Wonder Woman TV Series Shelved

[Christopher]

Granted, when they stopped smoking the funny stuff and actually produced something a bit closer to the original format it didn't turn out very well. But at least they got close.

Barely. The character had the same name, but she couldn't have been a more different person. And while the premise -- cybernetically enhanced superwoman in the employ of a government agency -- was superficially similar, it was profoundly different in every detail. If they'd changed the title and the main character's name, it could easily have been presented as a totally original show. (Much like the current show that calls itself Human Target, which didn't even bother to keep the basic premise of the comic it's barely based on.)

The more I read about this WW remake the more I think it's not a remake of the comic book, or Lynda Carter's TV series, but a remake of the 1974 Cathy Lee Crosby movie (which likewise abandoned virtually everything from the comics).

Actually that movie's approach was based directly on the format of the Wonder Woman comics from 1968-73, the "Diana Prince era." In an attempt to revitalize the comics, they had Diana renounce her powers entirely and become a mod superspy/martial artist character, influenced by Emma Peel of The Avengers (the British spy show, not the Marvel superteam). Since that was the version of the character that existed in the comics when the '74 pilot movie went into development, it's natural that's the version they based it on. They were trying to be faithful to the comics, but the comics themselves had changed.

They're just worried that they won't be able to find another Lynda Carter who can fill the swimsuit without looking silly, so they're dropping the swimsuit.

I have read nothing which suggests they're abandoning the costume. The description says she'll be a successful businesswoman by day and a superhero by night, and if she's got a dual identity it stands to reason that she'd probably have a costume. Although I wouldn't be surprised if they went with the recent redesign or something similar.

Which is fine, but you don't go dropping everything else, too. Otherwise they might as well drop Diana altogether and just launch a new TV series about a female crimefighter who gets nicknamed Wonder Woman.

It sounds to me like they're mainly changing what she does in her civilian identity. For much of Wonder Woman's existence, she has had a civilian Diana Prince identity, initially an Army lieutenant, then a boutique owner (in the '68-'73 phase I mentioned above), then a UN employee, and most recently a secret agent for the Bureau for Metahuman Affairs. So having this version of Diana Prince be a corporate executive isn't necessarily a profound difference in format. Diana's civilian job isn't as carved in stone as the Daily Planet job is for Clark Kent (and even Clark left that behind to become a TV anchor in the '70s and '80s).

 

[JD]

As long as this is a real superhero show, and she has her powers from the comics, and fights the comic villains I'm happy. It drives me crazy when they make a movie/TV series "based" on something, but then totally change every single thing about it. It just makes me wonder why the hell they even call it X if it has nothing to do with X. I don't mind if they put their own spin on it, but at least make it recognizable as X.

 

[Icemizer]

Martin Klebba as Doctor Psycho. This terrific actor would be awesome in this role.

 

[Christopher]

Martin Klebba as Doctor Psycho. This terrific actor would be awesome in this role.

Well, I'm hoping The Cape lasts long enough that he stays regularly employed there.

 

[Jack Bauer]

http://www.tvline.com/2011/01/exclusive-will-wonder-woman-lasso-mcg/#more-186759

Charlie Angels helmer McG is being called upon to help revive another female superhero franchise.

Sources confirm to me exclusively that McG has emerged as the odds-on favorite to direct the pilot for NBC’s much-hyped Wonder Woman remake.

 

[Professor Zoom]

http://www.tvline.com/2011/01/exclusive-will-wonder-woman-lasso-mcg/#more-186759

Charlie Angels helmer McG is being called upon to help revive another female superhero franchise.

Sources confirm to me exclusively that McG has emerged as the odds-on favorite to direct the pilot for NBC’s much-hyped Wonder Woman remake.

Insert Darth Vader NOOOOOOOO! image

 

[Mr. Adventure]

I know when I think David E. Kelley the first thing that pops into my mind is McG.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Is McG really that awful?

He gave us Chuck.

And Human Target.

And although I'm taking a break half way through my OC dvds, I'm planning on finishing it to see how Autumn Reeser fits intot he picture.

