New Wonder Woman movie coming in 2007 - Who should be cast as Wonder Woman?

[astro]

Wonder Woman (2007)

Cast Notes: (7/6/01) The current frontrunner for the role is Sandra Bullock. Producer Leonard Goldberg told Michael Fleming of Variety (5/1/01), "Sandy's interested, and we've met with her. It all depends on the script and director, of course, but she hasn't done anything this physical in a long time, and she'd like to. We'd love to have her." (6/5/02) I've seen some joking on movie message boards that lately, Jennifer Lopez seems to be taking the roles that Sandra Bullock turns down, and what do you know, Corona receives a tip that Lopez recently told MTV that she'd love to play Wonder Woman ("I kind of look like her right now"). I may have had my gripes with the idea of "Sandy" in the role, but Jennifer Lopez, I have no problem with. She could do it, sure. She might actually be an inspired choice.

[saoirse]

I'd always thought Angie Harmon from Law & Order would make a good Wonder Woman. She might have the wrong voive, though

[wolfman]

I kind of figured Lucy Lawless was born for the role.

[Rhiannon8404]

Really anyone but Sandra Bullock. I cannot stand that woman.

I'd vote for Lucy Lawless.

[Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor]

This woman was BORN FOR THE ROLE!

[Hey, It's That Guy!]

Originally Posted by Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor

This woman was BORN FOR THE ROLE!

That's pretty hot. It would never happen in a million years, but that combines two of my big guilty pleasure/fetishes (superheroines and Fran Drescher).

Anyway, since Joss Whedon is making the movie, I have thought of three actresses who would be appropriate choices for Wonder Woman, two of whom he has worked with before:

Charisma Carpenter
Monica Bellucci
Morena Baccarin

Ideally, they'll go with a natural brunette, and someone vaguely exotic and ethnic-looking, since Wonder Woman's origins are rooted in Greek mythology, and the Amazons of Themiscyra/Paradise Island are supposed to be Greek. Hence my picks above.

[Critical1]

Bullock? are you joking?

Jessica Alba, Jenifer Lopez, Lucy Lawless, holy crap anyone but her...well almost anyone.

[Otto]

Better Fran Dresher than either Sandra Bullock or Jennifer Lopez. Bullock is too old for the role and Lopez can't act. Lawless could play it but she's a little too old and I would think she'd want to avoid another woman warrior role.

I'd prefer an unknown be cast in the part, surrounded by enough star power so that WW herself doesn't have to be a name. Of course Lynda Carter must be cast as Hippolyta.

[Tarrsk]

Morena Baccarin gets my vote. Or Eliza Dushku if we're counting off the Whedon alums.

Sandra Bullock, no how no way. Maybe she has hidden reservoirs of acting talent somewhere, but I've never seen evidence of them.

[Hey, It's That Guy!]

Originally Posted by Otto

Of course Lynda Carter must be cast as Hippolyta.

This should go without saying, but it's nice to see someone else had the same idea. Well, aside from me and Alex Ross.

[Revtim]

I like Sandra Bullock in general, but she doesn't sound quite right for the role. Big Bad Voodoo Lou's suggestion of Charisma Carpenter might be good one, but I'm not sure she can act well enough for a lead role.

[Otto]

Originally Posted by Tarrsk

Morena Baccarin gets my vote. Or Eliza Dushku if we're counting off the Whedon alums.

I was gonna mention Baccarin in my first post. She has the right look and style for the role but I'm a little unsure of how she'd be in a fight scene. I don't really remember her doing anything very physical in Firefly (except maybe in Our Mrs Reynolds) or Serenity.

Dushku has a little bit too hard of a look in my opinion.

[WordMan]

I had read somewhere - Entertainment Weekly? - that Evangeline Lilly of the tv show Lost was being considered...

No complaints here. I think Eliza Dushku is very hot and athletic, but comes across as too edgy - Lilly might be better at the wholesome princess bit...

