As Warner Brothers continues to mull over how to best exploit Wonder Woman as a television or film property, there certainly seems to be the will to eventually create… something. David E. Kelley’s pilot failed to get picked up last year, and now there are talks of a Smallville/Arrow-style show titled Amazon, but I’ll believe it when I see it. On the film front, Joss Whedon, who now belongs firmly in to the Marvel camp, is one of many screenwriters who have tried to crack the Amazon Princess, but so far, Wonder Woman seems destined to be live out her life in development hell.
Whatever lies ahead, one has the feeling that eventually a casting process will be undertaken, an appointment confirmed and with a good wind, cameras might get to roll before the end of the decade. With this in mind, I’ve spent some time pondering which of the current array of fine actresses out there would be most suitable? Which mere human is best equipped to play an immortal of vast courage, immense wisdom, and bounteous compassion, bestowed with powers from the Gods? Truly, a paragon of virtue.
It will take a rare individual indeed, to successfully adopt this icon, to become Diana and by doing so, to convince us that there’s a living, breathing person on the screen. So, let’s get to it!
5. Hayley Atwell
I can already hear the Captain America heckles, but please bear with me.
Hayley Atwell is a major acting talent with a broad range. Rudely elbowing the Marvel Universe to one side, her Peggy Carter role, whilst fun has not utilized more than a fraction of the talents at her disposal (although we’re all looking forward to seeing more of Peggy in the Marvel One-Shot: Agent Carter short being released on the Iron Man 3 DVD).
A woman tough enough to take a punch as well as dish it out? Watch her as DC Nancy Lewis in The Sweeney. Articulacy and emotional sensitivity? Have you seen Julia Flyte in Brideshead Revisited. The desire and will to do the right thing? Check out Denise Woods in Life of Crime.
Whilst these examples certainly assist in demonstrating range, this is a different role from any of the above. For me, above all else, there has to be an expression of the feeling of awe that actually meeting Wonder Woman might generate. I believe that Hayley is one of the few actors who could convince me.
I should confirm at this juncture, the fact she attended my sixth form college has had absolutely no bearing on my judgment.
4. Gina Carano
I have honestly removed and replaced this nominee from my list many times before concluding that in any Wonder Woman casting debate, Gina Carano’s placement on the short-list is surely compulsory. I’m not simply referring to Carano’s physical prowess, which is surely acknowledged by all and would doubtless be an advantage when coming to play the Amazonian Warrior Princess.
Yet there’s quite simply not enough previous work for me to assume that the full array of vital skills as a thespian are on tap here. Is there the capacity within her to make us believe, not just that she can take down Ares, but also that she feels the same pain and emotion as any other superhero?
A recent appearance in Fast and Furious 6 did very little by way of providing ammunition in this debate one way or the other. Ultimately, I keep coming back to Carano’s remarkable performance in Haywire. I think that with talented direction, she could very well convince me once again.
3. Michelle Ryan
This actor has come a long way from her relatively humble beginnings in the eternal UK soap-opera that is East-Enders. However, you won’t see me turning my nose up at such programs, which go a long way to fostering new talent. And Michelle Ryan comes with talent in abundance.
Whilst her role as Jaime Sommers in Bionic Woman won her many plaudits, I was equally impressed by her portrayal of Nimueh in the BBC dramas Merlin and Jekyll. I would be gratified to see her do more high quality work; perhaps even in films without the words ‘cockneys’ and ‘zombies’ in the title?
Along with the requisite physicality and toughness, I think that with this actor, the whole impact of being introduced to “Man’s World” could really be brought to life. Ryan’s relative youth and that certain sense of vulnerability could be a real asset if the tale commences with a slightly less assured, Olympian powerhouse.
2. Lynn Collins
For each of us, there will be one actress who quite simply matches the airbrushed illustration in our mind’s eye of what Diana of Themyscira actually looks like. The image that’s an organically developed construct, gleaned from all our myriad exposures to Wonder Woman; the artwork of George Perez or Cliff Chiang. Lynda Carter circa 1975. Justice League lunch-boxes. Whatever the sources, they all merge into a cohesive sense of a whole. Lynn Collins is the actress that embodies that fulfilment and would certainly get my vote in any “looks most like…” poll.
I was more impressed with her performance in X-Men Origins: Wolverine than her role as Dejah Thoris in John Carter, although that’s my judgment of the script. As Kayla Silverfox there was a sense of emotional depth that, whilst totally out of place in that nightmare of a motion picture, would be of much use with this particular role.
Whilst having no issues re : acrobatics, displays of strength etc, once again, dependent on approach, there’s a maturity that I feel Collins could bring to this role which would greatly assist in getting folk to sit up and listen. I am to a degree jumping way too far ahead with the prospect of a realised shared universe, yet surely, that should be a factor?
1. Morena Baccarin
There was a time when successful TV actors would never, ever be considered with any degree of seriousness for a film part of any substance. Those days are long gone. In some ways, Morena Baccarin’s career path is a good illustration of the development and relative rise of genre drama, TV or otherwise.
Like many, no doubt, Firefly was my introduction to this actress and whilst it was a most excellent debut, I have enjoyed much of her work since; from playing Adria in Stargate SG-1, to Jessica Brody in Homeland to Anna in V. What have I gleaned from these roles? Duty. Compassion. Danger. Which is probably why she keeps topping superheroine casting lists…
I think there’s little doubt that Baccarin is one of the few actors that could sincerely make this role come to life. Another aspect that comes to mind is that whilst being no alien, there should be an ‘other-worldly’ aspect to the character. She is a demi-god after all. I think Morena could deliver in this regard.
So, there you have my own five nominees. Wonder Woman is such a tabula rasa, as are so many of these iconic personas. The process of scouting and reviewing likely candidates has simply re-affirmed my silent prayers to the gods of Olympus and to Athene in particular; O, Goddess of Creativity, please, please deliver unto us a worthy screenplay!
What do you think of these choices? Does Lynn Collins really look the part, or is Gina Carano the only one badass enough to pull off the tiara? Would Michelle Ryan’s and Hayley Atwell’s past on British television help or hurt their chances when compared to Morena Baccarin’s American TV career? Sound off below or send us a tweet!