrained, which visually translates to minimal bulky covering.

If they really wanted to stay true to Diana's roots, she would wear a pleated battle skirt when she is WW, like the ancient Greek warriors, and like her sister Amazons...now THAT would at least make sense. The star-spangled panties--even on Lynda Carter--just look silly, imho. I get what you're saying, that Diana is liberated and doesn't care about male-scripted dress codes, but the irony is I'm pretty sure that some male came up with her sexy skimpy costume back in the day. Audiences demand more realism in 2011, even in comic films. Bottom line (no pun intended): no bathing suits.