[Ephemera]

I have no suggestions but god, no, no freakin' Buffy/Angel or Firefly alumnae. It just screams of gimmickry.

[unwashed brain]

Count me among the many who think that whoever is responsible for turning all these old, piss-poor TV shows into lame-ass suckfest feature films should be shot in the belly and forced to watch their own movies consecutively (A Clockwork Orange-style) until they bleed to death.

[JDeMobray]

Originally Posted by unwashed brain

Count me among the many who think that whoever is responsible for turning all these old, piss-poor TV shows into lame-ass suckfest feature films should be shot in the belly and forced to watch their own movies consecutively (A Clockwork Orange-style) until they bleed to death.

I'm pretty sure this one's based on the comic book. But I generally agree that Hollywood is doing too many remakes.

[Ephemera]

This is an adaptation of the Wonder Woman television series in the same way that the Peter Jackson LotR trilogy was a remake of the 1978 Lord of the Rings animated movie.

[Dante]

I think Morena Baccarin has the right look, but she's way too short. She'd have to stand 10 feet closer to the camera than anyone else.

[unwashed brain]

Originally Posted by Aesiron

This is an adaptation of the Wonder Woman television series in the same way that the Peter Jackson LotR trilogy was a remake of the 1978 Lord of the Rings animated movie.

My mistake. I'm sure it will suck huge - yet true to the original source material - donkey balls, then.

[JDeMobray]

I think they should avoid casting anyone until Superman Returns is released. If the reaction to Brandon Routh is positive, then they should go find a nice unknown actress to take the role.

I'm really not crazy about any of the names being thrown around for this part, though, so I guess my opinion may be a little biased.

[Ephemera]

Originally Posted by Dante

I think Morena Baccarin has the right look, but she's way too short. She'd have to stand 10 feet closer to the camera than anyone else.

IMDb lists her as 5'7¾", a half-inch taller than Sandra Bullock, almost three more than Eliza Dushku, and only one and a quarter less than Linda Carter. None of those heights are Amazonian but they're not short, either. Dushku is slightly tall for a woman (I think I've read the average height for women is 5'3") and the rest are tall.

I still do not want anyone from his shows cast, though. Go with an unknown.

Originally Posted by unwashed brain

My mistake. I'm sure it will suck huge - yet true to the original source material - donkey balls, then.

You're not going to get much of an argument from me. I'm a Joss Whedon fan and I like superhero movies so I will watch it but having zero previous interest in Wonder Woman (and, Green Lantern excepted, a general antipathy towards DC Comics), I have no real expectations.

To call this a remake of a seventies television show is just wrong, though.

[JDeMobray]

Originally Posted by Aesiron

I still do not want anyone from his shows cast, though. Go with an unknown.

Waitaminute. . . his shows? What do you. . .

Director: Joss Whedon (Serenity, TV's "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel")

Oh, God Damnit.

[Evil Captor]

Lucy Lawless, Jennifer O'Dell (of The Lost World) and Victoria Pratt would be good candidates.

[Ephemera]

Originally Posted by JDeMobray

Oh, God Damnit.

Not a fan, I presume?

[ddgryphon]

Put me in the camp of not being thrilled with any choices. I think the idea of an unknown, perfect for the role, surrounded by star power is the way to go. I'm pretty sure execs will never go for it.


Failing that most of the actesses who look good for the role sound vapid, and the ones that are physical enough for the role, don't generally look right.

Right now, one of the best choices, who has been working is Karen Cliche:

http://users3.ev1.net/~dukeofdecepti...enCliche01.jpg

Where someone evidently agrees

and just a general bikini pic:

http://www.stuffmagazine.com/girls/k..._cliche_l5.jpg

She's not great, she may be a touch too old at this point (I'll admit I've lost track of time).

My concern is she does look somewhat like she's had a bit too much "work" in the face.

Truly though I don't think there's an existing good choice (I could back Denise Richards, do we really need a link?) except again, I can't imagine her delivering hard lines with any degree of believeability -- like Jessica Alba talking science in the FF movie, Boishe moi that was some bad work.

