Wonder Woman On TV: What To Do…And What NOT To Do

Back in early October, it was announced that David E. Kelley, producer of such television hits as Ally McBeal, The Practice, Boston Legal, and a few other shows (some even not about lawyers) was going to bring back DC Comics’ Amazing Amazon back to television, after nearly a decade of false starts trying to get a movie off the ground. Then, two weeks ago, it was announced that every network passed on the project, and a live action Wonder Woman was once again a dead as a doornail.

But in Hollywood sometimes, a lot can happen in two weeks. NBC got bought out, and the new management wanted in on the Wonder Woman pilot after all. And so just like that, Wondy is back on. Of course, this is just a pick up for a pilot…it is possible that this will be shot and not become a series and just air as a tv movie, or maybe never even aired like that Aquaman pilot a few years ago called Mercy Reef. But due to the high profile creator and property, I’d say it is a safe bet this is going to series at this point, especially after all this back and forth with the project. With the added info this week that NBC is looking to movie director McG to helm the pilot, chances are that as of now anyway, this one is going to happen.

I am a gigantic Wonder Woman fan, but as happy as I am that the character is finally being taken out of mothballs and getting some kind of media exposure…I will also say the official description given by the network in regard to the show gives me pause. It goes something like this:

The project is described as a reinvention of the iconic D.C. comic in which Wonder Woman — aka Diana Prince — is a vigilante crime fighter in L.A. but also a successful corporate executive and a modern woman trying to balance all of the elements of her extraordinary life.

Ummm….Huh?

Corporate executive by day, vigilante by night? Isn’t that Batman?

Ok, maybe I’m getting panicky too early here. After all, this description came from Deadline.com, a non geek oriented site. To normies, all super hero characters are “vigilantes.” But corporate exec? True, in the comics Diana has had a variety of jobs, from military officer to working for NASA to ambassador to boutique owner to server in a Mexican fast food establishment. Yes, really. 

Unlike Superman or Batman or even Green Lantern, she isn’t tied down to one particular job like they are. A big corporation sounds antithetical to what Wonder Woman is about on paper. (maybe this corporation she works for is a charitable organization? That at least would fit with the character) So there are legit reasons why I’m worried, as are many devoted Wonder fans. David E. Kelley is talented, and has a proven track record. But not with genre stuff. Maybe he is a secret geek (he is married to Catwoman after all) but I’ve never seen or heard anything to support that. My greatest fear is that this is going to be just like the Halle Berry Catwoman movie; take a well known name and property, and turn it into something totally different.

Reasons To Remain Optimistic

According to Entertainment Weekly, David Kelley’s take incorporated the superhero’s signature lasso, cuffs, and plane in the script, and insiders said it was a serious, non-campy take on the DC Comics character. So at least that is encouraging. Given all that, I’m also going to assume the costume will still be used in some form too.  Also, in the past year, DC Comics has become DC Entertainment, and Geoff Johns was appointed CCO of the company to insure we don’t get bastardized versions of the comic book characters on screen anymore, thereby preventing another Halle Berry Catwoman fiasco or another Jonah Hex. Hopefully Johns does his job and we get a Diana that at least resembles the comic book character.

Best Case Scenario, Or What I Want To See In A Wonder Woman Show

I would love a weekly Wonder Woman series that had her fighting Mythological monsters, beheading Medusas, and taming Pegasuses (Pegusi?) all in between being a UN Ambassador. But that ain’t gonna happen on a tv budget, no matter how bad I want it. Or if it did happen, it would probably look like crap. That doesn’t mean that the Greek Mythology can’t be a part of the series…it needs to be or this isn’t Wonder Woman. But there are other ways of presenting that aspect without getting all low rent Clash of the Titans on us. So here are some of the steps I feel need to be taken if Wonder Woman is going to work on the small screen and still be Wonder Woman. So listen up David E. Kelley and NBC and especially Geoff Johns, whose job it is to protect these properties. Here is what you gotta do:

Look to Joss Whedon’s Angel for Inspiration

Angel, Joss Whedon’s vampire with a soul, also ran a corporation and fought off monsters in the streets of Los Angeles on his series.  On Angel, the corporation he ran, a “law firm” called Wolfram & Hart, took orders from mysterious demonic “senior partners” whom we never see and are off in some other dimension. What if the company that Diana runs is run by the far off (and therefore unseen)  Gods of Olympus? Or What if the Gods live on Earth now in human form, manipulating events?  That is one way to go that isn’t too expensive for television, and still retain the greek myth aspect that has to remain or this simply isn’t Wonder Woman.

Get A Great Supporting Cast

Unlike Superman and Batman, Wonder Woman’s supporting cast has always fluctuated in the comics. Characters come and go in her world. So in this sense, the tv show isn’t tied down to having any one set cast from the books. They are free to create new figures in her life, and therefore create dramatic tension (something missing for characters like Lois or Lana on Smallville, who we know aren’t going to die because, well…they are not “destined” to for the future Superman) Hopefully we’ll see characters from the comics like Steve Trevor or Donna Troy in the show, but no one is gonna cry if they don’t show up right away. Get her a solid supporting cast on this show, populated with actors that audiences know and like. No series can rest on just the lead.

All Hail The Queen

Ok, remember what I just said about Diana not having a regular supporting cast from the comics that needs to be in the show? Ok, that’s true except for one major exception: Her mother, Queen Hippolyta. They have one of the best parent/child relationships in comics, made even cooler by the fact that Hippolyta is a fierce warrior herself, and has even filled in for Diana as Wonder Woman at times.  Along with her mother, Diana also needs the other Amazons and Themyscira (AKA Paradise Island) as well. I realize making Themyscira is kinda pricey, and chances are it won’t be able to be used in every episode, but Wonder Woman needs it as much as Bruce Wayne needs his Batcave and Superman needs his Fortress of Solitude.  Besides, this is a Warner Brothers production…don’t tell me there aren’t some sets and costumes you can’t recycle from movies like Troy or 300. Also, I am not against stunt casting the role of Hippolyta either. Lucy Lawless anyone? 

and while we are on the subject of stunt casting, hopefully David Kelley can get his wife Michelle Pfeiffer as Circe…or maybe even Athena? How sweet would that be?

Don’t Mess With the Costume…Too Much

Ok, the old Lynda Carter satin tights from the show ain’t gonna cut it anymore. Even I agree with that. BUT…the costume still needs to retain its familiar silhouette. Meaning NO stupid 90’s jacket, and NO mom pants.  This design below from artist Josh McMahon is perfect for live action; it instantly evokes the comic book look but also evokes the notion that she is a warrior from a formidable race. And if you think these are still too outlandish for tv, then let me remind you of a little show called Xena: Warrior Princess that ran for six seasons whose lead was wearing something very similar.

And lasty, don’t forget….Wonder Woman is a political figure. She was created to be that way, and through her many incarnations over 70 years, that part has always stayed true. She is meant to inspire people first, teach by example, and use violence as a last resort.  She was quite literally created to be a symbol of empowerment and equality, not just for women, but for everybody. Don’t shy away from that, because that is the very reason she endures. Treat her with the same adherance to the comics mythology as the recent Batman movies, Superman projects and upcoming Green Lantern, and chances are you’ll have a winner and a new version of a pop culture icon.