 

[Professor Zoom]

Is McG really that awful?

He gave us Chuck.

And Human Target.

And although I'm taking a break half way through my OC dvds, I'm planning on finishing it to see how Autumn Reeser fits intot he picture.

Dude. I think he answered your own question. At least with the whole Human Target (or, the Show About the Guy Standing Next To the Target).

 

[Christopher]

I lost interest in Chuck partway through its pilot because I disliked the broad, cartoony, flashy way it was directed. And I lost interest in Human Target after just seeing the advance clips.

With Kelley and McGinty involved, it sounds like they're going to go for something broad, sardonic, and campy, and that's totally wrong for Wonder Woman. A WW series should be sincere at its core.

 

[Admiral_Young]

If "McG" is contained just for the pilot it might not be so bad but now I'm kind of losing interest lol.

 

[Out Of My Vulcan Mind]

McG's TV work has been quite varied in tone. The shows he's been Exec Producer (in a non-showrunner capacity in each case) on include Fastlane, The OC, The Mountain, Supernatural, Chuck, Human Target, and Nikita.

 

[Professor Zoom]

If "McG" is contained just for the pilot it might not be so bad but now I'm kind of losing interest lol.

But his "vision" would set the tone for the series... ugh.

 

[Out Of My Vulcan Mind]

But his "vision" would set the tone for the series... ugh.

Whether that turns out to be good or bad depends on what visual style he uses (in conjunction with Kelley's input in that regard) for the pilot. He doesn't have one style that he always works in, having branched out from the uber-flashy MTV style he used on the Charlie's Angels films in some of his subsequent work.

 

[Admiral_Young]

Not necessarily. The pilot director CAN set the tone for the rest of the series, but each subsequent series director has their own style and input as well. I dunno. I'm not a McG fan. I will watch the pilot though.

 

[Jetfire]

Some interesting things to ponder...

10 Ideas for a Kick-Ass Wonder Woman TV Show

10. Make her a serious badass. Wonder Woman is a “feminine character with all the strength of Superman plus all the allure of a good and beautiful woman,” said the character’s creator, William Moulton Marston. In other words, she’s not Ally McBeal or even Lynda Carter, who complained of being labeled a sex object when she starred in the popular ’70s Wonder Woman TV series. Neither predecessor is going to cut it when crafting a next-gen Amazon goddess.

Agreed.

2. Update the costume. Having Wonder Woman rock the stars and stripes while fighting Nazis made sense when Marston created the character during World War II for readers still shell-shocked by Pearl Harbor. But Earth is an internetworked global village now, and Wonder Woman is an ambassador to its people from the gods themselves. If Kelley’s going to have her working for The Man, Wonder Woman had better be wearing multinational duds. It’s really no big deal: Wonder Woman has changed costumes many times (as recently as last year). Rebooting her admittedly iconic costume for prime time would guarantee at least one season of controversy and ratings.

This could mean anything...there are many ways to "update" the costume.

Guess who wants to play Wonder Woman?

Lake Bell!?

 

[Out Of My Vulcan Mind]

Not necessarily. The pilot director CAN set the tone for the rest of the series, but each subsequent series director has their own style and input as well. I dunno. I'm not a McG fan. I will watch the pilot though.

Subsequent directors can bring in little flourishes here and there - and there might be the occasional episode where the series does something really different for a change of pace - but typically the pilot episode sets a style of lighting, camera work, editing, etc, that will set a template that'll be followed through the rest of the series (although that template will sometimes be updated either because the producers think things aren't working or because the network mandates changes).

 

[Admiral_Young]

Update the costume? DC just has. If anything they'll go with the Jim Lee update. As much as I've missed Diana's classic outfit I have to admit the costume has grown on me...I wish the plot and story would as well. Agreed about point ten.

 

[Jetfire]

The costume is just a minor formality with a TV series...WW will be seen in many outfits through out the series life...it would be different if it was a movie...which is limited...I can see something close to what to this; Here! being wore at some point though.