Oh, all right one denise link:

http://oseb79.free.fr/images/Stars/d...hards%2005.jpg

[Otto]

Originally Posted by unwashed brain

Count me among the many who think that whoever is responsible for turning all these old, piss-poor TV shows into lame-ass suckfest feature films should be shot in the belly and forced to watch their own movies consecutively (A Clockwork Orange-style) until they bleed to death.

You are cordially invited.

[kunilou]

Originally Posted by Tarrsk

Maybe she has hidden reservoirs of acting talent somewhere, but I've never seen evidence of them.

Originally Posted by Revtim

but I'm not sure she can act well enough for a lead role.

Because as we all know, when Hollywood is looking to cast a superhero, the very first thing it looks for is acting talent!

[Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor]

Tiffany Fallon, Playmate of the Year for 2005, came to Hef's Halloween Costume Part dressed as Wonder Woman.

Obviously, I can't link to her image.

But by appearence at least, she could pull it off.

[JThunder]

I still think that fabulous supermodel Stacey Williams should play Wonder Woman.

Can she act? I don't know. I don't care.

[Jennshark]

For some reason, I'm thinking Kristin Davis, of "Sex and the City." Maybe it's the long dark hair thing.

[Liberal]

I'd like to see a different approach. I think Camryn Manheim — one of my favorite actresses — would be great. (No, I'm not kidding. I mean it.)

[Bryan Ekers]

If Melina Kanakaredes were four inches taller and ten years younger.... I mean, we may as well get someone who kinda looks like a Greek princess, nose and all.

[Dante]

Originally Posted by JThunder

I still think that fabulous supermodel Stacey Williams should play Wonder Woman.

Can she act? I don't know. I don't care.

I'm changing my answer. I want Stacey Williams too. She should be exactly the right age now.

Link may be NSFW, if you are not allowed to see a girl in a bikini.

[Waverly]

Tera Patrick.

[SolGrundy]

I don't understand why the part is still up for grabs. As soon as anyone sees a picture of Morena Baccarin, it's settled. Not only is she astoundingly hot, she's got experience with sci-fi/fantasy type stuff and also she's astoundingly hot. Plus she can carry the attitude of being sweet and wise and in command of a situation, and also she's astoundingly hot.

[Menocchio]

Originally Posted by SolGrundy

I don't understand why the part is still up for grabs. As soon as anyone sees a picture of Morena Baccarin, it's settled. Not only is she astoundingly hot, she's got experience with sci-fi/fantasy type stuff and also she's astoundingly hot. Plus she can carry the attitude of being sweet and wise and in command of a situation, and also she's astoundingly hot.

I really have to agree. The only attribute that Wonder Woman has that I haven't already seen her pull off well is "badass warrior". Of course, while Whedon is loyal to his actors, there's no reason that he has to be that loyal, and the suits may lean on him to get a bigger star (like Bullock, but Keaton made a decent Batman so who knows?), so this is all just so much fan wankery.

As for the movie's quality, I'm very optimistic. Yeah, Wonder Woman really doesn't have much to work with. But, OTOH, she doesn't have much baggage to hold Whedon back, either. Whedon's pretty much free to use whatever villain (from the comics or original creations) that he pleases, create a supporting cast from scratch, and even has a pretty lose hand for jiggering with her powers and origin. Since female superhero is a genre he's already proven himself in, I think he'll do pretty well.

[ddgryphon]

You know, people had that same attitude of "lowered expectations" when Perez took over the series and quite frankly, the books were never that well written before or since. So, someone who has a good story to tell and interesting characters to build around a strong central character (This sounds like Joss Whedon to me) has a pretty good chance of making a pretty darn good film.

My expectations are not awful, I'm hoping it will soar, and thinking at worst it won't be bad.

In short, it is a project that can go either way depending on how much money they give him, and how much free reign they allow him.

