sanalayla | Wonder Woman TV Show: "Thank God!!" or "Oh, no!!"???? (Reply)

For those of you have read my fanfic, you've probably figured out that I'm a Wonder Woman fan. (I think the fact that my first fanfic ever was called "Wonder Woman Meets Clark Kent" should be a dead give-away.)

I'm not going to pretend that I'm some huge Wonder Woman expert. In fact, most of my knowledge (and love) of Wonder Woman comes from the old 1970s show (starring Lynda Carter) and the JLA animated series. I've read some JL and WW comics over the years and have just started reading the latest issue of the WW series. Other than that, I'm pretty WW illiterate.

But I adore her. With a passion that even rivals my Lois Lane passion. (Lois does edge out WW as my favorite DC character, but WW is my favorite superhero.)

When I read that the WW movie was no longer in the works and that DC had decided to go in favor of a TV show, I was actually kind of happy. First of all, I think that a good superhero story can be told over the course of 2 hours, but I think it's even more awesome when the story can be told over 22 episodes per season. In short: I figured more Wonder Woman was a good thing.

Then I heard that David E. Kelley was the one who was heading it up. Cue head banging against the wall. DAVID E. KELLEY???? What the FRAK?

I mean, hey, OK... I enjoyed the first few seasons of "Ally McBeal". Then even I (who was fairly young at the time) outgrew it. I moved on to watching "The Practice" (I have a thing for legal shows) and enjoyed it - until it went crazy and all depressing. (It was one of my first experiences with shipping a couple HARD and then having the ship yanked out from under me.) I didn't even sign on for "Boston Legal".... And "Harry's Law"?? I adore legal shows and even *I* fall asleep during the previews.

Anyway... DAVID E. KELLEY? I read that and thought, "What's he going to do? Make her a criminal defense attorney?"

No. He didn't. Instead, Kelley decided to make her a corporate executive.

Yes. For reals. Kelley has come up with a version of Wonder Woman where she is a "modern woman" who is figuring out to juggle the day to day problems associated with being a corporate executive with being WONDER WOMAN.

This is almost like if they decided to reboot Superman by making him a high school student who pines after his high school sweetheart for eight years and does nothing but mope for.... wait. Oh... um. Scratch that.

THIS IS WORSE.

I really don't know how to react to this. Naturally, I'm watching it. If it lasts 2 episodes or if it lasts 220 episodes, I will be compelled to watch EVERY SINGLE ONE. I may even end up writing fanfiction for it (how much do you want to make a bet that I will be writing a lot of "Bruce Wayne Meets Diana Prince" fics?).

How do you guys feel about this? Alarmed? Worried? Deliriously happy? And... of course... most important question: who should play her? Fans have been throwing out a lot of names, but there are only three people I can see playing Diana:

Taylor Cole: She wasn't bad in "Summerland" (which was a long time ago) and I think she's on a new show now? I remember that back when "Summerland" aired, I actually thought she'd make a decent Wonder Woman. But she wouldn't be my top choice. For starters, I have no clue if she can act. I desperately want a Wonder Woman who knows how to act.

Sarah Lancaster: I really, really, really adore her on "Chuck". I didn't mind her in "Everwood", either. But she definitely looks better as a brunette than a blonde. For some reason, she is smoking hot as a brunette, but looks totally generic as a blonde. I think she could be a very cool Diana, because there is something that is very vulnerable about her and she has these sparkling eyes that could give her Diana much needed humor and personality. One of the hardest things about bringing female superheroes to life is giving them a sense of personality that is not overshadowed by them being Very Serious About Saving the World, which in turn causes them to be wooden and impossible to enjoy as a viewer. I think this actress would be able to off-set that.

Bridget Regan: I think she's just absolutely perfect for the part. First of all, she's available. Secondly, she pretty much played Wonder Woman in "Legend of the Seeker". Not very many woman could pull off the sort of stuff she had to in "LoS" and still make it look believable and make that character relatable to the audience. Regan was able to pull that off (all while having her boobs hanging out of a tight leather corset). I think that series will have to explain WW's roots and have some shots of her with the rest of the Amazons & that will probably involve things like Diana on horseback while shooting arrows, etc. Regan has already done stuff like that in "LoS" and I think she did it beautifully. Plus, she's very tall and has the looks (when you look at her, you see Wonder Woman).

Interestingly enough, I've seen a lot of commentators on websites bring up Erica Durance to play Wonder Woman. Honestly, I could imagine Durance playing a fantastic Wonder Woman (she certainly looks like one) but - after "Smallville" - she will always be Lois Lane to me. I don't think I can handle my most favorite Lois Lane ever playing Diana Prince in a different show. It'll always get in the way and make it hard for me to suspend disbelief. Not that I think I would have to. I honestly cannot imagine DC/WB letting a woman who just played Lois Lane for 7 years turn around and play Wonder Woman.

So... who would you guys cast? And do you plan to be watching NBC this fall when this show comes on?