I'm unsure why casting from Whedon's other shows stinks of gimick casting. I personally don't think anyone is really suited from his other shows (in spite of admitted smokin' hotness) they seem too small and delicate to me. Lucy Lawless would have been great in the day, able to kick-ass and yet be sensitive when needed. WW needs to be slightly more buff than the average Hollywood starlet, and she needs to be tall like a runway model. The idea of casting an unknown is still the best, unless they can do a "Linda Hamilton" style transformation on someone else.

Well, I'll be there with my matinee tickets when it opens. As a life-long comic book geek and Whendon fan, I could do no less.

[Seven]

Zelda Rubinstein

[jayjay]

Originally Posted by Seven

Zelda Rubinstein

"Go to the light, Major Trevor!"

[Menocchio]

Originally Posted by Liberal

I'd like to see a different approach. I think Camryn Manheim — one of my favorite actresses — would be great. (No, I'm not kidding. I mean it.)

If we're allowed to cast against traditional female type, then, to stick with Whedon alumnae, the choice becomes obvious:

Gina Torres

I mean, hell. The woman is an Amazon.

(Have you ever been with a warrior woman?)

[Exapno Mapcase]

Nikki Cox has needed a role to make her name outside of television for a long time and Wonder Woman could be it. Physically she's an, er, imposing specimen. She's also tall enough at 5'7", beautiful, intelligent, and she can act. Plus she's a poster child for future posters. The kind you can hang on a wall, that is.

[Superdude]

Anna Faris, anyone?

[Raguleader]

First off, I don't think casting actors from previous works is necessarily gimmick casting. It's one of my favorite things about Robert Rodriguez and Sergio Leone (not that Rodruiguez is in anywhere near the same tier in my panthenon of directors of western movies as Sergio Leone is, but that's beside the point )

That said, if we're casting from Whedon alumni, how about the obvious yet unstated choice, and have Sarah Michelle Gellar reprise the role?

[Askia]

Venus Williams.

A brother can dream.

[JThunder]

Originally Posted by Raguleader

That said, if we're casting from Whedon alumni, how about the obvious yet unstated choice, and have Sarah Michelle Gellar reprise the role?

Too short... and by all accounts, too bitchy.

[Gordon Urquhart]

I am a child of the 70s. I am young enough to remember Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman. I am old enough to know that's not going to do it for me (and mine of the same generation) on the big screen. Diana needs to be represented by someone young, someone who looks as if she could be (vaguely) Brazilian (Amazonian). Ladies and gentlemen, I speak of no one else but: Eva Mendes.

[Little Nemo]

Jennifer Connelly - Wonder Woman should look good but she also needs to have some sense of presense. She shouldn't just be a playmate with super-powers.

And I agree with the consensus - I like Sandra Bullock but she's a "girl next door" type not a super hero.

[marymargaret]

Jessica Alba

[ddgryphon]

Originally Posted by Little Nemo

Jennifer Connelly - Wonder Woman should look good but she also needs to have some sense of presense. She shouldn't just be a playmate with super-powers.

And I agree with the consensus - I like Sandra Bullock but she's a "girl next door" type not a super hero.

Okay, this is the first choice I've heard anywhere from anyone (including me) that I can support without reservation. I don't know why I didn't think of her, but she is nearly perfect for the project.

[Hey, It's That Guy!]

Originally Posted by ddgryphon

Okay, this is the first choice I've heard anywhere from anyone (including me) that I can support without reservation. I don't know why I didn't think of her, but she is nearly perfect for the project.

Jennifer Connelly would have been perfect 10 or 12 years ago, when she was younger and quite frankly The Most Beautiful, Sexy, And Perfect Woman In The World. See The Rocketeer and Career Opportunities if you don't believe me. She's still lovely, but realistically past the ideal age any producers would want to cast as Wonder Woman. And she's so much skinnier now than she used to be, but she was so perfectly curvy and voluptuous in those earlier movies. What a damn shame.